By Ismaila Chafe

President Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with 36 state governors on the lingering disagreement between them and organised labour on the proposed N30,000 national minimum wage.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that some of the governors were represented by their deputy governors at the meeting which lasted for about 30 minutes.

President Buhari, had on Nov.19, held similar meeting with representatives of Nigerian Governors Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the same issue of national minimum wage was deliberated upon.

Representatives of the Governors forum, who met with the president over the issue then, included governors of Zamfara, Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu, while the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige was also in attendance.

The Amal Pepple Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage, had on Nov. 6, submitted its report to President Buhari where it recommended N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

While receiving the report, the president expressed his commitment to ensuring the implementation of a new national minimum wage and pledged to transmit an Executive Bill (on National Minimum Wage) to the National Assembly for its passage within the shortest possible time.

However, the 36 state governors had since expressed reservation over the proposed N30,000 new minimum wage by the Amal Pepple committee, saying the state governments were not in a stable financial position to pay the new minimum wage.

The Chairman of the Governors forum and Governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, had on Nov. 15, told newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting of the governors in Abuja that payment of N30, 000 wage was not practicable.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Board of Trustees of the Host Communities of Nigeria producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) that oil and gas producing communities would continue to receive the 13 per cent derivation fund.

President Buhari said he would do everything within the law to ensure that the communities received the fund.

The president made the pledge when he received the Board of Trustees of the Host Communities of Nigeria producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) led by its Chairman, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

Buhari told the board led by the Chairman, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, that his administration would ensure that the 13 per cent derivation fund being enjoyed by the states in the Niger Delta Region was judiciously utilized.

According to him, the derivation fund is constitutionally enshrined and hence all affected oil communities must partake in it.

The relevant constitutional laws regarding the 13 per cent derivation fund must be duly observed by the affected state governments in the Niger Delta region, he said.

The president however, urged leaders in the region to continue to educate the youths in their respective domains on the need to shun any act capable of disrupting peace and stability in the area.

Earlier in his remarks, Diete-Spiff, who is also the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, announced that HOSCON was negotiating with foreign investors/partners on mechanized agriculture, modular refineries, fertilizer plant and gas utility plant/electricity generating project.

Diete-Spiff, who was also the first military governor of old Rivers State, presented HOSCONs top priority demands to the federal government.

The demands included the release of accrued gas flare penalty money amounting to N98 billion to the host communities.

Agitation for the payment of gas flare penalty fund to HOSCON is ongoing and has secured the listening ears of the Vice President and hopefully that of Mr President himself.

We wish to state unequivocally with full assurance that if these requests of the host communities are granted, HOSCON will ensure that the funds are judiciously utilized, he said.

The HOSCON leader said the gesture would economically uplift and empower the Niger Delta people, stop crude theft, youth militancy, pipeline vandalism and illegal refineries. (NAN)

Source: NAN

My Food Bank, an initiative of young Nigerians to address the problem of food security in the country has been launched by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari, at the launch, said that hunger and poverty were the major challenges the nation.

The initiative heralded the activation of the first one million food bank smart cards and Farm City Project.

Buhari who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legal Matters, Prof. Adamu Usman, said there was urgent need to address the problem of hunger and poverty.

He said that everybody should be encouraged to go back to farm.

We are aware of this and the government is committed to supporting this programme because it is noble, he said.

The National Chairman, My Food Bank Programme, Dr Adamu Biu, said the idea behind the programme was to assist the government in its effort to fight corruption, insecurity and poverty.

Biu said the programme was aimed at creating avenue for millions of Nigerians to have access to affordable and free food in any part of the country.

He said the programme would also create employment for young Nigerians and local farmers through its Food City Project.

According to him, the first one million my food bank smart cards have been released for people to use for accessing cheap and affordable food.

We are getting support from both the national government and international donors who are funding the programme as well as well meaning Nigerians.

It is a response to the call by Mr President that we need to address the problem of poverty and hunger.

It is our desire that every Nigerian have access to food irrespective of their location and social standing in order to eliminate hunger because when you end hunger you have solved the problem, he said.

Also, the National Coordinator of the Food City Project, Mr Daniel Orogun, said the organisation has commenced serious mobilisation in the 774 local governments in the country to appoint Food city mayors who would manage the project.

Orogun said the idea behind the project was to have farms in all the locations to enable them reach to every part of the country.

