On 2021 World Diabetes Day

by Fred Nwaozor

The last time I checked, November 14 annually remained World Diabetes Day. This signifies that last Sunday, the world over commemorated the remarkable event. The day, which is an annual and international commemoration, was instituted in the year 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to help in raising public awareness on the dangers and control of diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations (UN) Day in 2007 through the passage of the UN Resolution. The day was chosen in honour of the birthday of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921.

It’s noteworthy that the campaign attached to the World Diabetes Day draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes community and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. The theme of this year’s anniversary is “Access to Diabetes Care”. It acknowledges that millions of people with diabetes around the world do not have access to diabetes care. It emphasizes that people with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications. The theme therefore stressed that we cannot wait any longer, hence urging stakeholders at all levels to provide the needed medicine, technologies, support and care for all people with diabetes that require them. It also enjoined governments to increase investment in diabetes care and prevention. Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. It is often caused by the insufficiency or lack of the hormone known as insulin, which is produced by the pancreas – a gland found behind the stomach.

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin. When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it’s broken down to produce the required energy. However this implies that, if one has diabetes, his/her body is unable to break down glucose into energy; because there’s either not enough insulin to move the glucose or the insulin being produced doesn’t work properly. There are two main types of diabetes namely: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The former is usually more delicate than the latter which is far more common. In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, the victim’s glucose level increases, which can seriously damage his body’s organs. Type 1 diabetes is often regarded as Insulin-dependent diabetes; it is also sometimes recognized as Juvenile diabetes or Early-onset diabetes, because it mostly develops before the age of forty (40) or usually during the teenage years. If one is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he would need insulin injections for the rest of his life. He would also need to pay very close attention to certain aspects of his lifestyle and health, to ensure that his blood glucose levels stay balanced at all times.

Type 2 diabetes takes place when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it cells don’t react to insulin. This type of diabetes is generally known as Insulin-resistant diabetes. Since Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, the patient may eventually need medication mainly in the form of tablets. Type 2 diabetes is in most cases associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as Maturity-onset diabetes owing to the fact that it is more common in older people. During pregnancy, some women possess high levels of blood glucose, which makes their body unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. Such condition is known as Gestational diabetes and it affects up to 18 in 100 women during pregnancy. Pregnancy can as well make existing Type 1 diabetes worse. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, therefore it’s very necessary for a pregnant woman to keep her blood glucose levels under control. Record has it that diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths per year. In several cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy, which is weeks 14 to 26, and disappears after the baby is born. But the truth remains that, women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. The general symptoms of diabetes, which often take place simultaneously, are: feeling very thirsty; urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night; feeling very tired; weight loss and loss of muscle bulk; cuts or wounds that heal slowly; blurred vision, caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry; itching around the private part or frequent episodes of thrush.

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days; whilst, many people may have Type 2 diabetes for years without realizing it because the early symptoms tend to be friendly. Statistics, according to World Health Organization (WHO), show that about 347 million people worldwide are presently suffering from diabetes. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar. The most devastating aspect of diabetes is that, almost half of the people suffering from it do not know that they have the disease. In view of this, WHO stipulates that diabetes would be the 7th leading cause of death by the year 2030. Many more people worldwide have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is referred to as Pre-diabetes. If your blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased. Thus, it’s absolutely very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it would get progressively worse if left untreated.

In general, diabetes carriers are advised to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests in order to ensure that their blood glucose levels remain balanced. Above all, they are also advised to maintain a very cordial relationship with their doctors or health experts. As the global community commemorates the World Diabetes Day anniversary, I’m using this avenue to urge the general public to endeavour to live a life that would keep them away from contracting this dreaded disease that has claimed hundreds of millions of souls as well as maimed several lives both in the past and present. They can achieve this by ensuring they consume balance diets or staying away from constant intake of starchy or sugary foods without supplementing them with other required classes of foods. The sufferers of the disease ought to also note that they can live as long as possible if necessary precautions are always taken, or if they continually stick to the modus operandi surrounding the disease, such as eating healthily, indulging in regular exercise, carrying out blood tests regularly, and consistent intake of the prescribed drugs or frequent consultation of a physician, among others. Diabetes has no absolute cure but can be prevented, or managed if contracted. Hence, it’s worthy to acknowledge we have every opportunity to live without the disease, or live healthily if eventually infected with it. Think about it.

