[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the reversal of tenure elongation of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other National and State Executive Officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He told the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja on Tuesday that he had reflected on the elongation and also sought advice and had come to the conclusion that it is unconstitutional.
The APC had in its NEC meeting on February 27 extended the tenure of members of National Working Committee (NWC) led by John Odigie-Oyegun by one year.“This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC Meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court.
“I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “While the APC Constitution, in Article 17(1) and 13.2(B), limits the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in section 223, also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals, which must not exceed four years.
“Furthermore, Article 31 of our Party Constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest or contest for another post, must resign from his current post at least one month before the electionBuhari said he was optimistic that the on-going meeting would provide an avenue to resolve the outstanding issues and consolidate plans towards making APC stronger.
Buhari explained, however, that it was expected that a fresh elections be conducted once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end.“A Caretaker Committee cannot remedy this situation, and cannot validly act in place of elected officers.
“Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party. If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then it means that any nominations and primary elections that they may conduct, can also be faulted. “This is not to talk of divisions that would arise, and is already arising within the party, when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions, or that internal democracy is not at play within the party.
“I am therefore of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk.’’ He said that a timetable had already been approved for the holding of congresses and elections.
“ I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success.’’
Nigerian Army ready for SmugglersComptroller Uba Garba Mohammed CAC, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen the proactive Customs Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Compt. Muhammed Uba Garba declared war on smugglers in south west zone , most people thought it was a mere joke of the year.The recent promise made by the Nigerian Army to collaborate with one another in anti-smuggling operations within the western region across the six states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun , Ekiti and Ondo, Smugglers in south west are in for more trouble.
The Army General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2nd Division, Ibadan, Major General Fidelis Azinta,has agreed to collaborate with customs following repeated attacks by smugglers on Customs operatives,Azinta was said to have given his words that anytime Garba, the FOU, Zone ‘A’ Customs boss needs his support, he would not hesitate to deploy his officers immediately to the scene.
The Customs Comptroller may have been encouraged to embark on the visit to the GOC because of the recent blockade and attack on the Command Lagos Roving Team led by Okpabi Jack, a Chief Superintendent of Customs on operation in Ogbomosho town, Oyo state, to track rice smugglers. It was a fierce battle as the smugglers and their sympathizers did everything within their powers to frustrate the team from carrying away to their Lagos office their trucks load of rice.
Many believe that with the new found working relationship between the Army and the Customs, it would be very difficult for any Community harboring smugglers to mobilize to attack Customs operatives on duty and get away unhurt as the army has joined in the Campaign to forestall smuggling activities in the south west.
The FOU Zone ‘A’ Customs boss was also supposed to hold a close- door meeting with Abiodun Adekunle Odude, the state Commissioner of Police on how to collaborate to combat smuggling activities in the state but no luck. A source confirmed that Oyo is a smuggler’s haven.The source disclosed that virtually all the abandoned warehouses in Ibadan, the state Capital and its neighborhood which had been taken over by big time smugglers are filled to the brim with smuggled rice from the notorious border community. It was gathered that security operatives, knew much about the rice smuggling activities in the area but could do nothing about it.
An Ibadan based business man confirmed that it was from the warehouses that trucks were loaded with rice under tight security allegedly provided by the police to their various destinations in the south west excluding Lagos and Ogun states.
Garba was also said to have paid a visit to Christopher Odibu, the Comptroller , Oyo/Osun Command in Ibadam on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, who had been having a running battle with the smugglers in the area. Odibu had described Saki , as one of the notorious community in the state where smugglers operate. The Comptroller was said to have met with the paramount ruler of the Community seeking to establish Customs presence in the area to forestall the activities of the smugglers.
He was also said to have written the Oba, seeking to get a land within the community to build a Customs facility , in order to ensure a visible Customs presence at the area. He believes that if the Oba could give the nod for Customs to be given the land, it would go a long way to curtail the smuggling activities in the area but enhance trade facilitation and improved revenue collection for the government.
Investigation shows that there is no visible Customs presence at Saki Community , for now, aside from the Customs Flag, thus forcing the smugglers to go on a rampage in the illicit business, particularly the smuggling of rice from Cotonou port , in Republic of Benin to Nigeria unchallenged.
More worrisome is that there is no good road to the Saki border Community which had made it difficult for Customs operatives to patrol the area freely to forestall smugglers. The Command , alone was said to have made 4,000 bags of rice in January alone , this year but that had not stopped the smugglers from the runs.
It is therefore , not surprising why Garba, the FOU, Zone ‘A’, Comptroller , acting on credible information recently deployed his men to the Oyo/Osun axis for operation. The operation was said to have yielded results. In the first operation, the Comptroller confirmed that eight trucks laden with 3,351 bags of rice and 669 jerry cans of vegetable oil were intercepted along Iseyin. In the second operation at Ogbomosho, home town of Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former governor of Oyo state,1253 bags of rice, 50Kg each was evacuated from a warehouse in the town.
