food items

By Philip Yatai

A Nutritionist, Malam Mohammed Sani-Hassan, says about 80 per cent of diseases affecting Nigerians are diet-related and can be curbed with good dietary knowledge and attitude.

Sani-Hassan, a one-time Vice President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday.

He identified some of the diet-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) to include diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases, heart disease, liver disease and obesity.

He said that a significant number of Nigerians were not aware of the linkage between what they eat and their health.

According to him, such ignorance is largely responsible for the frightening increase in the number of diet-related diseases among both the young and the older population.

He added that people eat what they want to eat to show evidence of healthy life, while others erroneously think that becoming obese is a display of living well.

Some people erroneously link the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension to income and wealth, meaning the richer you are the more oily, sugary, and junk foods you consume.

But on the contrary, these diseases are increasing at an alarming rate because people are ignorant about what they eat and the relationship between what they eat and their health.

The human body has a minimum nutrients intake which should be provided, and excess of the nutrients could put one at risk of developing diet-related diseases.

The nutritionist pointed out that most people have a culture of excessive eating, saying if you work less, you should eat less; if you work a lot, you should eat more.

However, wealthy people are eating three to five times a day and mostly without physical activity, while 70 to 80 per cent of food prepared for school children are oily and sugar-based drinks.

He advised people to watch their weight, check what they eat, when they should eat, how to eat and go for regular medical check up to close the gap.

He said that Kaduna was among the seven states in the country with the highest prevalence of some of the diet-related diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.

But I am not aware of any deliberate programme in Kaduna State that addresses this problem, he said.

He stressed the need for a public health component that should focus on what the population needed to know about what they should eat, how they should eat and when they should eat.

According to him, understanding the linkage between what people eat and their health is a key determinant of longevity, ability and capability, as well as income and general wellbeing.

The government must put structures in place that will provide quality education and information on age-appropriate diet requirements and eating habits, he advised. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Protesters in Colombia

New protests erupted in Colombia on Thursday in reaction to two police officers allegedly killing a man in Bogota, with demonstrators clashing with police in several cities.

Protesters attacked police posts and banks, threw stones and petrol bombs, burned tyres and garbage containers and blocked roads in the Bogota area, where previous demonstrations were reported to have claimed 10 lives.

Violence also broke out in Medellin, Cali and half a dozen other cities.

Several people were reported to have been injured and dozens arrested.

The unrest started on Wednesday after the publication of a video in which two police officers were seen pinning lawyer Javier Ordonez to the ground and shocking him with a stun pistol the night before.

Ordonez, whom the officers accused of violating coronavirus restrictions by drinking in the street with his friends, was then taken to a police post and allegedly beaten, leading to his death.

The case unleashed a wave of unrest which claimed seven lives in Bogota and three in the nearby municipality of Soacha, according to three television channels.

Some of the victims were passers-by hit by stray bullets.

Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez said more than 390 civilians and police officers were injured in the capital.

She accused police of using firearms indiscriminately and without authorization.

President Ivan Duque called for calm, and warned against stigmatising the entire police force, pledging a rapid investigation into Ordonezs death.

Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo attributed the violence to a social media movement trying to tarnish the reputation of police and inciting violence.

Police earlier said protesters had attacked more than 50 police posts, setting many of them on fire, in several cities.

Buses were burned, bus stations and banks attacked and shops looted, leaving some urban areas looking like war zones.

Holmes Trujillo announced that more than 1,500 police and soldiers would be dispatched to boost security in Bogota.

The city authorities proposed a reform of the police force, which would include new rules on the use of stun pistols.

Several people were killed in incidents with police in the Bogota area this and last year, according to reports.

The best-known case was that of Dilan Cruz, a young man hit by a police projectile during anti-government protests in November. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says the states COVID-19 related deaths has increased to 205.

Abayomi made the disclosure on his Twitter handle @ProfAkinAbayomi, on Friday while giving the states COVID-19 update for Sept. 8.

According to him, one #COVID-19 related death was recorded. Total number of #COVID-19 related deaths now stands at 205.

He said that 33 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed out of a total of 806 COVID-19 tests conducted in the state on the reported day.

Abayomi said that the new cases brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in Lagos to 18, 449.

He added that the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state since outbreak of the pandemic now stands at 90,476.

The commissioner said, 2,402 of the confirmed cases have since been discharged from #COVID-19 Care Centres following full recovery.