As FEC Approves N621.23bn For Road Projects

by Fred Nwaozor

Penultimate week, precisely on 27th October 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in its not unusual weekly meeting, approved N621.23 billion for reconstruction of 21 roads covering a total distance of 1,804.6 kilometres across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. It’s noteworthy that the proposed projects are to be undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through the deployment of its own tax liabilities. The development was graciously disclosed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola while briefing the State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting held in Abuja. According to the Minister, who stated that there would be no more financing problems regarding the execution of road projects across the federation, nine among the 21 roads are in North Central, particularly Niger state. The reason is that Niger State is a major storage centre for the NNPC. He said “NNPC is doing this to facilitate the total distribution of its products across the country.”

He further gave an assurance that in the South-West, the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Agabara Junction, Ibadan to Ilorin (Oyo-Ogbomoso section) would be fixed. Three other roads are reportedly located in the North-East, two in the North-West, and two others in the South-East. The Odukpani-Itu-Ikot/Ekpene road, the minister said, had now been fully covered to resolve the problem of financing. He stated that in the South-East and South-South, there are Aba--Ikot Ekpene in Abia and Akwa Ibom States. Then the Umuahia-Ikwuamo-Ikot Ekpene road and so on. Similarly, in the North-West, it is Gada Zaima-Zuru-Gamji road, and also Zaria-Funtau-Gusau-Sokoto road. In the North-East, it is Cham, Bali Serti and Gombe-Biu roads. It could be recalled that in July this year, the FEC approved the award of a contract to Dangote Industries for the construction of five roads totalling 274.9 kilometres at the cost of N309.9 billion, reportedly advanced by the company as tax credit. In any given clime across the global community, capital projects are invariably what well-meaning citizens clamour for whenever a call to usher in good governance is raised in the public sphere. This is so, because, it is only by establishment of such projects as good road network, creation of portable water, sound health and education systems, that the governed could feel the impact of the government.

This is the sole reason the ratio between the capital and recurrent expenditures of the annual budget of a particular nation for a certain fiscal year often tends to favour the former to the detriment of the latter. It suffices to enthuse that it has become unarguable that capital expenditures usually benefit virtually the entire occupants of the concerned clime compared to recurrent expenditures that’s targeted to favour only a few. In view of these facts, successive governments all over the world that truly mean well for the governed have overtime made frantic and genuine efforts to initiate capital projects that would stand the test of time. Those who actualize this quest invariably succeed in writing their names in bold and gold. In this part of the world, particularly Nigeria, issues pertaining to governance seem to be given a different attention and interpretation by the relevant authorities. We have hitherto observed a prevalent situation whereby a certain prospective government would rigorously embark on election campaigns with the mantra to treat capital projects as priority, but would abruptly sound differently the moment it assumed duty.

This uncalled nonchalant attitude of governments at all levels has continued unabated under our nose as if the people are a set of imbeciles. Sometimes when asked for clarification by the affected citizens, the enquiry would be regarded as unimportant by the failing government. Lest we forget; on Thursday, 10th January 2019, the Federal Government (FG) led by President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of N100 billion for the Federal Ministry of Works, out of the proceeds of the Sovereign Sukuk fund, to finance critical road infrastructure across the country. The fund was for the construction and rehabilitation of 28 key economic road networks as captured in the 2018 budget. The FG disclosed that the road projects were located in the six geo-political zones of the country with each zone having a total allocation of N16.67bn. This signifies that the capital projects were evenly distributed among the entire regions. Speaking at the presentation of symbolic cheque to the concerned ministry, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed noted that “the funds will be released to the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing based on the framework agreed with the Trustees in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of proceeds.”

She added that “the Sukuk funding option is part of the initiatives of the government to diversify government funding sources, while also deepening the Nigerian capital market, mobilizing more savings and promoting financial inclusion.” The roads to be funded “will ease commuting, spur economic activities across the country and further close our infrastructural gap.” In his response, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing (now Ministry of Works and Housing), Mr. Babatunde Fashola stated thus, “roads are coming, those are assets that would enable business that would enable transport, movement of goods and services and assets that will last 25, 30 to 40 years. This is a good investment to make. So, for those who asked why are we borrowing, we are borrowing to build at today’s prices assets that will last us for another 30 years.” He further said “it will be more expensive to build but more importantly, where is the money going. As soon as I collect this cheque, I am going to give it to the contractors. But even, they can’t keep it; they have to give it to their suppliers because they need aggregates, they need materials and labourers but they first need suppliers.” The Minister went further to assure that the Buhari-led administration “Is committed to follow the part of greatness, build the foundation for tomorrow by investing in infrastructure. It means that for example, we have to raise money and I am very happy to learn that over 1,876 investors are already doing business because Buhari government decides to build. That is how to build an economy.”

