₦airaland Forum

Professor Yetunde Mercy Olumide is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Lagos and a Consultant Physician Dermatologist and Venereologist. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on causes of skin diseases in children and how to prevent them.



What are the causes of skin diseases in babies and toddlers?

Skin diseases in babies and toddlers can be caused by several different factors: It can be due to some abnormal genes inherited from parents/ancestors, congenital abnormalities which develop for the first time in a fetus due to mutations in the baby’s gene not inherited from parents, birth marks which vary in size from just a spot or may be extensive on the skin, diseases directly passed on from mother to baby through the placenta. These are usually infections e.g. Syphilis, HIV/AIDs, Zika virus etc. Diseases caused by drugs which the mother consumed during pregnancy especially during the early developmental stages of the baby—the first four months, diseases due to environment pollutants with chemicals which the mother absorbed through the skin in pregnancy or in the diet from contaminated fish e.g mercury. Also, a few skin eruptions in the neonate that erupt within 1-2 days are not diseases as such, but are simply due to sudden change in the environment of the baby from the amniotic fluid to an unfamiliar outside environment. These types of eruptions are self-limiting; need no treatment as they simply fade away by 5-7 if not complicated by aggressive treatment. Some of these early eruptions are due to bacterial, yeast or viral infections which the baby acquired in the womb because of early rupture of the protective amniotic membrane and a prolonged labour. Some infections of babies are from bacteria harbored in the nose of health care providers who do not wear nasal masks. The truth is that babies lack immunity to infections as they have not developed the resistance that develop with age. Furthermore, the cultural practices of exposing babies to visitors who carry the babies expose these highly vulnerable babies to a broad spectrum of infections. Any baby/toddler exposed to environmental insect bites e.g mosquitoes and sand flies soon develop a rash. Diaper rash is due to the irritating effect of altered faces & urine when the diaper is not changed promptly, and of course, superimposed Candidal (yeast) infection.



Is it true that the use of body creams and oils causes skin rashes like infantile seborrhea dermatitis (ISD) (eela)?

“Eela” is a generic Yoruba word used for a broad spectrum of chronic childhood skin diseases associated with dry, scaly, white red patches such as infantile seborrheic dermatitis/eczema, atopic dermatitis/ eczema, pityriasis alba or even leprosy. None of these diseases is caused by the use of body creams. Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis (Cradle Cap) is a greasy, scaly, red/pale white rash that can occur on the scalp, behind the ears, the neck folds, in the armpits, and the diaper area. It is commom at about 6 weeks of age and can resolve spontaneously within a few months. It is not contagious and will not scar. It is not itchy and is generally believed not to bother an infant except there is a superimposed Candidal rash (yeast infection). While several theories have been proposed, the exact cause has not been completely identified. It is not due to poor hygiene.

Pityriasis alba causes mildly scaly pale white patches particularly on the face of older children. This is only of cosmetic significance and often clears on its own. Infantile atopic eczema/dermatitis is a more serious skin rash which erupts usually around age 3-6 months with a bumpy red scaly rash on the cheeks, which progressively involves other parts of the body. This is a very distressing rash for the child because it is very itchy and may disturb the sleep of a child. It often gets secondarily infected by bacteria and even herpes virus from cold sores (fever blisters) on the lips of adults. At times occult scabies (a very itchy parasitic infestation) may be superimposed on atopic eczema. Early leprosy may present simply as 1 or 2 white patches on an older child. The patch of leprosy is not itchy and is painless. Children often acquire leprosy from adults who may not even know that they have leprosy because they do not have the visible signs of late leprosy on the fingers.


How can one prevent skin disease in children?

Neonates and toddlers cannot take care of themselves. Hence skin disease can only be prevented in children if the mothers and other caregivers at home and Day-care centres are knowledgeable as regards basic care of the children which include appropriate nutrition because skin diseases are often not just skin deep. Furthermore, the skin often reflects serious diseases of the internal organs which demand urgent consultation of a pediatrician or skin specialist. Since some infective skin diseases are transmissible from mother/caregivers to child, basic personal skin hygiene and prompt treatment of skin diseases in the mother and other care givers at home and Day-care centres should receive adequate attention. Basic health talks should be given to mothers. This could be done in the clinic waiting rooms/halls for pregnant women in ante-natal clinics, paediatricout patient clinic, skin clinics and health centres, particular those situated near market places patronised by market women. Literate women should avail themselves of the tremendous self-learning resources on the internet which could be googled. As regards direct prevention of skin diseases in children, it is important to study some of the causes already highlighted above and prevent them through appropriate antenatal care of mothers and subsequent care of the babies and toddlers.

Nigeria is a hot and humid country conducive to sweat retention and skin infections. The child should be given a good bath at least once a day preferably at bedtime so that no sweat is left on the skin overnight. Over heating should be avoided. The child should be sparingly clothed with absorbent cotton fabrics. Tight abrasive clothing made from non absorbent fabrics e.g nylon, polyester, crimplene etc should not be used for neonates and toddlers. Abrasive sponge and irritant harsh medicated soaps should not be used on babies and toddlers’ skin. Simple emollients should be used in lubricating the skin after bath. Children should not be left to crawl on dirty grounds riddled with bacteria, fungi and parasites e.g in the market place.