He added that 15,380 of the confirmed cases monitored in communities by #COVID-19 Lagos Response Team, have either fully recovered or positively responding to treatments.

The commissioner said, 64 of the cases are currently under isolation in public and private care centres.

Abayomi, however, said that 398 active cases in communities were yet to turn up for admission in the states COVID-19 care centres.

Also, data by the World Health Organisation, Africa Region, shows that there are 1,322, 188 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the continent with over one million recoveries and 31, 907 deaths. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NIS staff

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has assured travelers of fair treatment under the new visa regime.

The Service Spokesman, Mr Sunday James, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, also promised to respect the fundamental rights of every traveler to the country.

James said that the service would continue to practice citizens diplomacy with the new visa regime.

As a committed service, we will continue to practice citizens diplomacy both towards Nigerians and foreigners regardless of passport but on merit and integrity.

The quality of a national passport is not only in good finishing and look, but what determines its acceptance to the global communities is more on the integrity of the citizens which rubs on the integrity of the passport they are holding.

Acceptance evaluation of Nigerian passport as a travel document and citizens integrity determines how many countries will allow a Nigerian citizen entry into their country under which condition and for how long, he said.

James said that the NIS had uploaded 150,000 Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) to the database of the International Police Global System (IPSG) as effort to checkmate visa crimes.

He said that in light of this, Nigeria had been rated the 1st country in Africa and 54th in the world to automate its uploading system.

To have uploaded such quantity is an indication that the NIS is not resting on its oars and the information 24/7 centre of the service is working around the clock accessing diffusions from the INTERPOL General Assembly.

This is to analyse, interrogate and interpret for domestic consumption and international actions to be taken.

The result of such analysis, interrogation and interpretation is the upload of the 150,000 Stolen and Lost Travel Documents which by implication puts Nigeria on ascension on global podium of integrity, secured economy and safe for investment.

This is also an indication that the NIS system is working to detect, identify and classify the various passports that were invalidated, stolen, lost, fake and tampered with, he said.

James said that the fight against identity theft was part of the reason for the change from the colonial passport, hand written, Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to the e-passport.

He said that the enhanced e-passport has over 25 security features among other factors.

According to him, this is to guarantee the safety of the holder and document in line with

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 4, officially presented the National Visa Policy 2020 (NVP) to the public at the State House, Villa.

The new visa regime aimed at creating new visa categories for Ease of Doing Business.

The NVP 2020 expands the classes of visa from six to 79, to accommodate additional travel requirements for expatriates intending to travel to Nigeria.

The NVP 2020 classifies travelers to Nigeria into two broad categories: Visa Free / Exemption and Visa Mandatory.

The new classes are categorized into Short Visit Visas (28 classes), these allow foreigners to visit Nigeria for a period of up to three months, for the purpose of tourism and short business meetings, amongst others.

Other are Temporary Residence Visas (36 classes), these allow individuals to reside in Nigeria for the purposes of employment, accompanying employed migrants and schooling, amongst others.

Another is the Permanent residence Visas (15 classes): these confer permanent residence status on spouses of Nigerian citizens, Nigerians by birth who have renounced their Nigerian citizenship, and their spouses, investors who import an annual minimum threshold of capital, highly skilled individuals and some classes of retirees. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

minister pledges continuous improvement in welfare of retired military personnel

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), has assured the serving and retired members of the Nigerian Armed Forces of improved welfare in recognition of their sacrifices to their father land.

The minister disclosed this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mr Mohammad Abdulkadri, in Abuja, on Friday.

The minister gave the assurance when members of the Committee of Retired Generals visited him.

Magashi assured that President Muhammadu Buhari was passionate about the welfare and well being of all military retirees.

He said the retirees had been enjoying prompt payment of their improved pensions and other entitlements under the present administration of President Buhari.

Magashi, who is also a member of the Committee of the retired Generals, commended his colleagues for showing appreciation to the President for improving their welfare.

The Chairman, Committee of Generals of the Nigerian Armed Forces in Lagos, Air vice Marshal Bayo Lawal (rtd), said the visit achieved its intended purpose on how to strengthen the committee.

Lawal, therefore, thanked President Buhari for approving improved welfare package, which according to him, the committee had been agitating for over the years.

According to him, the committee is proud of the Minister of Defence for the good job he is doing to raise the bar of service in the military.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Russia, China, Iran reject Microsofts hacking allegations

China, Russia and Iran have rejected accusations by software giant, Microsoft, that hackers from their countries are targeting U.S. presidential campaigns ahead of the November elections.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman suggested on Friday that Microsoft and the U.S. were inventing the allegations.