Those who think that the FOU, Zone ‘A’ Customs boss had come to stop smuggling completely in the south west would be disappointed. He had made it clear to those that care to listen that there is nowhere in the world where smuggling had be eradicated completely but could only be minimized, perhaps, this is what the Comptroller and his officers are working round the clock to achieve in the south west Geo-political region.
He maintained that as long as the ban on the importation of rice and vehicles through the land border by the government remains, smugglers would continue to live in fear. Appealing to Nigerians to support the government on the ban on the importation of foreign rice through the land border,he disclosed that it is the only ”to encourage local rice farmers, millers.
Prior to the all out war against the big rice smugglers in Oyo/Osun axis, the Command had detained and seized 16 assorted vehicles ranging from Lexus Jeep, Rolls Royce, Lincoln Limousine, Toyota Camry, Toyota Rav4, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Tundra to Dodge, among others. The Comptroller confirmed that the vehicles are mostly 2016 and 2017 models.
Given an insider information, the Customs said six of the vehicles were intercepted along the Lekki-Epe Expressway but the remaining 10 were intercepted while on information patrol at various locations. ” Some of the vehicles , according to the Comptroller are still on detention in the Command.
CP Muhammad Mustafa Delta State Commissioner of Police
[dropcap]A [/dropcap]45-year-old business woman, identified as Beatrice Okolie Pere of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, is being held by the police in the state for allegedly paying hired assassins to kill her husband, and her aged mother-in-law. Delta State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Mustafa, who confirmed the act to journalists in Asaba, disclosed that the woman “is currently helping the police at the State CID”.
He also said that upon interrogation, the woman who hails from Ayakoromo, confessed to the crime. The Police boss said that the suspect paid N200,000 to the assassins to eliminate her husband, and the aged mother-in-law for supporting her son to marry a second wife. The police commissioner said that the suspect would be charged to court on completion of the ongoing investigation.
It was gathered that the mother and the son were trailed to Obudu creek in Ayakoromo community where they had gone fishing, and were killed by the suspects. The police further disclosed that after the alleged murder of the victims, the police swung into action and arrested one Ikechukwu for armed robbery. “In another case, but in the course of interrogation, the suspect was identified as one of the killers of the victims after he allegedly confessed to the crime, adding that efforts were on top gear to arrest the principal suspect.”
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has registered 1.5 million students to write its 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). The Council’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
He said the council had concluded arrangements for the conduct of the examination for school candidates, popularly refers to as May/June WASSCE.“We have concluded all arrangements and deployed logistics in every part of the country for the conduct of a hitch-free examination. “We have also taken cognizance of the upsurge of insecurity in some parts of the country.“We are working in collaboration with the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure safe and conducive environments for the conduct of the examination.
“On our part, we will deploy professional examiners and supervisors that will protect the integrity of the examination,” he told NAN.
According to him, the examinations will begin with the regular subjects on March 28.
Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba CAC, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Mohammed Uba Garba is not an ordinary Customs officer. As the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, he has enormous roles and responsibilities on his shoulders.
The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos led by Compt. Uba Garba cannot stop the unending onslaught against smugglers and dubious Importers as he vow to frustrate all their illegal activities. Compt. Mohammed Garba, who by any matrix, can be called an anti-smuggling czar, has vowed not to relent in the national assignment of ridding the country of contraband items, describing smugglers as economic saboteurs who are bent on circumventing the law.
Leading the warlords of the anti-smuggling battles is Comptroller Mohammed UbaGarba, who is fully in charge and dishing out strategies to combat the ever antics evolving smugglers in the zone. On assumption of duty, Comptroller Mohammed Uba promised a non-relenting war on the economic saboteurs. Infact, he is the first Controller of the Unit in recent times who promised the media that on a monthly basis, he will call for a briefing to showcase his Command’s anti-smuggling achievements. This he has kept since he assumed office. Comptroller Mohammed Uba also pleaded with Journalists to preach the gospel of repentance to smugglers, that, their activities is killing the economy. Compt. Uba has also blessed with season anti-smuggling officers like Deputy Comptroller DC. Yayaya, who heads the Enforcement Unit of the zone. CSC. Okpabi Jack who is O/C Lagos Roving Team among other proactive and die hard officers.
Interestingly, he has an unending catalogue of seizures and arrests made within his zone. He has always held on to the philosophy that you can never succeed as an anti-smuggling officer by mere saying smuggling is bad and Smugglers are dangerous to our national economic growth. You must try to show example by fighting it head-on and putting your life on the line to show that you can die for this course. This anti-smuggling czar whose antecedents are record breaking at Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja when it comes to customs operations wondered aloud that while a good number of well-meaning Nigerians are appreciative of government efforts to rid the nation of corruption in all its ramifications, some smugglers are repentantly bent on circumventing the lofty mission for their selfish interest.