He said the project would on the long run lead to elimination of hunger and creation of jobs.

We have been able to raise 500 mayors from many states of the country, especially the south west states down to the middle belt and north east, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that a number of Tricycle riders, youth corps members, market women and widows were present at the event. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has reacted to the outcome of the Vice Presidential debate.

Tambuwal said the debate indicated that Nigeria needed a Vice President like the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential running mate, Peter Obi.

DAILY POST had reported that on Friday night, five candidates contesting for the vice presidency, engaged in a debate.

Those who participated were, Yemi Osinbajo (APC) Peter Obi (PDP) Umma Getso (YPP) Alhaji Abdulganiyu Galadima (ACPN) Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya (ANN)

Reacting, the former PDP presidential aspirant said Obi was well articulate and understands how Nigerias economy works.

In a series of tweets, Nigeria needs a Vice President like Peter Obi. Well articulated, a sound economist who understands how Nigerias economy works.

Together with @atiku, Nigeria will be on the right track to greatness. #Letsgetnigeriaworkingagain

Watching the #VPDebate I can assure Nigerians that @officialPDPnig, we got the right man for the job as Vice President.

Peter Obi is backing all his points with facts and figures, proffering solutions too.What a man!

Source: NAN

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has commended the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi for an outstanding performance during the Vice presidential debate held on Friday night in Abuja.

He said that Obi demonstrated a high level of understanding of issues relating to the economy compared to other candidates.

Fayose in his twitter handle said he was delighted with Obis performance and his level of intelligence.

He wrote on his official Twitter Page, Delighted that our VP candidate, Peter Obi demonstrated high level of understanding of issues relating to the economy of this country.

In PDP, we have brains in abundance, while in the other party, they have lies in abundance. We will surely get Nigeria working again.

Those who participated were, Yemi Osinbajo (APC) Peter Obi (PDP) Umma Getso (YPP) Alhaji Abdulganiyu Galadima (ACPN) Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya (ANN)

Their responses and opinions drew mixed reactions from Nigerians.

Source: NAN

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that the continent should unlock the power of its women and girls if it is to adapt to climate change, cope with disasters and build its green energy sector

Research shows that when women are involved in decision making, agreements on the environment are more likely to be ratified and projects around natural resources, such as water, are more likely to succeed.

That is the message from African delegates as the world prepares to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change in Katowice, Poland, this week.

If given access to education and finance, African women can contribute to finding technological solutions and driving the continents renewable energy industry too.

When you empower women in the context of climate change you empower a family, a community and a country, says Dana Elhassan, senior gender expert at the African Development Bank, which allocates international funds to development projects.

You cannot solve a problem with half the team. A lot of the unpaid work that women do, such as collecting firewood and water, and caring for the family, are massively affected by climate change so we have to make sure adaptation initiatives address their needs, vulnerabilities and potential.

Studies show that when women are part of decision making, ratification of multilateral agreements on the environment are more likely, adds Mafalda Duarte, head of the $8.3 billion Climate Investment Fund, one of the largest climate financing instruments in the world.

There is also strong evidence that women play a vital role in dealing with disasters by mobilising communities something that will become increasingly important as climate change advances, she says.

Discourse is quite tilted to considering women as victims of climate change but we are agents of change and if we are perceived as such this will make a big difference, says Ms Duarte.

Our empowerment represents greatly under-utilised opportunities to build our economies and tackle climate change.

When women are empowered given access to finance, assets and decision making there are big impacts across sectors, she adds.

Renewable energy is traditionally seen as a male sector but if you are deliberate in giving access to women, they become entrepreneurs and help us push forward that agenda, says Ms Duarte.

When women are empowered equally to men there is a massive leap forward in economic gains: a recent McKinsey study found that if women were participating economically as much as men, they would be adding 28 trillion dollars to global GDP by 2025.

In Africa, lack of access to finance has resulted in an estimated $42 billion financing gap for women entrepreneurs across business value chains.

Yet unlocking African womens ingenuity and giving them access to finance could generate technological advancements that help deal with climate change, believes the African Development Bank.

As mobile phone technology has proven, Africa is capable of leapfrogging into an era of digitisation, which minimises risks and cuts costs of doing business.

African women have shown potential to compete in this digital work-space Mfarm, AppsTech, JuaKali, Nandimobile, Hehe Ltd, Obami, DotNxt, are only a few of the women-led tech startups in Africa listed by Forbes.