With regard to the U.S.elections, I have repeatedly said the U.S. elections are an internal matter and we have no interest or intention of interfering.

A spokesman for Irans Foreign Ministry made a similar statement on Friday, saying that it didnt matter to Tehran who won the election.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Microsofts conclusions didnt require attention as long as there was no proof, according to the TASS news agency.

The countries listed by the Seattle-based company matched assessments made by the U.S. intelligence community.

Microsoft said the attacks fromChina appeared to target Democratic nominee Joe Bidens campaign and affiliated organisations, in addition to groups like think tanks which focus on foreign policy.

The China-based group also went after one prominent individual formerly linked to Trump.

The Russian hackers appear to be linked to groups that operated in 2016, Microsoft said.

The hackers were going after consultants working for both Republicans and Democrats, U.S. think tanks, the EuropeanPeoples Party and political parties inBritain.

The Iranian hackers tried to target the TrumpWhite House and the presidents campaign, but failed.

The official U.S.intelligence assessment from the White House said China favoured a Biden win over President Donald Trump, while Russia was particularly focused on tarnishing Biden. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Petrol Pump

By Simon Akoje

An economist, Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, says the Federal Governments removal of petroleum subsidy will unlock the countrys economic prospect.

Unegbu, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday.

The economist noted that the removal of the petroleum subsidy would open up the sector for new investment.

He said the government was courageous in removing the subsidy because it is unsustainable, especially in this era of declining revenue.

Government just has to let the subsidy go and allow the forces of demand and supply to determine the price.

This is a principle offree market economy which drives economic growth, he said.

He noted that regulators must be given more powers to enforce price compliance from petroleum dealers who floutthe rules.

He also suggested that the various labour unions must not embark on strike over the subsidy removal because it would be inimical to the economy.

The union should look at the positives of the new policy and not to focus on needless strikes.

At the initial, the cost of basic essentials will surge but will decline after more players venture into the sector, he said.

NAN reports that the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol was increased to N151.56 per litre with effect from Sept. 2.

This was disclosed in an internal memo and issued by the Petroleum and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) Ibadan Depot.(NAN

Source: NAN News

Trump, Biden to commemorate 9/11 attacks in Pennsylvania, New York

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will commemorate the 19th anniversary on Friday of the Sept. 11 attacks, with both candidates separately visiting the rural Pennsylvania field where one of the hijacked planes crashed.

Biden and his wife, Jill, will first attend a morning ceremony in lower Manhattan in New York, where al Qaeda hijackers flew two airplanes into the World Trade Centers twin towers.

Republican Vice President Mike Pence will also be on hand for the ceremony.

Trump will speak at a morning ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a White House official said.

The event, in remembrance of the 40 passengers and crew who died when the plane plunged into a field after they struggled with the hijackers, will be closed to the public because of coronavirus concerns, the National Park Service said.

Later in the day, the Bidens will visit the Shanksville site to pay their respects to the victims.

The two candidates were not expected to cross paths in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that is vital to the Nov. 3 election between Trump and Biden.

Flight 93, bound for San Francisco from Newark, New Jersey, never hit its intended target the four hijackers were believed to be planning to crash it into either the U.S. Capitol or the White House after passengers stormed the cockpit and attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

In all, nearly 3,000 people died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which also included a fourth hijacked plane that slammed into the Pentagon outside Washington.

The ceremonies marking the attacks are a regular stop for presidential candidates and officials.

Trump visited Shanksville for the 9/11 anniversary in 2018, and has attended memorial ceremonies at the Pentagon.

Biden went to memorials in Shanksville during his years as vice president under Barack Obama.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton both visited the Ground Zero memorial in New York on the anniversary of 9/11.

Bidens campaign said it was pulling its television ads off the air on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks.

The nonprofit 9/11 Day had asked both campaigns to pull its ads.

The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would do so. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Children in IDP camp

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

Hollandia, a dairy brand in Nigeria from CHI Limited said it recently provided dairy nourishment to children in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and orphanages in Lagos.

Mr Deepanjan Roy, Managing Director of the company, made this known in a statement on Friday.

Roy stated that the gesture; Nurture A Child Initiative was coming at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was disrupting food supply chains and availability globally.

He said that the pandemic was devastating livelihoods, leading to the deteriorating quality of diets and nutrition.