Is it true that the mother’s diet in pregnancy and during lactation may be responsible for skin disease in babies?

It is true that the mother’s diet in pregnancy and lactation generally influences the health of a baby positively or negatively not only on the skin. Growing babies need micronutrients which can only be acquired from the mother particularly in a fully breast fed infant. A healthy well balanced diet of the mother during pregnancy and during breastfeeding often translates into a healthy skin of the baby. Regrettably certain allergies in children are currently being linked to the diet of the mother e.g pea-nut allergy which has gained an alarming attention in the USA. More serious is mercury toxicity in babies acquired from mothers who have consumed fish and other seafood which have accumulated this chemical from contaminated soil.



Many mothers are fond of mixing different creams together to treat skin disease, is this good practice?

It is a very dangerous practice to mix different creams together to treat skin disease. The skin is not just an impervious covering of the body. The skin is capable of absorbing chemicals applied to the skin and these chemicals are absorbed into the blood stream and transmitted to distant organs of the body. This percutaneous absorption is maximally enhanced in hot and humid environment as we have in Nigeria. Because the skin of babies and toddlers have not fully developed the partially protective layer of the skin—the outermost hard keratin layer—a baby’s skin is even more vulnerable to percutaneous absorption of chemicals. All chemicals applied to the skin and even air-borne chemicals have the potential of being absorbed through the skin in varying proportion. Researchers in Nigeria have analyzed many creams commonly used in Nigeria and found that many of them contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, mercury, nickel etc. as trace elements. Lead and mercury are some of the most toxic chemicals known to man. Some of these chemicals particularly mercury accumulate in the body. Mercury accumulates in the testicles and has been known to cause low sperm count and male infertility; mercury has also been found to accumulate in the ovaries and have been known to cause abnormal fetuses and infertility. Mercury is also toxic on the kidneys and nervous system. All these complications can manifest later in life when the babies become adults.

In conclusion, it is very, very dangerous to mix assorted creams and apply on a Baby’s skin. Danger to the baby should not be seen as just a skin rash; but the skin rash should be seen as an indicator of very serious and potentially fatal complications in internal organs. A skin with a rash further amplifies percutaneous absorption of toxic chemicals.



What is the best form of treatment for skin disease?

It is not possible to state the “best treatment” for skin disease because there are hundreds of skin diseases in children and no treatment is universally applicable. For example, there are hundreds of causes of fever e.g. malaria fever, typhoid fever, yellow fever, Ebola fever, Lasser fever, Meningitis and even some cancers of the blood. The “best treatment” is to treat the specific cause of the fever. Therefore, the “best treatment” for skin disease is to make accurate diagnosis of the cause of the skin disease and treat appropriately. Most of the common skin diseases can be treated by the child’s pediatrician who knows when to refer the child to the skin specialist (dermatologist)

Regrettably, in Nigeria there is a general misconception that there is a generic treatment for all these skin diseases and that there is no need to make an accurate diagnosis of each skin disease before treatment is instituted. This pitiable state of affairs has often led to a slap-dash treatment of skin diseases by quacks, herbalists, “old wives tales” prescribed by grandmothers, over-zealous friends and relatives and even some health care providers at the primary and secondary levels. These people just erroneously believe that calamine lotion, a jar of antifungal agent and steroid creams are panacea for all skin diseases whereas steroid creams simply act as fertilizer for skin infections.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/professor-yetunde-mercy-olumide-is.html

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The President of the Senate Dr Abubakar Bukla Saraki has responded to reports credited to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu claiming that he (Saraki) and some other left the party because they could not actualise their selfish personal interests.

In a statement personally signed by Saraki and made available to newsmen in Abuja and posted on his Facebook page and twitter handle, Saraki said that he would have refrained from joining issues with Tinubu but was compelled by the urge to set the record straight.

Saraki said that he respected Tinubu a lot but must make clear his decision to leave the APC, hence his response to Tinubu.

According to the Chairman of the National Assembly, he had frequently complained about how the National Assembly was not being carried along and treated with contempt on matters that would still need the approval of the law making body.

Saraki reminded the APC National Leader that he made it clear that the decision was ‘imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist’.

He accused Tinubu of having not forgiven him for being part of the APC leaders that foisted a Muslim-Muslim ticket that was proposed in 2014.(NAN)
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/saraki-to-tinubu-i-won-allow-you-to.html

WOMEN-FOR-WOMEN Foundation, an NGO, on Sunday began the sensitisation of Almajiris and other destitutes in Kaduna on ways to prevent Malaria and other diseases caused by dirty environment.