Compt. Uba Mohammed with Grassroots Publishers during interview session
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has strengthened its enforcement capacity to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the rage against smuggling in the zone. Grassroots Publishers learnt that the Command is strengthening its operational capacity through the initiative of the proactive Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, since he took over the command, after his outstanding records of enforcement at Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri. Uba is building on the performance of FOU, Zone ‘A’ in the areas of core Customs functions, with a view to stimulating economic growth and development. It could be recalled that in the first quarter of 2017, FOU Zone A, intercepted a deadly truck loaded with 661 pump action riffles, which attracted the attention of the whole country. In one on one interview with Grassroots Publishers at his FOU, Zone ‘A’ Customs Command office in Ikeja, Lagos, he spoke on the proactive activities of the command and successes made so far since he came on board.
Excerpts:
You are known as somebody that is ruthless with smugglers in your previous postings. Why is it that any smuggler who dares you always has a sour story to tell?
Yes, the first encounter I had with smugglers was when I was O/C Border Patrol in Jangali in Adamawa state. It is a Border town between Nigeria and Cameroun. It was tagged “The Battle of all Battles” where over 300 smugglers were smuggling petrol products. During the battle we were able to recover about 20 vehicles after a serious gun battle with smugglers. Secondly, was in Ogun state where we were in the office and our office was attacked by smugglers and hooligans. During the incident, my vehicle was burnt to ashes. These are two major ugly experiences I have encountered in this job. Others are mere threat through phone calls, messages and so on, if I refuse to compromise. But I am not deterred by these as they always serve as tools to successful delivery of my service to the nation.
I have principles and try by the grace of Allah to adhere strictly to them. Yes, it is one thing to stand for the truth always and work for your fatherland. It is a known fact that smuggling has done a very big blow to the economy of this country. For instance, allowing smuggled items to come into the country means that smugglers will not allow factories, industries and other local businesses to function well. Most of these local businesses and industries will go moribund if importers or smugglers have flooded the market with what they are trying to produce here in Nigeria. They won’t be able to compete with their foreign counterparts and when that happens, there will be mass unemployment since any industry not doing well will not be able to employ. In many cases, they even lay off their existing workers thereby worsening unemployment situation in the country. With that at the back of my mind, I try to ensure that whoever is smuggling, wherever you come from, whether I know you or not, I ensure that you are subjected to the same checks and treatment. This is very important due to the fact that if I were doing it with bias, people will say this man is favouring this person and that person. The same punishment prescribed in the laws of the land will go to everyone involved. That makes everybody to be so afraid of breaking the law because they know the consequences that will follow. Besides, as a person, I do not want to take NO for an answer. Whenever anyone comes before me, I ask questions. Did you commit the offence for which you were arrested? Once the answer is YES, that is the end of the matter. No stories or tales by the moonlight. Telling lies that ‘I do not know the importer or licensed customs agent of this vehicle did not pay the appropriate customs duties or I did not know the papers were fake or the vehicle was smuggled into Nigeria’ does not hold water as far as I am concerned. The pertinent question is, did you go to any Customs office to get authentic information or verify the papers the importer or licensed customs agent gave to you? Did you go to any Customs formation to find out the authenticity of the vehicle by using the serial number? Did you find out if the duty on the vehicle was actually paid for? Simple things like that which is supposed to be done by citizens who are buying cars is enough to keep you from unnecessary hassles and trouble. We always advise those who buy vehicles to go to Customs Help Desk to find out. There is no way you will walk into any Customs Help Desk with your documents asking Customs to help you find out if the documents are genuine and you will not get help. If you fail to carry out this simple task and you are arrested, you face the consequences. Sometimes, you may be innocent and we will give you the leverage of paying the penalty. Our advice to the public is that you should not buy any vehicle without verifying the papers they gave you. This is because a lot of people are into fake documentation business. It is not about Custom alone. A lot of people are desperate. They are ready to do anything as long as they will make money. These are the deviants that are bent on beating every blockade to their nefarious activities.
Could you give a brief account of your anti-smuggling activities since assumption of office?