If we women are given the right platforms, we will achieve the change we wish to see in the world, says Ms Duarte.

Unlocking investment in African women holds incredible return and transformational impact

potential. Women form the backbone of African economies, accounting for a majority of small- and medium-sized businesses and dominating the agriculture sector as primary producers and food processors,

COP24 is the 24th conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This year countries are preparing to implement the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the worlds global warming to no more than 2C.

Source: NAN

Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Nasarawa State Pensions Bureau in Lafia have attacked journalists for taking pictures of a document pasted on the boards notice board.

The brutalised journalists are Mr Rabiu Omaku of Universal Reporters, an online medium; and Mr. Gambo Ahmed of Peoples Daily.

The reporters had gone to the bureau to take photographs of the list of de-listed pensioners pasted on the notice board on Friday, when they were attacked.

Omaku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that he went to the bureau after receiving information that some pensioners have been de-listed for allegedly dragging the state government to court over their entitlements.

When I arrived in the office, I went to the notice board to snap the names pasted on it, but the bureaus Information Officer, Mr Ibrahim Dawaya, directed personnel of the NSCDC to seize my phone.

I was surprised and refused to surrender the phone which infuriated them and they pounced on me.

One of them started hitting me on my face, while the other broke my head with the butt of his gun.

Not long after, other journalists were alerted and they rushed in to intervene, but the security personnel did not spare them. They started beating them, injuring Gambo Ahmed of Peoples Daily in the process, he said.

NAN reports that the victims received treatment at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

Meanwhile, the Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Malam Mohammad Mahmoud-Fari, has condemned the assault on the journalists.

I have deployed our intelligence officers to ascertain what really happened; I will get to the root of this incident, sure.

I want to assure you that all those found to have been involved in the assault will be punished, Mahmoud-Fari said.

Mr Suleiman Abubakar, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel in Nasarawa State, condemned the attack and called for more protection for journalists.

We cannot continue like this; journalists have become easy prey for security agents.

The action of the pension bureau officials clearly indicates that they have something to hide; otherwise, why will they batter a journalist obtaining information from a notice board?, Abubakar queried.

Source: NAN

By Lucy Nwachukwu

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has inaugurated a one billion dollars Nigeria-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (NATIPP) to promote and expand trade and investments between Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, Afreximbanks President said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Oramah inaugurated the programme as part of agreement made by the bank, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).

Afreximbank also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to jointly develop industrial parks and special economic zones in Nigeria worth 1.235 billion dollars.

The signing which took place during the Nigeria Day at the ongoing inaugural Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Cairo, was witnessed by Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to Oramah, Afreximbank will work with NEPC and NEXIM to identify, prepare and appraise trade transactions and projects in the country.

He said the organisations would explore co-financing and risk-sharing opportunities, as well as share knowledge with particular emphasis on intra-African trade matters, through technical cooperation, staff exchange, research and joint events.

According to Oramah, the programmes by the bank are being implemented in pursuance of Afreximbanks strategy, Impact 2021: Africa Transformed, which prioritises intra-African trade, industrialisation and export manufacturing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IATF, which opened on Tuesday, is organised by Afreximbank, in collaboration with the African Union, and hosted by the Government of Egypt.

It will end on Dec. 17 and is expected to attract about 70,000 visitors.

Transactions worth about 25 billion dollars are expected to be concluded at the IATF which has almost 1,100 registered exhibitors from 42 countries. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army has said it is suspending the operations of the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund in the North-East theatre until further notice.

The Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, which coordinates the Boko Haram anti-insurgency war in the North-East, stated this in a release by its spokesperson, Col Onyema Nwachukwu.

It alleges that UNICEF had shifted from its duty of catering to the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities.

The Operation Lafiya Dole Command claimed on Friday that UNICEF was sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts of troops through spurious and unconfirmed allegations bordering on alleged violations of human rights by the military.

Nwachukwu said, It is baffling to note that some of these organisations have been playing the terrorists script with the aim to continue demoralising the troops who are doing so much to protect the lives of victims of Boko Haram terrorism and safeguard them from wanton destruction of property and means of livelihood.

Consequently, the Theatre Command is suspending the operations of UNICEF in the North-East theatre until further notice.

This has become inevitable since the organisation has abdicated its primary duty of catering for the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities to continue sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts.

The Theatre Command will not tolerate this kind of sabotage from any individual, group of persons or organisation.