Chairperson of the foundation, Dr Maryam Abubakar said the campaign was part of activities designed by the organisation to mark the 2018 World Malaria Day.

She said that the focus was on the poor, who were mostly prone to all forms of diseases due to their poor economic status and inability to properly safeguard their health.

Abubakar stressed that once people are knowledgeable about preventive measures, it would be easier for them avoid situations that would make them victims of Mosquito bites and malaria.

According to her, Malaria remains a major health problem in Nigeria and causes death and illness in children and adults, especially pregnant women.

”This is also a way to see how they can contribute toward raising awareness to other children, in order to prevent them against all forms of diseases associated with mosquito,” she said.

Abubakar, who is also the Medical Director, Fatimah Clinic, Kaduna said the fight against malaria in Nigeria requires collective action including awareness of where mosquitoes breed, feed, host and where they rest so as to design appropriate control measures.

She noted that hundreds of Nigerian children and women die annually from Malaria caused by mosquito bite, but said continued intervention by UNICEF, WHO, Government and other humanitarian organizations have reduced the threat.

Mohammed Zakariyya, Director African Climate Reporters, said in his comments at the event, that the measure taken by the foundation was novel as it targeted the most vulnerable in the society to impart knowledge to them on protection against Malaria.

According to him, Malaria remains a major public health problem in the country causing deaths and illnesses in children and adults and tasked the ministry of environment to double efforts in tackling environmental issues breeding mosquitoes.http://surecontents..com/2018/08/malaria-prevention-in-kaduna-world.html?m=1

Rising poverty and unemployment in Nigeria provokes the need for job creation initiatives. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently revealed that 7.9 million Nigerian youth between the ages of 15 and 34 are currently unemployed. CHIMA NWOKOJI in this report appraises the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facility (SANEF) as a potent tool for job creation and economic empowerment.

SANEF is a project powered by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Deposit Money Banks, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems, licensed Mobile Money Operators and Shared Agents with the primary objective of accelerating financial inclusion in Nigeria.

During the launch of the project, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Mr Segun Agbaje explained that the difference between this initiative and others is that this is being led by the banks and not the government.

“We are proud to say that as banks, most things we start, we tend to finish. The whole objective is to bring more people into the financial system and the money we are using to drive it is the money we have already set aside from the profits we have made,” Agbaje said.

The move, aimed at deepening financial inclusion in Nigeria, entails an aggressive rollout of 500,000 agent network that would offer basic financial services like cash-in, cash-out, funds transfer, bill payments, airtime purchase and government disbursements.

It also involves remote enrollment on Bank Verification Number (BVN) to an estimated 50 million Nigerians that are currently under-banked or unbanked. By this, enrollment centres will be opened at the headquarters of every local government area in Nigeria.

Commenting on the programme, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, who also doubles as the Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs, stressed that the agreement reflects commitments to aggressively pursue the CBN’s 2020 financial inclusion target in an integrated way with minimal systemic risks to the financial system.

He also noted that the initiative will generate over 500,000 new jobs for Nigerians over the next two years. Aside this, those in the informal sector who will now be migrated into the formal sector will be able to get loans to start small scale enterprises.

The strategy of the CBN and banks is to reach the expectations of the Nigerian banks to onboard and formally bank 60 million additional Nigerians over the next three years on an average of 20 million yearly, as well as enroll 40 million for BVN.

Stakeholders are convinced that SANEF will deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria through an integrated ecosystem with strong regulatory oversight, consumer protection and interoperable payment systems with limited concentration risk.

It will create a platform for Nigerian owned financial services companies to grow, whilst empowering and creating jobs for Nigerians. So, wherever there is a sign of SANEF or logo of mobile money agents, Nigerians can perform basic financial services such as account opening, cash deposits, cash withdrawals, funds transfers and bills payments.

To this effect, renewed focus will be given to driving low cost digital access, broadening financial literacy campaigns, and creating micro insurance and micro investment products for the benefit of excluded, underserved and low income Nigerians.

Speaking for the mobile money operators, the Founder/CEO, Paga, Tayo Oviosu, maintained that to significantly raise the financial inclusion level in Nigeria, “we need to offer truly effective digital financial services that operate on all mobile telecom networks and a robust nationwide network of agents for convenient access.

“The SANEF programme supports our plans to rapidly scale up the agent network over the year and with this, the entire financial industry will reach deeper into even more communities and give millions of Nigerians convenient access to financial services,” Oviosu said.

With this, the licensed Mobile Money Operators are deploying financial services agents’ outlets in underserved urban and rural areas in Nigeria, with higher priority in the northern geo-political zones where financial exclusion is most predominant.

In line with this initiative eTranzact, one of the 10 licensed e-payments solution providers, said it is set to deepen financial inclusion by expanding its PocketMoni service with 10,000 active mobile money agents, within the next 24 months.

SANEF according to the promoters is also intended to drive the Federal Government’s Social Investment Program (SIP) which relies on improved banking agent network coverage points.