Our anti-smuggling activities have been very aggressive having known the terrain bearing in mind that about 70% of the cost of revenue is generated from the South-West part of the country and so there should be a close link between our activities and the revenue generated. So for that reason, we must proffer a lot of strategies to contend the contending force of smuggling. It could be recalled that from January to December, 2017, there was significant seizures worth over N5Billion and revenue generated was about N1.9Billion and these revenues would have been lost if not for the gallantry of the officers and men of this command. Recently, the command impounded Pangolin scales with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1.73 billion. The banned items, which were packed in 329 sacks, were impounded at Opebi area of Ikeja. Additionally, due to the resilience of officers in the Zone, various interceptions of contraband goods with Duty Paid Value, (DPV) of N2.55billion between March 1 and March 19 have been recorded. Also, an operation that intercepted two executive Rolls Royce from a Lagos socialite currently being detained in the Command on my orders over alleged underpayment is also another progress of the zone. There are 31 such exotic vehicles parked at the Command premises, and the Customs warehouse, Ikeja. The Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the seized vehicles was N1.43 billion. Sixteen (16) of the exotic vehicles mostly 2017 model were seized through intelligence driven strategy of my eagle-eye officers. Six of the vehicles were evacuated based on intelligence along Lekki-Epe Expressway and 10 were intercepted while on information patrol at various locations. The vehicles are still under detention pending the grace period of 30 days allowed for the owners to bring relevant Customs documents. Other items seized along with the cars include 1,172 cartons of poultry products, 1,352 gallons of vegetable oil, 72 bales of used clothes, 464 pieces of used tyres, and 629 bundles of textile materials. Others include eight trucks laden with 3,351 bags of rice and 669 jerrycans of vegetable oil intercepted along Iseyin, Oyo/Osun axis. The Unit also evacuated 1,253 bags of rice from a warehouse in Ogbomosho among other items.
Compt. Uba Mohammed in a group picture with Grassroots Publishers
Is Customs not losing too much revenue by allowing most of these seized goods particularly some that are dutiable rot away?
Government is not a profit making organization. What is paramount for government is security. For example, we have a seizure of 2,322 pieces of used tyres in a truck concealed with two vehicles. Now, because of these two vehicles, are we now going to allow the people pay duty and carry the vehicles? The vehicles are dutiable and so the importer decides to use the dutiable item to conceal goods that are not allowed to come in, for that reason, the whole goods are seized. It is a case of false declaration and even when goods are wrongly classified, instead of paying 20 percent , the importers puts 10 percent to short change the government, but we will not accept that. Government needs statistics. When you open your form ‘M’ and input all the necessary information in the system, with that you have given the statistics to the government. But then, when you go and do something different, that will give government a false record and that will affect government planning and anything that affect government, will also affect us because government is the umbrella of all agencies. So we have to support, protect government revenue, fight anti-smuggling and educate members of the public to desist from the nefarious act. Government is ready to assist genuine traders. As you may be aware, there are incentives in excise production and if you are doing export, government gives you 30 percent of the value of your export in order to encourage the exporter so that we get foreign exchange to develop our economy. So whenever government rolls out policy, it has a purpose for doing so. It is to protect the society. If other people compromise, we are on the road 24/7 to making sure that the right thing is done and contraband goods do not escape to the markets. We will make sure to enforce government directive on import and export regulations. If it is government revenue that must be collected, we make sure that such is protected. We are bound by rule and so if somebody does something contrary to the rule, there are no way we will look the other side. It is not possible, because we are policy implementers, we don’t make the policies, we only implement and we will continue to do that until we are directed otherwise.
What is your management style?
I carry everybody along. It is a train of which everybody is a passenger. Small, or big, junior or senior officers. Every officer contributes in one way or another to ensure that anti-smuggling activities within the zone are effectively handled and efficiently dealt with. We also work as a team towards the growth and development of not only this command, Nigeria Customs Service, but also Nigeria at large.
What has been your inspiration?
Reformation. I am here to reform the system in a way it could not rotten. I am already aware of the Federal Government Policy and objective to provide community service to the masses and that is what we are doing here. What is paramount for government is security, both health wise, economy wise, and so on. What is important is for people to understand that the reason for the reformation is for the wellbeing of all and when they come to understand this, everything I believe works out fine.
Can one say that your childhood and training prepared you for the job?
To an extent it is true that my training, experience and exposure in previous postings prepared me for my present assignment. Nevertheless, I must point out right away that at times, it is not only about training and experience. This is due to the fact that if you continue to train somebody and he does not have that commitment to work for his fatherland, he will not be able to deliver on his assignment. I am committed to my assignment and I love what I am doing. This is because it is a job I do with passion. If you are born, you might decide to be weak or strong. It is a choice you have to make. It is a thing of the mind. I am working for my fatherland. I have no other country I can call my own except Nigeria. Smuggling is a global thing but as a country and as a people, we must show the commitment to tackle it head-on and reduce it to the barest minimum. Otherwise, smuggling activities will continue to undermine the economic policies of the government. Smugglers have been warned again and again that they must stop smuggling and look for legitimate means of livelihood.
Do officers have discretion to raise DN that importers should pay more on a particular consignment?
There is nothing like discretion. If duty is not paid correctly, we put in a correct perspective for the importer or agent to pay. But when you talk of discretion, we don’t do it because it will be abused.
What is your relationship with other sister agencies?
We all work in synergy. Nobody is an Island. Every agency has integral role to play towards the security of this nation; the Army, Navy, Police, NAFDAC, NESREA, SON, NDLEA, and so on. I have as well visited some of these agencies to discuss on how to strengthen the working relationship for positive and efficient results. I visited the Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja. Whenever we make seizures of any kind of goods, we hand them over to appropriate agency in charge for further action. That is how we collaborate and its really yielding positive results.