Two years down the line, the ‘28 key roads’ as mentioned in the said contract are still reportedly undergoing rehabilitation in spite of all the assurances tendered therein. One may then begin to wonder the kind of country called Nigeria we found ourselves. In view of this omen, which has unabated been a recurring decimal in the Nigerian polity, the governed may have lost their trust in any government in power, or its allies. This is the reason the NNPC must take into cognizance that initiating a certain project is quite different from completing it, hence must consider the key steps needed to be followed towards ensuring the proposed projects are duly executed as planned. The contracts are required to be awarded to corporate bodies of proven background and antecedents. Thus, no compromise should be reached for whatever reason. The contracts ought to be implemented in line with the country’s Public Procurement Act, thus a levelling playing ground is expected to be provided among the prospective construction firms. In this regard, the memo for the proposed contracts should be made public to enable any interested firm apply for the job and due process ought to be followed afterwards in awarding the project to the deserving entities. Also, the contracts are meant to be awarded to only indigenous firms towards boosting our local content. So, the Executive Order 5 implemented by President Buhari must be adhered to.

When eventually awarded, the benefitting residents or communities should be properly made to comprehend the profile of the firms handling the respective projects with a view to making them able to alert/contact the relevant agencies whenever they observe any prank or foul play. It suffices to say that the beneficiaries must be a stakeholder in the overall implementation of the projects. As regards adequate monitoring, viable mobile teams comprising reliable personnel ought to be constituted by the concerned authority. This would enable a regular supervision as the work progresses. In the same vein, the contractors must be mandated to complete the projects within a given time frame, else, should be made to face sanctions. We are meant to acknowledge that initiating a capital project by the government is invariably the wish of the governed, but ensuring their completion remains their greatest desire. Think about it!

On Buhari's Sack Of The Power Minister

Fred Nwaozor

In the not unusual way and procedure of holding a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, it held on Wednesday, 1st September 2021, and was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. In the said meeting, something very remarkable and unusual happened, and such had never transpired in the history of FEC meetings under the reign of President Buhari. Therein, the number one citizen of the Nigerian State announced the outright sack of the Honourable Minister of Power in the person of Engr. Sale Mamman as well as his counterpart in the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, Mr. Mohammed Nanono. Consequently, the duo was immediately replaced with Engr. Abubakar Aliyu for Power and Dr. Mohammad Abubakar for Agric. It’s worthy of note that the new bosses were already members of the President’s cabinet, and were previously the Minister of State for Works & Housing, and Environment Minister, respectively. It suffices to say that they were redeployed.

The President, without mincing words, disclosed that the process of reshuffling his cabinet for effective impact shall be continuous, having stated that it was the “tradition of subjecting our projects and programmes implementation to independent and critical self-review through sector reporting during cabinet meetings and at retreats”. He further said the “significant review steps” had helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy as well as improve the “delivery of public good to Nigerians”. Though no definite reason was given for the President’s action, speculations had it that the abrupt development might not be unconnected with performance of the duo as ministers. However, the following day during his interview on the Channels Television, the President’s Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina refuted the claim that the sack of the ministers was linked to poor performance. The media aide said although the President must have had concrete reasons for dropping the duo, there was no place it was stated that their performance was weak, hence asked people to desist from such ill-advised speculations. It’s worth noting that the prime interest and essence of this column has been and remains tech-driven issues, thus my attention to the sack of the country’s power minister, hence this topic. It’s on record that this was the first time the President would sack any serving minister in his government since assumption to office in 2015. This was the reason this very move came as a surprise and shock to his allies, and perhaps the onlookers.