A member of the SANEF technical committee Mr Bolaji Lawal said a savings account product with an array of features (insurance, pension and micro credit) would be created to be a pull factor to attract the financially excluded into the system. Through this account, even people at the rural areas will have access to loans and other social benefits from government; since they can easily be identified. It will blend tier 1 and 2 accounts and use BVN as sole requirement.

“We are liaising with regulators (CBN, NAICOM) to secure approval and launch product by October 1, 2018. Other products planned include: micro retail loans; micro retail savings (to be known as government savings account); retail insurance and micro pensions,” he added.

The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact, Niyi Toluwalope “As a global leader in the electronic and mobile payment industry, we are well-positioned to deliver and attain the goals set by the CBN for this project. He stated that, “Over the next 23 months, eTranzact plans to leverage its Mobile Financial Services Business to deliver an additional 1,000,000 active end-users, by deploying its innovative distribution capabilities anchored on its active agents.”



The SANEF journey

In 2010, Nigeria made a commitment to reduce the adult financial exclusion rate in the country from 46.3 per cent to 20 per cent by the year 2020. In order to attain this target, the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) was launched on October 23, 2012.

While some notable milestones have been achieved, overall financial exclusion rate still stands at 41.6 per cent based on the biennial Access to Financial Services in Nigeria Survey (EFInA 2016). The Central Bank of Nigeria has been working with various stakeholders to conduct a review and refresh of the Strategy. The exercise focused on evaluating progress, identifying gaps and developing a refreshed strategy document which serves as a roadmap for implementation till the terminal year 2020.

The CBN has therefore directed all banks (including Microfinance Banks and Primary Mortgage Institutions) that appoint/have agents, Mobile Money Operators and Licensed Super Agents to render daily returns, through the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc. This will be done in the mode and template prescribed by NIBSS. The transaction data is required daily, so as to plot the growth and type of services being offered across the country.

NIBSS according to the promoters will provide a reporting dashboard for the purpose of monitoring the performance of Agents and ensuring the Agent Managers provide daily or weekly reports of enrollments and all registrations carried out. Fees and all charges in respect of the agent banking shall be explicitly stated in the contract, and a shared service platform to monitor agent managers and agent known as NIBSS Agency Services MAP (NASMAP) will be put in place.

According to Lawal, there has been an aggressive roll-out of over 70,000 new Financial Access Points while 9 operators currently party to SANEF has received N4.5 billion to drive the initiative. The operators include three mobile money operators: Paga, Cellulant, eTranzact; six Super Agents: Interswitch, Capricorn, Innovectives, Inlaks, Unified Payments and Xpress Payment Limited.

Available records show that BVN enrolment currently stands at 33 million. The plan is to scale it up to 70 million by 2020. 10,000 remote BVN devices has been ordered by NIBSS and currently being deployed to Banks, MMOs and Super Agents while training and certification is ongoing with a commitment to enroll 40 million new unique BVNs between now and year 2020. This is broken down thus: 10 million in 2018, 15 million in 2019 and 15 million in 2020. In terms of returns, the NIBSS will pay agents N100 for every unique BVN enrolled. This means that the agents will require more Nigerians to work with.

In terms of financial literacy, he said customer education campaign has commenced. Phase 1 covers general awareness through print and electronic media, involving customer engagement, town hall meetings and influencer endorsement. Radio campaigns on 33 network stations are ongoing under this phase, while phase 2 will be to launch and promote the Government Savings Account and remote BVN enrolment drive.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/sanef-creating-jobs-through-financial.html

The joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives will conclude work on the proposed N189.2 billion elections budget for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) next Monday, Daily Trust has learnt.

The two committees on electoral matters of the two chambers could not conclude deliberations on the proposed budget due to disagreement between lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While APC lawmakers supported the proposal by INEC for the whole N189.2bn to be approved at once, PDP lawmakers said the N143.512bn sent by President Muhammadu Buhari should first be approved to be followed by a balance of N45.7bn in next year’s budget.

Senator Suleiman Nazif Gamawa (PDP, Bauchi) said in Abuja that work on the elections budget has reached an advanced stage in line with the mandate given to them.

“Furthermore, it is imperative to state here explicitly that, after an audacious session with all critical stakeholders the joint Committee dissolved into executive structure and agreed to resume on 27th August, 2018, (after Sallah) to consider the Harmonized version of the Budget Report diligently.

“More so the report of the joint Committee will be made available for further and appropriate legislative action in earnest,” he said in a statement.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/nassembly-panels-conclude-work-on.html

The Chairman Yobe State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Adamu Chilariye has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of illegally buying the permanent voter’s card ( PVC) of unsuspecting members of the public.

He made the accusation on Thursday at a press briefing in Damaturu. He stated that the state EXCO of the APC was notified of the development.

“The PDP political office holders in Yobe Zone B have been using surrogates to purchase voter’s cards within Potiskum town at the cost of N5000 per PVC”

He said the APC has lodged complaints with the security agencies against the illegal act.