How can you describe your Comptroller General, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd)?
He is a wonderful man, focused and transparent. He has totally changed the ugly perception of Nigeria Customs Service through transparency. The rules and regulations of the service, the procedures and processes of activities in the service have changed for good ever since he came on board. He is a very focus minded, determined, peaceful, gallant, hardworking and most importantly very supportive to his officers. Let me seize this opportunity once again to appreciate the CGC, Hameed Ali (Rtd) and the entire management team of the Service for appreciating the FOU, Zone “A” with a commendation letter for outstanding performance on anti-smuggling activities and revenue generation in the last few months and for providing necessary logistics that brought about this feat. The commendation is quite encouraging and will spur us to double our efforts in carrying out our statutory functions, without any fear of intimidation by economic saboteurs, who are not willing to support government’s policies in growing the economy. We are determined more than ever, to sustain this laudable performance by ensuring that we give economic saboteurs a run for their money”.
What is your message to smugglers?
You will agree with me that smuggling is a global phenomenon which cannot be curbed entirely but can be bought to it barest minimum. My message to those still engaging in smuggling is to desist from illegal trade. Government is ready to assist anybody who is doing genuine business. We are here to facilitate trade but it is not going to be at the expense of security. For example, not all the seizures we recorded are contraband but they were seized because they contravened the importation law by bringing something not allowed to come in while others use goods that are dutiable but they put in goods that are not allowed and by our law, when you cover goods that are not allowed to come with goods that are allowed both goods are seized by the government. With that, money is lost, investment is also lost, so it our appeal that smugglers engage in legitimate business for their own good. I also want to appeal to the media to continue the partnership with Customs in the advocacy campaign against the evil of smuggling to the economy. There is always room for improvement and we will continue to intensify our anti-smuggling operations within our areas of jurisdiction in order to ensure efficiency.
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]isteriosis is a series of diseases caused by the bacteria L. monocytogenes and after an outbreak in South Africa, WHO puts other African countries on alert.
WHO on Wednesday warned Nigeria and 15 other African countries of a listeriosis outbreak that started in South Africa in 2017,confirming that they are preparing to deal with an eminent outbreak. Haven’t heard about listeriosis? Wondering what it is? Here, we tell you exactly what it is and how to best protect yourself against it.
The other African countries listed as being at risk are Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
What is listeriosis?
Listeriosis is a series of diseases caused by the bacteria L. monocytogenes, outbreaks of which occur in all countries. There are two main types of listeriosis: a non-invasive form and an invasive form.
Noninvasive listeriosis (febrile listerial gastroenteritis) is a mild form of the disease affecting mainly otherwise healthy people. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, headache and myalgia (muscle pain). The incubation period is short (a few days). Outbreaks of this disease have generally involved the ingestion of foods containing high doses of L. monocytogenes.
Invasive listeriosis is a more severe form of the disease and affects certain high risk groups of the population. These include pregnant women, patients undergoing treatment for cancer, AIDS and organ transplants, elderly people and infants. This form of disease is characterized by severe symptoms and a high mortality rate (20%–30%). The symptoms include fever, myalgia (muscle pain), septicemia, meningitis. The incubation period is usually one to two weeks but can vary between a few days and up to 90 days.
The initial diagnosis of listeriosis is made based on clinical symptoms and detection of the bacteria in a smear from blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), meconium of newborns (or the fetus in abortion cases), as well as from faeces, vomitus, foods or animal feed. Various detection methods, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are available for diagnosis of listeriosis in humans. During pregnancy, blood and placenta cultures are the most reliable ways to discover if symptoms are due to listeriosis.
Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely to contract listeriosis than other healthy adults. It can result in miscarriage or stillbirth. Newborn may also have low birth weight, septicaemia and meningitis. People with HIV/AIDS are at least 300 times more likely to get ill than those with a normally functioning immune system.
Due to the long incubation period, it is challenging to identify the food which was the actual source of the infection.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. But infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness.
How is listeriosis diagnosed?
Listeriosis is diagnosed based on a medical history and physical exam. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, foods you have recently eaten, and your work and home environments. A blood test or spinal fluid test may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
An otherwise healthy person who is not pregnant typically does not need treatment. Symptoms will usually go away within a few weeks.
If you are pregnant and get listeriosis, antibiotics can often prevent infection of the foetus or newborn. Babies who have listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until your doctor is certain the cause is listeriosis.
How can you prevent listeriosis?
You can prevent listeriosis by practicing safe food handling (adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Shop safely. Bag raw meat, poultry, or fish separately from other food items. Drive home immediately after finishing your shopping so that you can store all foods properly.
Prepare foods safely. Wash your hands before and after handling food. Also wash them after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables by rinsing them well with running water. If possible, use two cutting boards-one for fresh produce and the other for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. You can also wash your knives and cutting boards in the dishwasher to disinfect them.