This nutritional challenge poses a threat to human bodys immune function and good health, especially to children who were disadvantaged or in vulnerable situations.

Hollandia Nurture A Child initiative is addressing the challenge of malnutrition amongst children and the overall wellbeing of the Nigerian child in general.

Under this initiative, Hollandia donates quantities of its tasty and nourishing Hollandia Evaporated Milk and Hollandia Yoghurt products to the children.

The beneficiaries include the IDP camps in Bogije, Ibeju Lekki, Lot Foundation, Dustbin Estate in Ajegunle, Life Changers Orphanage in FESTAC, and Chosen Child Orphanage, Badia, all in Lagos, he said.

The managing director assured that the initiative hoped to ease challenges of children in vulnerable situations, currently experiencing inadequate nutrition, by providing healthy dairy nourishment to boost their immunity and wellness.

As medical experts have confirmed, having a healthy immune system is especially important to defend the body against viruses, bacteria and other illnesses.

Hollandia Evaporated Milk and Hollandia Yoghurt contain nutrients such as Vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, B12, and D, Calcium, Potassium, Iron, Protein, Carbohydrates and Milk fat.

These are essential for growth, development, good health and boosting the bodys immune system, the company boss said.

He further said that the company started the initiative with a view to making a difference in the lives of those who really matters.

Children are the future of the nation. This initiative is committed to providing support to the needy so that every child can thrive and grow well, irrespective of their situation in life.

Nurturing a child starts with ensuring that they receive the right nourishment.

That is why we are providing the needy children in IDP camps and orphanages with nourishing Hollandia products to support their growth while building a healthy, happy, well-nourished nation.

We are always glad to provide Hollandia nourishment to vulnerable children, especially at this critical time, he stated.

Meanwhile, Mrs Bose Aggrey, Executive Director, Web of Hearts Foundation commended the management of CHI Limited for the initiative, while receiving the products on behalf of the IDP camp, Bogije Ibeju Lekki.

Sometime last year, we were beneficiaries of a huge product donation from Hollandia and we can attest that over 500 children benefited from the project.

We are happy that you find us worthy to partner with again this year.

I am confident that the children will get the much required nutrition they need through consumption of Hollandia Evaporated Milk and Hollandia Yoghurt, Aggrey said.

She added that the foundation was happy to receive the items as they were expected to provide nourishment for the children.

NAN reports that IDP campin Lagosis located in the Ibeju Lekki area ofLagosState and it was established in the first quarter of 2016 by the Federal Government to cater for migrants andinternally displaced personsin the state as well as served as a re-integration centre.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok
Prof. Florence Banku-Obi has been announced as the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (Unical), 45 years after, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Announcing the result on Friday in Calabar, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu, Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Unical Governing Council, said the process of the selection was transparent.

Nwaogu said that the Council had assured the 13 contestants for the position of a transparent, fair and just selection process.

She explained that they used the guidelines set up by the Federal Ministry of Education on the conduct of interview for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor.

At the end of the day, we had a brand new first female VC of the University in the last 45 years. The interview was transparent and some of the contestants are part of our council.

What I expect of her is to look at what the outgoing VC has done because governance is a continues process. She should invite all those who contested with her and build a team.

No one person can execute the programmes without the integration of other erudite administrators that presented their CVs yesterday.

She should be an integrative agent and I expect her to look inward on the areas of internally generated revenue and pluck the areas.

She needs to motivate staff and students of the school and as an erudite Professor and a mother, I know that she will bring all these to bear, she said.

She congratulated Banku-Obi and wished her the best in her tenure.

Speaking, Banku-Obi, said she was elated and happy, adding that she returned all the glory to God.

I am very happy today, I just received my appointment letter from the 12th Council as the 11th VC elect effective from Dec. 1, 2020.

It was a free and fair contest and I am happy about it. The University of Calabar should expect an inclusive administration from me, she said.

NAN reports that Prof. Banku-Obi will be taking over from Prof. Zana Akpagu whose tenure end on Nov. 30.

Banku-Obi hails from Boki local government area in Cross River and she has been a lecturer in the department of Education.

She is the only two-times back to back elected Dean, faculty of Education, since the history of the University.

She has also served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) and also as a member of the University Governing Council.

She has over 60 publications to her credit in both local and international journals.

She has supervised over 30 postgraduates Diploma Projects, 12 Master Degrees Theses and 8 PhD Dissertations and has so far assessed 13 persons for professorial positions.

Source: NAN News