However, Chilariye advised the general public to be careful not to fall into the politicians’ trap.

The chairman disassociated SEC from some political aspirants in APC who had begun to deceive members of the party that they were end
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/pdp-uses-surrogates-to-buy-pvc-at-cost.html

Chris Ngige, Labour Minister

AS the 2019 general elections are fast approaching, the Federal Government, on Friday, called on media houses nationwide to intensify on its role in enlightening Nigerians on the need for national unity and cohesion through tolerance and eschewing of ethno-centrifugal tendencies capable of precipitating into anarchy and chaos.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige gave this advice at the 40th anniversary of Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (Rattawu) with the theme: “Rattawu @ 40, Media and Cultural Sectors as Tools for National Transformation, Cohesion and Good Governance,” held at Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre, Abuja.

He said all hands must be on deck to uphold the common destiny and shared values as a people, saying unity and peaceful co-existence are central to any meaningful national development.

Dr Ngige, whose message was delivered by Mr. Godsin Ogbuji, therefore, commended the union for being resilient, pragmatic, understanding and patriotic in the last 40 years in pursuance of its quest to secure better working conditions and increased wages for its members.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was represented by the director, National Press Council (NPC), Mrs. Stella Onabola, urged the union to use its strategic position in the media and broadcast industry to join hands with the Federal Government to curb the menace of fake news and hate speeches in Nigeria.

This, according to him, was in line with the resolve to curb this menace that the ministry recently launched the National Campaign against fake news and hate speeches.

“Rattawu, as a partner in progress, should, as a matter of necessity, support this administration in its herculean task of instilling discipline, transparency, accountability and patriotism amongst Nigerians.

“It is important that the union is particularly concerned about the notorious prominence of fake news in the public space. This is not good for anyone. The reason is that fake news destroys and deforms the norms and values that our society has upheld over the years.” He added.

Earlier, the National President of Rattawu, Comrade Kabir Garba Tsanni lamented that poverty and insecurity were the greatest threats to the Nigerian workers, as workers in the country were unsecured not just from lack of insurance packages that should be palliatives in times of danger.

“The Nigerian workers live in perpetual fear of attacks: be it armed banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram or herdsmen orgy of violence. These atrocities have claimed the lives of thousands of workers, including egg heads such as professors.

“As a nation, we must consciously interrogate those who present themselves for leadership. We must ask the right questions in order to know what exactly they want to do and how they want to do it. Our failure to do this has compromised us to a position that every election year is seen as an opportunity of the political elites to tell us what they want to do.” He added.

Comrade Garba, therefore, called on government, to as a matter of urgency, address the security challenges in the country, saying the bloodletting was simply unacceptable and compromises what gave the state legitimacy, which is protection of lives and property.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/use-your-role-for-national-unity.html

Adams Oshiomhole

A group, Buhari/Osibanjo Initiatives for Demonstrating Change in Nigeria has commended Adams Oshiomhole for redeeming the image of APC which was on the precipice of destruction under the past leadership.

According to the National Coordinator of the group comrade Chinedu Ogah in a statement issued in Abakaliki, expressed satisfaction with the leadership of the National Working Committee of the party under the chairmanship of the former Edo state governor ingenuity which had brought sanity and rule of law to the party.

He maintained that the Open Direct Primaries proposed by the National chairman was apt, as it would bring power back to the people for the advancement of democracy both in the party and in the country.

“I am particularly enthused with the leadership prowess of the national chairman of our party, Adams Oshiomhole. He has displayed enough expertise in party politics and that’s is why APC is gradually redeeming its image.”

“He is a God-sent to APC to rescue it from collapse and destruction. We are proud of him. The open direct primaries which he is proposing will certainly distinguish our party as the most democratic party in the country, where power rests on the people.”

“His ability to unite most of the members of the party in the National assembly shows that the fortunes of the party in bright in the face of present challenges, Ogah said.

He called members of the party to support Oshiomhole in his efforts to rebuild APC, assuring that all the skirmishes and internal wrangling which made some people defect to other political parties were been sorted out.

The group further enjoined other members of APC in the country to add voices on the agitation for the resignation of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki from the position.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/group-commends-oshiomhole-for-redeeming.html

OIL magnate and real estate guru, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, has declared his intention to run for the governorship seat of the state in the 2019 general elections, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abiodun, the chairman of Corporate Affairs Commission, at a news conference on Thursday, described zoning of political positions as unconstitutional.

Tribune Online recalled that the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the party in the state had zoned the governorship slot to the Ogun West Senatorial District, which had not produced a governor in the 42 years history of the state.

He said the resolve of Amosun and the party to zone any position to the senatorial district was not equitable argument to advance.

Abiodun explained that the state had two major divisions, that is, the Egba/Egbado and Ijebu/Remo Divisions and that by arrangement, the two are expected to produce the state governor.