We call on all Non-Governmental Organisations and members of humanitarian agencies to keep to their legitimate norms in the discharge of their acclaimed humanitarian duties.

The UNICEF had yet to officially react to the militarys release.

Source: NAN

Most of the time, a lot of people see sugar as a ‘harmful’ substance to consume especially if it is taken on a regular basis. And while we nurse the fear that sugar might cost us dearly [health-wise], we tend to sway towards sugar substitutes. Owing to this, beverages [and other consumables] bearing ‘sugar-free’ labels have often become appealing to us. But then do we really know what these sugar substitutes contain or even the effect(s) they could have on our health? Sugar we have known…but knowledge about its substitutes is seemingly vague even despite the number of researches that have been undertaken on them.

So, in this article, I have decided to discuss about some sugar substitutes that are usually used in beverages or taken in some other forms.

Aspartame
Aspartame which is also called ‘Nutrasweet’ is one of the most common artificial sweeteners used in foods and beverages. It is reported to be about 200 times sweeter than the common table sugar.
Ordinarily, on the basis of the major constituents – phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are both naturally occurring amino acids – this sweetener (that is Aspartame) is not supposed to cause harm. But as it is broken down by the body’s digestive mechanism, methanol is released; this is where the problem lies. Having large amount of methanol in the body system could predispose one to cancer as the methanol is further broken down to formaldehyde which is a carcinogenic agent. Besides, methanol is regarded as a highly toxic substance to human and it has been found to adversely affect the functionality of the central nervous system (CNS), heart, liver and kidney. Although some have claimed that trace amount of methanol may not necessarily endanger one’s health but since it is often regarded as an ‘inconsumable’ alcohol, one has got to avoid it (methanol) or anything capable of exposing one to it like a plague. Therefore, drinks and/or beverages containing aspartame are probably not best to take.

Sucralose
Sucralose is a non-caloric artificial sweetener made from sucrose (that is, table sugar) using selective chlorination. It is otherwise known as ‘splenda’. A host of scientists have considered sucralose safe for consumption due to the fact that it is not absorbed and/or broken down by the body. Hence it can be extracted from the body along with urine. But a study has since found that sucralose can be broken down [into toxic compounds] when subjected to intense heat. Again, there have been reports that this sweetener is capable of disrupting the body’s metabolic processes and even hamper the effectiveness of certain drugs. The regular intake of sucralose may also serve as a risk factor for coronary heart diseases.

Acesulfame Potassium
Acesulfame K – ‘K’ being the chemical formula for potassium – is another calorie free sugar substitute that is not usually absorbed by the body. The major constituent of Acesulfame K is methylene chloride which is a known carcinogenic agent. Asides being a cancer causing compound, this can also affect the normal functioning of the liver, kidney and brain. Acesulfame K is also 200 times sweeter than table sugar.

Saccharin
Saccharin is the most common [and widely used] artificial sweetener, and it is 400 times sweeter than sucrose. It is sometimes used in combination with other artificial sweeteners in order to offset its bitter aftertaste. Though saccharin has not been found to cause cancer or any heart disorder, it does disrupt the growth and activities of gut bacteria. Owing to this, the excessive consumption of saccharin may bring about some dysfunction in the digestive tract and immune system.

Sugar substitutes may be very useful in a weight-loss dietary plan and maintaining a normal blood sugar level; the disadvantages that come with consuming them far outweigh the benefits one gets from using them hence it pays to avoid using them. By the way, sugar substitutes as used in the context of this article, refer to artificial sweeteners that may be detrimental to the well-being of humans. Nonetheless, there are other sugar substitutes that are safe to consume; most of these, are natural products, and examples include pure (natural), honey, stevia, applesauce, cane sugar, molasses, etc.

By Hamza Sulieman

The Police in Borno successfully foiled a lone suicide bomb attack on Wednesday night in Maiduguri, the Police Commissioner, Mr Damian Chukwu, has said.

Chukwu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by telephone that the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

He said that a teenage female bomber attempted to infiltrate a security checkpoint before security men shot at her and the Improvised Explosive Device vest strapped to her body exploded.

He said the explosion blew the girl into pieces, noting that there were no other casualties in the attack.

The commissioner added that men of the Explosive Ordinance Department were deployed to sanitise the area.

Source: NAN

By Douglas Okoro

The Chairman of Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi, Dr Eni-Uduma Chima, says over 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Urugbam community in Biase local government area of Cross River are taking refuge in the Council.