Store foods safely. Cook, refrigerate, or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and ready-to-eat foods within 2 hours. Make sure your refrigerator is set at 40°F (4°C) or colder. But listeria can grow in the refrigerator, so clean up any spills in your refrigerator, especially juices from hot dogs, raw meat, or poultry.
Cook foods safely. Use a clean meat thermometer to determine whether foods are cooked to a safe temperature. Reheat leftovers to at least 165°F (74°C). Do not eat undercooked hamburger, and be aware of the risk of food poisoning from raw fish (including sushi), clams, and oysters.
Serve foods safely. Keep cooked hot foods hot [140°F (60°C) or above] and cold foods cold [40°F (4°C) or below].
Follow labels on food packaging. Food packaging labels provide information about when to use the food and how to store it. Reading food labels and following safety instructions will reduce your chance of becoming ill with food poisoning.
When in doubt, throw it out. If you are not sure whether a food is safe, don’t eat it. Reheating food that is contaminated will not make it safe. Don’t taste suspicious food. It may smell and look fine but still may not be safe to eat.
If you are pregnant:
Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
Do not eat soft cheeses unless the label states they are made from pasteurised milk. Common cheeses typically made with unpasteurised milk-such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, and Mexican-style cheeses such as “queso blanco fresco”-can cause listeriosis. You can have hard cheeses and semi-soft cheeses such as mozzarella along with pasteurised processed cheese slices and spreads, cream cheese, and cottage cheese.
Do not eat refrigerated pâté or meat spreads. But you can eat these foods if they are canned.
Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is an ingredient in a cooked dish such as a casserole. Examples of refrigerated smoked seafood include salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, and mackerel. You may eat canned fish such as salmon and tuna or shelf-stable smoked seafood.
Do not drink raw (unpasteurised) milk or eat foods that contain unpasteurised milk.
Avoid eating salads made in a store, such as ham, chicken, egg, tuna, or seafood salads.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]uesday, March 20th 2018, will remain indelible in my journalism career as a media Correspondent in Delta State. I was assigned by my head office in Abuja on an unscheduled visit to an abandoned ICT CENTRE funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). I arrived the main gate of the Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro after 1pm and walked up to the security post where a number of men and women hanged around. I inquired from them where the NDDC ICT Centre project was located and I was told it was somewhere at the polytechnic’s Campus 2.
The security man advised that I should take a commercial motorcycle rider, popularly known as ‘Okada man’ to convey me to the place as it was a pretty distance from the main gate. I obliged and he called one of the Okada men, who converged in front of the main entrance gate, to take me the location of the ICT Centre. Before I arrived the Polytechnic, I had contacted a friend of mine, who is a staff of the Polytechnic that I was visiting and he had asked me to seek direction from the security personnel to meet him at the Senior Staff Club. So the Okada man was hired to take me first to the ICT Centre and then to the Senior Staff Club which was nearer to the main gate.
Less than five minutes we were at the ICT Centre location and I alighted from the motor bike, walked around the uncompleted two storey building and sighted the project sign post. With my hand phone, I took some shots of the building and was embarking on the motor bike to take me to my friend, when was I heard someone yelling hey and beckoned.
I asked the Okada man to ride towards the adjacent building housing the Computer Department, where a thuggish hunk, dark young man sat on the pavement. Again, I alighted from the bike and walked up to him. Chukwuma (simply called Chuks for short), I later learnt was a personal aide to the former Rector, Dr. Jacob Oboreh.
Chuks demanded that I introduce myself, which I did, presenting my Identity Card to him. Not satisfied, he ordered me to produce the permission letter NDDC issued to me to carry out the report. I told him I am a journalist assigned by my head office to do an independent report on some NDDC projects across the three senatorial districts in the state.
At this point, he was threatening to handcuff me if I do not produce a permission letter assigning me on the project. He seized my phone, diary, ID Card, other documents with me and quickly put a phone call to someone.
In few minutes, a charcoal black man, probably in his sixties drove a black Toyota car to the arena in the company of someone. He was addressed simply as CSO and I had beamed with hope that being a senior management staff, the rude affront meted out on me by Chuks would be redressed.
But my expectations were dashed when the CSO yelled at me to enter his official car, without listening to my story. He ordered Chuks and another security aide to strip me of my personal effects and impound the Okada man’s bike.
The CSO drove me to his office, cursing as he fumed and threatened to detain me until my employers come to seek for me. He brushed aside my official ID Card and shouted me down for introducing myself as a journalist, accusing me of being a “spy mission” to the polytechnic. He further accused me of being sponsored by politicians to “blackmail and rubbish” a particular politician in the area (name witheld), who he revealed attracted the ICT Centre project to the polytechnic and appointed the contractor.