“There are two divisions in the state. We have the Egba division which is the Egba/Egbado division and the Ijebu/Remo Division. And it has also come to the understanding that when things come to one division, it’s appropriated within that division. So it came to Ijebu division and they decided on where whoever occupies that office emerges from. It also goes to the Egba division and the Egbas decided on who emerges from that division.

“You will recall that in 2011, it was an arrangement and understanding that the Egba/Egbado division produce the governor and it is up to them to decide if they found a candidate or whoever emerges. So in 2011, when the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had candidates from Yewa. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate was Ibikunle Amosun.

“For us in Ogun state, that division has had their own fair share. That’s an argument. It’s been zoned to that division and Ibikinle Amosun emerged from that division. If at that time, the candidate of PPN or PDP had emerged, we would have satisfied that division as well. But unfortunately, it was Ibikunle Amosun that emerged.

“So for anyone to begin to insist on the fact that in 2019, the governor of Ogun State should come from that division again, I believe it is not an equitable argument to advance,” he added.

On the issue of direct primaries, the governorship hopeful, commended the decision of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole on his determination that all party primaries are direct.

He said the system would enable the people to elect their chosen candidate in an open manner, describing it as one of the best democratic practice.

“Our National Chairman has in different fora expressed his determination to ensure that all our primaries henceforth are direct. And I believe that the argument is not far-fetched. It makes a lot of sense.

“If politics is indeed for the people and by the people, I think that the more inclusive politics we practice, the better for the everybody. Direct primaries afford every card-carrying member of the party to determine who represents them. I believe there is no better democratic way of arriving at who represents us because it beats having just a few people who are perhaps sometimes completely compromised by someone to choose who represents the party or governs the state,” Abiodun added.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/2019-oil-magnate-dapo-abiodun-joins.html

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole said Senate President Bukola Saraki can’t be saved by courts.

Oshiomhole said this yesterday in Abuja when the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) met with its caucus in the National Assembly.

The meeting was convened on a day National Assembly was expected to reconvene to consider the budget for 2019 election submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara in a statement by their media aides, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan, yesterday said the National Assembly cannot reconvene until the committees set up to consider the election budget conclude its report.

Dogara was absent at the meeting of the APC attended by his deputy, Yussuff Lasun.

Oshiomhole said Saraki would be removed legally, saying he could not continue to lead when APC has 56 senators as against PDP’s 49 senators.

He said Saraki could only avoid impeachment if he toed the path of honour by stepping down so that the APC could take over the leadership of the senate.

The APC national chairman promised to reward the lawmakers, urging them to dismiss insinuation that they would be denied their tickets.

“I want to reassure you that we value you; all the stories about people being denied or that you would be frustrated out, I want to assure you that our party values experience; our party values knowledge; our party values loyalty and our party will do everything possible to reward loyalty and demonstrate that loyalty pays and we will not be ashamed to do so. We are already doing so many things on our part but like they say, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. With time, all these shall come to pass and we would have kept our word as you have kept yours,” he said.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/court-cant-save-saraki-oshiomhole.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has not extended his London vacation, the Presidency said last night.

Reports filtered round especially on social media that the President's vacation has been extended.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said there was nothing like that.

In his reply to a text message by our correspondent, he said: " No. There is no such extension. We announced 10 working days, meaning Monday to Friday +Monday to Friday."

The President had on August 3, this year commenced a 10-working day vacation in London. The President's vacation was conveyed via a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The statement reads : " In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.



" While the President is on vacation, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo will be in acting capacity as President. President Buhari will be in London for the holiday.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/buhari-london-vacation-not-extended.html

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, has declared Sunday 12 August as the first day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah.

This is contained in a statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu.

According to him, after due consultation with scholars, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) and the Fatwa Committee of the NSCIA, it was decided that the dates of Dhul-Qa’adah be adjusted to make today Sunday, 12th of August, 2018, the 1st day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1439AH.

"This is in compliance with the earlier Fatwa that declaration of the month of Dhul-Hijjah would be as determined by the Saudi Arabian authorities. Based on the above, the President-General of NSCIA has approved today Sunday, 12th of August, 2018, as the 1st day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1439 AH.

"The council urges all Muslims to pray for the country and the pilgrims in the Holy Land. Similarly, all Muslims are enjoined to take the advantage of the first 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah for highly rewarding good deeds and supplications, particularly, to fast on the day of Arafah which is Monday, 20th of August, 2018," Shehu said.

Daily Trust reports that by the Sultan declaration, this year's Dhul-Hijjah 10 eid-kabir sallah celebrations, where Muslims, who can afford it, offered designated sacfricial animals, would be next week Tuesday 21 August 2018.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/forum-sunday-is-dhul-hijjah-1st-sultan.html

GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has allegedly eroded the democratic gains Nigeria had made when it came to power in 2015.

Governor Fayose, who spoke at a meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants for the coming national and state House of Assembly elections, reiterated his allegation that the APC stole the people’s mandate in the last governorship election in the state and that they would reclaim it.