Chima who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Abakaliki, said the IDPs were camped in three different locations in the area.

He said the influx of the refugees from Urugbam was due to renewed hostilities from boundary disputes involving Urugbam community and their Egbor and Abanwem neighbouring communities in Biase local government area of Cross River.

The chairman explained that the crisis started when the Egbor community unilaterally leased out the Nigeria Institute for Oil Research (NIFOR) palm plantation to African Stone Works Nigeria Limited, owned by one Chief Felix Ezeamama.

He further explained that the boundary crisis affected Ekoli-Edda in Ebonyi, Egbor and Urugbam communities in Biasi local government of Cross River, which jointly donated the land for the establishment of the institute.

The Ekoli-Edda in Ebonyi, Urugbam and Egbor communities in Cross River jointly donated parcels of land where the defunct NIFOR was established by the government of the defunct Eastern Nigeria.

The communities have peacefully coexisted and enjoyed the proceeds from the NIFOR since its establishment in 1962, by late Chief Michael Okpara, governor of the defunct Eastern region.

But following the unceremonious exit of NIFOR from the settlement, the affected communities including Ekoli-Edda, Urugbam and Egbor came together in 1997 and reached an agreement to harvest the palm fruits jointly.

It is on record that this peaceful communal practice has been ongoing between the three communities since 1997 without hitches.

In March this year, the Egbor community unilaterally leased the land which has been communally owned since the 1960s to African Stone Works Nigeria Limited in complete disregard to the position of the other communities.

The governments of Ebonyi and Cross River in a move to avert an impending crisis held series of peace meetings first in Port Harcourt, Rivers and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre and Suites in Abuja.

Both meetings were attended by representatives of both state governments including deputy governors of the two states, Prof Ivara Esu and Dr. Eric Kelechi-Igwe and officials of National Boundary Commission (NBC) where far reaching resolutions were made.

Sadly, none of the items contained in the resolution has been implemented and this has led to the hostilities that resulted in the killings and destruction of property of the Urugbam and Ekoli-Edda people, Chima said.

Chima noted that the influx of IDPs in the area had created humanitarian crisis in the council despite the state governments prompt intervention by providing relief materials.

The IDPssituation we have is getting out of control putting strain on our scarce resources; security agencies should without delay enforce the order of the various stakeholders in the NAF meeting communique and arrest Ezeamama.

I call on the various humanitarian agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies of the two states and the Red Cross to assist the IDPs with relief materials.

That efforts should be made by governments of the two states to ensure the safe return of the IDPs to their homes and ensure that they are quickly resettled.

I urge relevant government institutions to probe these wanton killings and bring perpetrators including their sponsors to justice, said Chima.

Source: NAN

(Xinhua/NAN) The New South Wales State (NSW) Government in Australia on Thursday said they would ban mobile phones and smart devices in schools in early 2019 in an attempt to improve student performance.

This will also quell the rising number of online bullying cases.

Distraction and bullying have always been issues for schools to deal with but mobile phones present a new challenge for schools, teachers, parents and students, NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said in a statement.

We want to ensure mobile phones and other smart devices complement students learning, and are handled at school in an age-appropriate way.

These changes will provide clear boundaries in our schools to ensure technology remains an enabler, not a detractor.

While the ban will be in full effect in the states primary schools for children aged between 5-12, high schools will be given the option to opt in or introduce measures to more tightly restrict the use of devices during school hours.

The move comes on the back of an independent review commissioned by the NSW government in June.

This is where renowned child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg and his team examined 14,000 survey responses to measure the impact that mobile phones are having on educational outcomes and child development in schools.

Well work with schools to implement the changes recommended in the report, helping them manage the risks and rewards of using mobile phones inside the school gates, NSW Education Minister, Rob Stokes, said.

These changes are about keeping our schools safe and protecting the welfare of our students when theyre in our care.

The ban will come into effect from the beginning of 2019.

Source: NAN

There is hope for the elimination of cholesterol without serious side effects as Chinese researchers discovered a new compound that can help lower the levels in the blood.

Long-term high levels of cholesterol in the blood can cause atherosclerosis, which may lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Statins are the main clinical cholesterol-lowering drugs and are widely used in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

However, statins increase side effects after treatment.

After a series of compound design and activity analysis, researchers from Wuhan University discovered a new compound that can lower cholesterol.