All explanations I made to dispel his misconceptions fell on deaf ears. He called the Rector and spoke in Isoko vernacular and later the Registrar also in the native language. The last line he stated on phone was: “Sir, I will detain him here until he tells us who sent him to spy on the school and who his sponsors are”.
Shortly, his phone rang and he took the call, after which he said the Registrar asked him to bring me to his office. Again, I thought the Registrar would save me from the ordeal I have suffered in the past two hours. We got to the Registrar’s office only for me to meet Chuks again.
Mr. S. O. Onabire, the Registrar began his deriding interrogations, betraying the mindset he has already bought into the callous accusations that I was on a sponsored political espionage. All I said to disabuse his mind of the unfounded accusations meet a numb end.
The Registrar directed that I should be handed over to the police. Right away, the CSO and his thuggish aides, Chuks and co bundled me out of the Registrar’s office, pulling me by my trouser waist and shoving me into the CSO’s car. We returned to the CSO’s office, where I was compelled under duress to write a statement on my mission to the polytechnic.
Fifteen minutes after, two policemen on mufti entered the CSO’s office and he handed me over to them with phantom accusations that I was on a spy mission and sponsored political espionage.
At the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ozoro, the CSO made frantic attempts to ensure that I was detained over night. He cooked up trump charges against me and called me a criminal and an impostor.
The DPO directed that I should call my employers or the authority who assigned the NDDC projects report to me to call him and identify me, which was done. The police authority also charged me to call any authority in the state to identify me. So I called the police public relations officer (PPRO), DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who put calls across to the DPO and I was released after 8pm. I spent the night in Ozoro and returned to Asaba, my base the next morning.
Written by Victor Sorokwu, Daily Trust correspondent in Delta
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]takeholders of Anioma Newspaper Publishers have advised the youths of Oshimili North to give their total support for the actualization of the aspirations of Hon. Innocent Esewezie, a Delta State House of Assembly hopeful in Oshimili North Constituency under the auspices of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Anioma Newspapers Publishers made the call while receiving Hon. Innocent Esewezie during a consultation meeting at their secretriate in Asaba, explaining that it was time for the youths to be actively involved in determining those who genuinely represent their interests at the legislative chambers. They noted that Hon. Innocent Esewezie is a vibrant youth with proven integrity, propelled by the desire to serve and make laws aimed at achieving people oriented goals in Oshimili North Constituency.According to the Publishers,“Your decision to start consulting with the people in Oshimili North Constituency early enough is a good one because it will give the constituents the opportunity for a general assessment of your personality, your vision and mission.We will assist in mobilizing general support, especially the youths and media to make your ambition successful. We believe that as a youth, you still have the dexterity to contribute meaningfully to the people of Oshimili North because we also need vibrant representatives at the state legislature.”
The House of Assembly aspirant, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, who hails from Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta state is a vibrant young man who started his political career from the grassroots; who is solidly rooted and grounded and has successfully served in various capacities. He was appointed Transition committee member representing Ward 5 (2002-203), duly elected Councilor, Ward 5 in Ibusa (2004-2007), appointed Oshimili North Coordinator in Uduaghan Vision Movement in 2007, appointed political aide to then State PDP Chairman, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi (2008-2010), appointed Special Assistance, Political Affairs to the former Gov. Uduaghan (2011), appointed Chairman, Oshimili North Transition Committee (2012-2014), appointed Oshimili North Campaign Coordinator for 2015 election, appointed Coordinator of Okowa’s Senatorial Campaign Organisation in 2011, Coordinator, Oshimili North PDP Campaign Organisation for 2015 election (delivered on all elections), presently, the Delta North Representative in Directorate of Orientation since 2015 till date, Coordinator of Oshimili North Laison Office (2017), Director General, State Community Youths Association (2017 till date).
This grassroots mobilizer, philanthropist, and a man of integrity, said his decision to contest was to render genuine representation and service to the people, adding that he has all it takes to compete for the state House of Assembly seat both at the primary and general elections.
Hon. Innocent Esewezie therefore appealed to the people of Oshimili North for total support of his political ambition for youths emancipation, women and youth empowerment, genuine representation, unhindered access, as well as constituency consultations and development through prompt delivery of democracy dividends.
The Publishers further enjoined the Oshimili North people to be very careful in choosing their representatives henceforth, saying that the choices they made in the past is yet to make meaningful impact in the lives of the constituents due to poor representation and quest for personal enrichment at the expense of the people who voted them into offices.
While pledging his loyalty to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the ward, local government and state level,Hon. Innocent Esewezie promised to give credible and effective representation to the people of Oshimili North constituency which will make the leaders, women and youths proud.
Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, says there is no reason for any marketer to sell Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, above the approved price of N145 per litre.
Baru made this known at the NNPC Day at the ongoing 29th Enugu International Trade Fair on Thursday.
He said the corporation was under direct instruction from President Muhammadu Buhari to sell the products to marketers at N133.38k.