Fayose said God would intervene in the political and leadership affairs of Nigeria, saying the nation was on the precipice and can tilt over.

He said it was unfortunate that the ruling APC had allegedly “eroded all democratic gains it inherited when it came to power in 2015,” saying “the level of desperation, intimidation and harassment being meted out to the opposition by the APC” was “disheartening and dangerous to democracy.”

Fayose said: “I just want to let Nigerians know that divine intervention is what they should be praying for as far as the situation in the country is concerned. And I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. For instance, what happened last week to Lawal Daura, the erstwhile boss of the Department of State Service (DSS) is a finger of God intervening in Nigeria’s matter.

“We are in this mess because the level of desperation and intimidation we are currently witnessing in the country is unprecedented.

Opposition figures are hounded into jail. Accounts of state government are frozen for no just reason. Look at what happened in Benue State. We must pray hard for divine intervention and I am sure God will prove Himself that He is the one in charge.”

The governor called on the PDP aspirants and PDP supporters not to despair, urging them to show courage in the face of their current political challenges.

He, however, warned the aspirants against dropping his name, saying he had no anointed among them.


On a demand by the aspirants that the fees for their forms were too high, Governor Fayose said those prescribed to be paid to the national leadership of the party could not be touched, but later consulted with members of the state working committee of the party to reduce the fees payable at the local level.

He said the leadership of the party in the state, headed by Gboyega Oguntuwase, would communicate the decision on the fees to the national leadership of the PDP in Abuja.

He equally assured them of a level playing ground, saying he would not be biased in rendering his support no matter how close or dear any of them is to him.

On the matter before the tribunal, Fayose said: “We will reclaim our mandate. Let me assure you that my destiny is tied to yours and I will continue to be committed to this cause until you retrieve your mandate. The Journey of life is beyond today, we have seen today but no one has seen tomorrow. I believe God will return this mandate.

“I appreciate your courage. Life is full of challenges and gives opportunities. Certain things happen for you to know who your real friends are. It gives you the stamina o carry on also. Ekiti people and even your detractors will celebrate you.”

He charged them to keep hope alive, saying “for, beyond you, Ekiti people out there are in pain. Go to town you will see that the people who stole the mandate cannot celebrate it as the common man there are more pained.”
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/apc-has-eroded-democratic-gains-fayose.html?m=1

IT was 1,460 days on June 4, 2018 since Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele assumed office as the Governor of the nation’s apex bank. It was a time the nation was preparing for its 2015 general elections, with the attendant economic uncertainty, particularly as the financial sector was bedeviled by forex crisis. Not minding his 10-point agenda to reposition and put the economy on a path of sustainable growth, quite a number of global exogenous factors also exposed the vulnerability of the Nigerian economy. Consequently, Nigeria’s gross domestic product declined, which culminated in recession in 2016. Inflation was almost 19 per cent and the Naira exchanged for N525/$1 as at March 2017.

The economy at the time was challenged by the continued down slide in the international price of crude oil, Nigeria’s major revenue earner, snowballing into foreign exchange crisis. No excuse to the enterprise of currency speculators, bettors and their accomplices (local and foreign), who waged unrelenting war against the Naira. The foreign reserve was at its lowest ebb and the economy was in topsy-turvy.

And just like the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida said during his reign that Nigeria economy defied all economic theories, Godwin Emefiele may wished he was not picked for the job at the time. He was vilified and harassed, yet remained firm and dogged.

Assessing his four years in office, one will not be wrong calling him a ‘steel made’ man, who was able to weather the storm. And today, Emefiele can be adjudged to have managed the economy well.

Giving insight into what would be his mission at the apex bank, he came up with a 10-point programme to spend his energy and resources to build a resilient financial system that would serve the growth and development needs of the people using development bank strategies as the fulcrum of his policy to drive the economy.

Not only that, Emefiele committed himself to creating ‘a central bank that is professional, apolitical, and people focused.’ This mission may have been propelled by his determination to bequeath a sound economy to Nigerians. This conclusion became apt because Emefiele did not only inherit a battered economy that was stagnated, but one with high interest rate, high unemployment rate and negative growth.

Determined to leave a mark, he redesigned the bank’s monetary policy architecture to suit the needs of the economy. He modified the Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS), Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF), Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS) and created the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) among many other initiatives he enunciated.

Confronted by the volatility of oil prices and absence of economic diversification, he adopted a home-grown therapy leveraging on demand management strategy through restriction of forex to some 41 items that can be produced locally. This did not go unchallenged by vested interest groups culminating in JP Morgan delisting Nigeria from its Government Bond Index. However, the decision had helped reduce drastically Nigeria’s import bills from an average of about $5.5 billion to $1.9 billion by mid-2017.

Also in June 2016, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) came up with a new framework for foreign exchange, creating Financial Market Derivative Quotation (FMDQ), a platform through which exchange rate would be market driven to arrest the despicable enterprise of speculators.