The compound Cmpd 81 reduced cholesterol levels as well as the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in mice with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.

When this compound is combined with statins, it can further lower cholesterol levels.

The research has broad application prospects in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The screening system in the research as well as the compound have been put in for patent applications.

The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Similarly, On Oct. 12, a study by the University of Illinois (UI) researchers found that a byproduct of cholesterol metabolism acts on specific immune cells so that they facilitate cancers spread instead of stopping it.

The cholesterol byproduct is a molecule called 27HC.

UI researchers fed mice with breast cancer tumors a diet high in cholesterol, and confirmed that high levels of cholesterol increased tumor growth and metastasis, and that mice treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins had less metastasis.

Researchers said it further inhibit the enzyme that makes 27HC during cholesterol metabolism.

By inhibiting the enzyme that makes 27HC, we found a suppressor effect on breast cancer metastasis.

This suggests that a drug treatment targeting this enzyme could be an effective therapeutic, said Amy Baek, a postdoctoral researcher at UI and the first author of the paper.

The researchers also saw unusual activity among specific immune cells, certain types of neutrophils and T-cells, at metastatic sites high in 27HC.

Normally human bodys immune system has the capacity to attack cancer. But researchers found that 27HC works on immune cells to fool them into thinking the cancer is fine.

Its hijacking the immune system to help the cancer spread.

As 27HC acts through the immune system, and not on the breast cancer itself, the researchers believe their findings have broad applicability for solid tumors.

They performed experiments looking at colon cancer, lung cancer, melanoma and pancreatic cancer, and found that 27HC increased metastasis for all the tumor types.

This suggests that a treatment targeting 27HC could be effective across multiple cancer types.

The researchers are working to further understand the pathway by which 27HC affects the immune cells.

Breast cancer impacts roughly 1 in 8 women. Weve developed fairly good strategies for the initial treatment of the disease, but many women will experience metastatic breast cancer.

When the breast cancer has spread to other organs, and at that point we really dont have effective therapies, said Erik Nelson, a UI professor of molecular and integrative physiology who led the study.

We hope to develop small-molecule drugs to inhibit 27HC, Nelson said.
Also, on Dec. 12, a major U.S. study said Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN

By Austine Elegbede and Lilian Ole

Barely two weeks to Christmas celebration, dealers in all kinds of Christmas items have taken over major markets and pedestrian walkways in Enugu, at night, to make brisk business.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who visited some of the markets and shopping malls in Enugu report that most of the traders were seen selling brocades, jewelry, shoes and sandals.

Other items include ready-made clothes, weave-on, balloons and the traders stay deep into the night.

Many of the traders were seen ringing bell to attract passersby, wooing them with discount prices at the major strategic locations in the area.

A trader in Ogbete Main Market,who gave her name as Mama Akano, said that she decided to display her wares on the pedestrian walkways to attract civil servants returning from work.

Akano said that she had a shop inside the market but that the festive atmosphere associated with the season motivated her to stay beyond the 5:00p.m and do extra business to earn more money.

She said that the market closes 5 p.m, adding that the night trading afforded her the opportunity to increase her daily sales, noting that traders at the market hardly made good returns.

I open shop by 10:00a.m. every day and till 5:00p.m. I hardly make N2, 000 profit.So, I decided to be selling at night, and this has improved my daily profit, she said.

Another trader, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiogu, said that he opted for night trading due to the penchant of most residents of Enugu for trading into the night.
Ejiogu said that though he had a paid job, I decided to sell foot wears this season in order to meet my financial needs.

NAN further reports that hairdressers at Ogbete Market have been swell time making fast business as most of them stay up to 8:00p.m., a development many of them described as unusual.

Source: NAN

It is not enough to want to establish a law firm; there is need for a business plan. This is because establishing a law firm is like establishing a business. A business plan is a document containing information about the proposed firm, its goals and the financial projections. It is normally prepared by an accountant for the owner of the proposed business. This can however be done by the legal practitioner.

The following are the contents of a business plan.

• Name of the legal practitioner (owner)

• Name of the firm

• Law office address (place of business)

• Date of commencement (Business start date)

• Type of firm

• Goals of the firm

• Market competitors

• Capital requirement

• Borrowing requirement

• Security to be provided

• Use of funds

• Employment of staff

• Management system

Potential clients (clientele) include banks and other financial institutions, companies, large statutory bodies, legal aid council, individuals, government briefs.