He said: “The issue of profiteering on sale of petroleum products has been the problem.
“Every petroleum supplied in this country at the moment is from the NNPC.
“We are under direct instruction from the President that we must not sell above N145 per litre and that is what we have been doing.
“So, there is no reason why any marketer should sell above N145 per litre.”
Baru said the South East was the worst hit by recent petroleum crisis and appealed to marketers to reciprocate the goodwill of the Federal Government by ensuring that the masses did not suffer.
He said: “Appeal to your members to extend this goodwill to the people by selling within N145 per litre.
“If they complain that it is because of transportation, I have reports that marketers in Maiduguri are selling at N141 per litre and they are lifting either from Calabar or Port Harcourt.
“So, somebody here cannot complain.”
Baru called on Nigerians to report any infringement on the sales of the product to the Department of Petroleum Resources nearest to them.
Baru said the corporation was glad to be part of the fair after long years of its absence.
Earlier, the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Emeka Udeze, said they were glad to have the NNPC chief executive attend the event.
Udeze said appropriate steps needed to be taken to remove all bottlenecks in the petroleum supply chain and ensure the availability of the products.
He said the last crisis in the sector, which lasted for long, though abated, till date had continued to leave telling effects on Nigerians.
He said: “We do hope that the lessons learnt from this crisis will provide the needed buffer to stabilise the supply chain in the industry and reduce the level of volatility in the economy.”
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]head of the heavy rains being predicted to hit the country soon, Delta State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has assured Deltans that the Jesus Saves/DLA Road Water Storm Drainage Project will be delivered by the end of May, noting that the swift work of the drainage was made possible by the State Assembly which did the needful by passing the 2018 budget early enough thereby initiating a rippling effect of early awarding of contracts across the State.
Okowa disclosed this and other recent developments in the State with journalists during the first session of the 2018 quarterly media interaction on Wednesday, March 22, 2018 at Press Centre, Government House, Asaba, saying that the Jesus Saves/DLA drainage project is one of the three critical drainage projects out of the eight storm water drains to be constructed in Asaba to checkmate the issue of constant flooding of the State Capital.
“We have taken the bull by the horn as regards the flood control in the state; we wanted to be sure that we were on the right path, we did not just want to start constructing drains all over again without bringing solutions to the flood issues in Asaba so our consultants worked with the Nigerian Society of Engineers to provided us with eight options of drains,” he said.
“Storm drainages that we had to undertake as a state which was put at a total cost of a little above N30 Billion and out of the eight strategic network of Drains, we chose to work with three as they were very critical and the total cost of the three is about N11 Billion.”
He continued, “the first one we started with was the one that is going to be within the area of DLA road through Jesus Saves road, the Agric Road area and that is the construction that is ongoing straight from that area through the Nnebisi road to the Amilimocha river and I think that the project has gone very far; we have been promised that the project will be delivered by the end of May this year and we are happy to announce that from my inspections, the project is going on very well and I am sure that a lot of us would have had the opportunity to see this construction and for those of us who may not have, I must appeal that for us to be able to do proper reporting, there is a need for us to visit projects to see what is on going.”
“There are two other projects, one of them is the drainage project that will take us through Ambassador Ralph Uwechie road to discharge to the Anwai stream and that project is already ongoing; the project was awarded about a month ago and work is ongoing and it will take 12 months to complete, so, we may not be getting all the relief within the Okpanam areas all through the rainy season but, it is our hope that before the next rainy season they would have completed the project so hopefully the project will be delivered by God’s grace by the end of February 2019 and once it is completed it is going to drain the larger part of Okpanam while part of the water coming from Okpanam will be drained through the project that has a discharge point at the Iyi-Abi stream that is across the Asaba/Onitsha expressway and I am happy to announce that the company working on the Okpanam project has stepped up their pace of work; the third of the storm drainage projects is the one that is going to drain DBS area and the adjoining areas around the DBS and that project is a 12 month project and I hope that they all will be delivered on time because, the impact of the projects will only be fully felt in the year 2019 and it is my hope that we can reasonably go far enough before the rains sets in this year.”
The Governor who further revealed recent developments in the State, said that the current contractor handling the Asaba Airport rehabilitation project did bid quite lower than the initial amount paid to the first contractor that could not deliver the project in three years, stating that the project is currently at top gear as handled by SETRACO and will not only be fully operational by August, but also be a major Air transport hub in the region. He added that, SETRACO which happens to be handling the drainage channel at DBS road and environs has promised to double up efforts as evident in the airport project.
Continuing, Okowa expressed satisfaction that the January 6th local government polls which was successful, was a redemption of his pledge in accordance with the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that he was not going to appoint people to run the councils, but rather allow democracy swing into action. While adding that at the emergence of reasonable improvements in the economy since October 2017, the state government has updated salaries at the state level and has gone ahead to support local governments in payments of salaries including settling of back logs.
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