With a programme to build a sound economy through the bank’s development finance initiatives, Emefiele intervened in critical sectors of the economy like power, aviation, agriculture. The Anchor Borrowers’ programme designed by the bank in conjunction with some State Governments in the Federation and some private sectors groups, has gulped about N55.52 billion as support to over 250, 000 small-holders farmers. This was aimed at providing them with prerequisite training, tools and funds at single digit interest rate to enable them improve on cultivation of rice, cassava, maize, cotton, wheat, palm oil and soya beans. In the past two years of the programme, it has created directly, about a million jobs and indirectly over 2, 600,000 jobs.

And to tap into the resourcefulness of the youths, the CBN Governor unveiled Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP) in conjunction with some commercial banks.

Over a year ago, and precisely on April 21, 2017, the Investors and Exporters Window, code named I&E, was introduced to rein in forex crisis. It became an instant recipe for the troubled forex market and within few months of its operation attracted over $54 billion into the economy. The Window has enhanced transparency in the market and has helped to sustain forex availability to end users. More importantly, the Window restored investors’ confidence in the economy.

Emefiele’s strides include his strive to ensure improved access to credit to MSMEs. He worked with International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the Bretton Wood Institution, the World Bank, to sponsor a bill on Collateral Registry. Today, the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, also known as Collateral Registry and Credit Reporting Act are laws in the country, courtesy of the understanding of the National Assembly.

The PAVE (Produce, Add Value and Export) is an underlining philosophy of Emefiele, with the intent to urge Nigerians to ‘produce what we consume and consume what we produce’. In summary, the objective is directed at Nigerians to take their destiny of solving the macroeconomic challenges in their hands.

The CBN Governor may have been misunderstood in the early days of his regime at the bank. However, his strides, commitment and forward looking approach have endeared him to local and international investors. Even President Muhammadu Buhari recently and on different occasions alluded to the CBN governor’s effectiveness as the main reason why Emefiele has retained his office despite the fact that he was appointed by his predecessor.

He said he wanted him to help his administration revive the economy and put it on the path of sustainable growth.

Emefiele has also been honoured at home and abroad with awards acknowledging his patriotic and professional role in steering the affairs of the economy and helped to ease Nigeria out of economic recession with unconventional but innovative monetary management tools.

Samsudeen, is a post graduate student of the University of Maiduguri
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/emefiele-4-years-of-navigating-nigerias.html

THE Federal Government has been called upon to establish National Valuation offices across the country in order to have adequate and precise valuation information.

The call was made in Bauchi yesterday by the National President of the Nigerian Institution Estate Valuers (NIESV), ESV Rowland Enyinna Abonta in an interview with Journalists during its 2nd National Council meeting held at the Command Guest House.

Rowland Abonta stated that “Our institution is calling on government at Federal and state level to establish National valuation offices and state valuation offices to be headed by Value General both at the federal and state level. The idea is to have a coordinated approach to valuation in Nigeria.”

“Assets are the most valuable thing that government and private sectors uphold so we believe that in the management of the assets, valuation is a very important aspect because we need it for a number of purposes. For instance, the international community talks about international public sector valuers system and of course we need to know on annual basis the value of asset capture in such accounted system that is worldwide adopted as a standard,” he said.

According to him, all states government need to know what their asset base is noting that, “with the valuation of Accountant General of valuers it is possible to establish and capture all that belong to their state. Of course, if they know what their valuers are, that will be a guiding principle for the state to know their real worth in terms of investment.”

He added that “As we know International funding and even local funding requires valuation of valuers of asset to support whoever that may be funding the basis of what asset position is, so for you to access such international funding we need valuation report of the asset or the valuation certificate of the asset. So there is a quite a number of things that the Valuer-General of the nation can accomplish in coordinating government assets management as well as incorporating valuation and updating of records concerning those assets.

“We also need that office to drive revenue generation. In our nation today, real estate is very important in the area of revenue generation for the state to know what rate or tax to charge on properties and without proper valuation, on that property, it will be impossible,” he further said.

“So it is of benefit to economic benefit of our nation for the office of Valuer-General to be established at both national and state level and the institution is calling on the government to do that speedily so that we will be able to harness our asset for the development of our nation,” Abonta said.

He said the focus of the council meeting was to bring together group of professionalism in the institution to make a certain contribution to the real estate sector of Nigeria as major stakeholders in the sector.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/fg-called-to-establish-valuation.html

Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday scored a debut goal at Juventus.

It took eight minutes for the former Real Madrid star to score his first ever Juventus goal

Ronaldo started his life at Juventus with a bang by netting the opener against their U19 side in a friendly on Sunday.

Going into the match Juventus fans were all smiles and dancing and were not disappointed as the fans saw what they wanted; Ronaldo’ debut goal.

Paulo Dybala stole some of Ronaldo’s thunder by adding a quick fire brace before half-time as Juventus went into the break in complete control.
http://surecontents..com/2018/08/ronaldo-scores-8-minutes-into-juventus.html