CLASSIFICATION OF LAW OFFICE

• Small law office (1 – 4 Lawyers)

• Medium law office (5 – 9 Lawyers)

• Large law office (10 lawyers and above)

The above classification is based on the following criteria.

• Location of a law firm: The location of a law firm would determine whether the law firm is small, medium or large. For instance, firms situated in metropolitan cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano could be regarded as medium or large firms. Also are firms in capital of a state.

• Client base: The type of clients that a firm chooses to serve is also used in classifying firms. Generally, a distinction is made between firms that serve organisations (corporate and governmental bodies) and private client, whether fee paying or legally aid j8

• Available facilities: The facilities used by a firm would determine the classification of the firm. A firm using modern technology cannot be in same class with that using outdated technology.

• Status of lawyers: Presently in Nigeria, there is always distinction among legal practitioners. There are those that are Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Also, those that have distinguished their firms cannot be compared with other lawyers.

• Number of lawyers: The number of lawyers in a law firm can also determine the classification of the law firm. A firm with over 20 lawyers cannot be compared with that having 3 lawyers.

GROUPING OR ORGANISATION OF LAW FIRMS

Law firms are grouped into the following four (4) groups:

• Sole practitionership

• Sole proprietorship

• Associateship, and

• Partnership

Most of us take fruits for different reasons. For some, the juicy savour [of that favourite fruit] is just so enticing to let go while in other instances, it’s about taking fruits religiously in order to get some essential vitamins and minerals out of them. But then while every fruit has got its own share of nutrients, there are some (fruits) that have vital substances that can help an individual gain some energy in a matter of seconds. So, if you are in need of instant energy as you go about your routine, any of these succulent fruits should work for you.

• Banana: You must have seen a couple of athletes – especially tennis players – munch banana while doing sport; the reason lies in the fact that banana help to revitalize them and also provide the energy needed to carry on. Banana is a good source of potassium and carbohydrates – it has got loads of natural sugar and enough fibre to help boost your energy level. All these nutrients as well as others [not mentioned] make banana a wonderful fruit that will liven you throughout the day.

• Strawberry: Another delicious and juicy fruit to keep you vibrant and raring to go. Strawberry has got loads of vitamins and minerals – Vitamins B¬1, B2, B3, ¬B¬5, B¬6 and B9, iron, manganese and zinc – that are essential for providing energy for carrying out certain metabolic activities. Furthermore, it contains carbohydrates and dietary fibre to ensure that you stay fit and active.

• Pawpaw: Pawpaw has got many good things about it, but one of the least known is the fact that it is an instant energy-giving fruit. More so, it is very good for relieving stress thus helping one to relax better. Pawpaw contains an essential nutrient known as choline which aids in the movement of muscles as well as the relief of stress. Again, it has rich supply of vitamin B9 and magnesium.

• Orange: Many of us will look to orange as an excellent source of vitamin C – no contention over this – but something that seems to escape our consciousness is that fruit contains its fair share of carbohydrates – fructose to be precise. Coupled with this, it also has thiamine (Vitamin B¬1) which aids in the conversion of the fructose to glucose thereby making energy readily available for metabolic processes.

• Pineapple: This is a great source of manganese, a mineral that is of immense benefit in energy production. And just like orange, it also rich supply of vitamin B1 plus fibre and natural sugars. So, the next time you feel tired, just help yourself to a slice of pineapple or better still, a cup of pineapple juice.

• Watermelon: Watermelon is another wonder fruit when it comes to gaining instant energy boost. Though, this sweet, juicy fruit as water as its major constituents, it contains enough natural sugar to provide you with some useful energy. Besides, other vitamins and minerals contained in it are also of great value.

As I bring this to a conclusion, it is important that I state here that there are many more energy-giving fruits out there, and that the fruits discussed in this article, have many more benefits that can be obtained from consuming them than just raising one’s energy level.

A good sleep is a luxury nobody would want to trade for anything else – albeit I speak for the health-conscious ones. After a long day’s work, it is not inconceivable for each and every one of us to eagerly anticipate the warm ‘embrace’ of a well laid bed as we make a transition into dreams’ world. However, it is one thing to lay on the bed and yet another (thing) to maximize the time of rest. After a good sleep, you should wake up feeling vibrant and ready to go make your world better and brighter but this is not always the case. Have you ever gotten up from bed or hit the road [to go about your daily routine] with the feeling that you are yet to wake up from your sleep; a feeling that you have been robbed of liveliness? The reason may not be unconnected to the fact that the sleeping position you chose wasn’t right for you.

Do you make conscious effort to place your body in a position of rest that guarantees sound sleep [leading to good health] or do you just ‘crash’ into the bed to while the night away? Read on to see the advantages and/or disadvantages that come with different sleeping positions:

• Laying on your back: This position may be considered best for some reasons. Firstly, as the head, neck and spines get to be placed in a neutral position, there is less pressure on these parts of the body hence feeling pain as one wakes up is not very likely. Furthermore, this position may help those experiencing heartburn – provided a pillow is under the head. However, anyone that is prone to snoring or suffering breathlessness during sleep may have to think twice before sleeping on his/her back as this position may worsen the condition. It is however worth noting that the amount of oxygen present in the lungs is relatively reduced while sleeping on your back.

• Laying on your side: Either side – left or right – has got its own advantages as well as low sides. Generally, sleeping on your side is great for alleviating back pain and can also be beneficial for those that are known to snore. But studies have shown that people who sleep on their sides have a higher tendency of experiencing premature skin aging/wrinkling. Although sleeping on the left side can affect the normal functioning of the liver, lungs and stomach; it is quite helpful for reducing acid reflux, and boosting the circulation of blood as well as the digestion of food. Plus, this particular position is also beneficial for a person who is suffering constipation. On the other hand, laying on the right side may aggravate heartburn and even increase the chance of having a high blood pressure.

• Fetal position: This is another way of sleeping on one’s side; it however involves bending the knees and tucking the chin inwards – towards the chest – while the back is rounded. This is sometimes regarded as the ‘baby position’. Though, this is adjudged to be the most popular (sleeping) position; it is far from being the best. For one, it causes pain in the neck and spine, and also puts strain to the hips. However, a study has found that sleeping in this position could be effectual in the disposal of waste from the brain thus curtailing the incidence of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

• Laying on your stomach: The only advantage that seems to be linking with laying on one’s stomach [while sleeping] is that it reduces snoring. But the harm attached to it is much more than the benefit. This position can cause the neck to ache and also puts huge pressure on muscles and joints. Additionally, this position can be somewhat detrimental to the functioning of the circulatory and respiratory systems.

Conclusion
Opinions vary among researchers as to which sleeping position is the best so, picking one may be somewhat difficult. Notwithstanding, it is advisable that one takes note of the position that provides the greatest comfort. And as much as I will not pick one as the outright best, laying on the stomach, right side or in a fetal position will never be among the options I will recommending.

Can we have you phone number?

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is working toward achieving a transmission capacity of 20,000 Megawatts (MW) by 2021, its Managing Director, Mr Usman Mohammed, has said.

Mohammed, who briefed State House correspondents on Monday at the Presidential Villa, said that the capacity of transmission was a combination of the capacity of the transformers and the lines.

According to Mohammed, TCN had installed over 3000 MW since he assumed office in February.

But you cannot say you have added the whole of that capacity; some of them are constrained by lines.

The capacity of transmission in 8,100 MW as of now but this cannot translate into capacity into houses.

There has to be a balance of generation and demand and then supply.

The total load that is connected to our network which is coming from the distribution is not more than 5kva; that is the problem.

The capacity of TCN before 2017 was 5,000; it increased to 7,124 in December 2017 and now it is 8,100mw.

We established the transmission, rehabilitation and expansion programme and the developmental objective is to rehabilitate, stabilise and expand the wheeling capacity of TCN to at least 20,000MW by 2021.

It is supposed to be four years;if you look at 2017 to 2021, it is four years; so this is the plan; we are on track andI believe we are going to achieve that target, he said.

He also said that efforts were being made to expand the combined capacity made up of generation, distribution and transmission.

According to him, it is more difficult to build a transmission network than to build that of distribution.

The managing director said that many of the equipment needed for distribution were manufactured in Nigeria while none of the transmission equipment was manufactured in Nigeria.

When we came in, there were eight transformers in failed contracts but TCN engineers had already installed six out of the eight transformers.

The remaining two are in the various stages of being installed.

Some transformers on our network are not up to standard, so, we decided not to install them.

We have taken a decision to standardise our transformers; we have hired a consultant and we have a standard design for our transformers.

So, all those transformers that get easily burnt will not happen again, he said.

Source: NAN