Even when the position of some of the ministers – during the President’s first term – was shrouded in myriad of controversies, and most Nigerians called for their sack without much ado, the boss seemed adamant and apparently gave a deaf ear to the development. It could be recalled that the current cabinet was constituted by the President on 21st August 2019; needless to say that the sack of the ministers came exactly two years after their inauguration. The half-time of any leadership tenure is the most suitable period to x-ray the overall performance and operations of the administration and its appointees with a view to making amends where need be. This is to assert that such action of Mr. President was orderly and acceptable, if it was genuinely done or not politically motivated. But one might wonder why he refused to make such move during his first term, between 2015 and 2019 precisely, not even when several concerns were raised by teeming Nigerians in respect of under-performance, incompetence, misappropriation, corruption, and allied matters. One could recall, I personally told the President on this column and in other fora that there was a compelling need to split the then Power, Works and Housing Ministry headed by Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and a few other well-meaning analysts equally joined in the crusade, yet our collective request wasn’t granted.

I made it clear, as at then, that the power sector deserved to have a separate ministry to be manned by a well-experienced person as minister. The President waited till his second term to do the needful. What if he didn’t succeed in his second-term bid? Notwithstanding, ‘it’s better late than never’. Two years after eventually creating a separate ministry for the power sector, the minister is being presented with a sack letter, and consequently replaced with someone else who probably is believed to possess the required requisite to perform the long-awaited magic in the troubling and dwindling sector. The big question at this juncture, which necessitated this tech-driven topic, is: the actual remedy to the Nigeria’s power sector quagmire, does it lie in the ability of the minister or the extant policies surrounding the said sector? To candidly tender the apt and succinct answer to this enquiry, we may need to revisit the history and facts book. The country’s generation sub-sector comprises about 23 grid-connected generating plants. These plants are in operation round the country with a total installed capacity of 10,396MW, with available capacity of 6,056MW.

The thermal-based generation has an installed capacity of 8,457.6MW, with available capacity of 4,996MW. The hydro-based generation possesses a total installed capacity of barely 1,938.4MW, with available capacity of 1,060MW. It’s noteworthy that the thermal segment has been sold to the private sector, except the Sapele Power Plc – generating about 414MW – that is 51% sold. Similarly, the hydro segment is under long-term concession. In its effort to increase the level of power generation in the country, the Federal Government (FG) in 2004 under the leadership of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, incorporated the Niger-Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) as a public sector funded emergency intervention scheme. The NDPHC was imbued with the mandate to manage the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), which essentially involved the construction of identified critical infrastructure in the generation, transmission, and distribution as well as the natural gas supply sub-sectors of the electric power value chain. In total, the NIPP power stations were targeted to add about 4,774MW of electricity to the national grid network. Some of these stations have been privatized while plans are underway to sell the remaining ones to interested investors towards increasing private-sector participation in the power sector, thereby improving the ongoing reform programme of the FG. In furtherance of the reform policy direction, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has in the past licensed many private Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Some of the IPPs are reportedly at various stages of project development.

This analysis implies that the generation sub-sector is currently operating under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), with almost 97% participation of the private investors. But the transmission segment is completely managed by the FG, whilst the distribution sub-sector is being operated and managed by private investors. It’s imperative to acknowledge that, even if all these generating plants are in good form, or functioning as expected, their total installed capacity will still not generate the needed Megawatts (MW) of electricity across the federation. Recently, by implementing reforms, Nigeria targeted 40,000MW generating capacity by 2020. Going by the estimate, she needed to expend approximately $10bn per annum on the power sector, to achieve the motive. Taking a painstaking cognizance of the abridged survey or review, as presented above, we would understand that the country’s lingering power crisis ought to be blamed on the epileptic policies guiding the sector, not the ability of the minister as being perceived. The fact is that, even if the best brain and most active technocrat is in charge of the Power Ministry, the sector will continue to wail and bleed.

The FG needs to, as a matter of urgency, decentralize the transmission grid, thereby giving room for each region or zone to manage their respective grids. This measure would help to eliminate the unending burden occasioned by theft, criminality, and corruption being experienced by the national grid. Hence, the private sector ought to be allowed to invest in the power transmission. There’s need for a candid legislation in this regard. In the same vein, healthy policies should also be created to encourage generation of electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar. This wouldn’t need to be connected to the national grid, hence the various states can see to its operations and management on a daily basis. The policy should equally create enabling environment to enable our trained technologists or engineers manufacture the needed devices for the generation. More so, formidable policies must be formulated by the FG to discourage the endless rampant importation of conventional household/industrial power generating devices whose operations depend solely on fuel, diesel, or gas, as the case may be. The importers of the equipment won’t live to see a functional power sector in Nigeria, hence the need for a policy or legislation to tame their unwholesome activities in the country. The political will must be worn like clothe to actualize the people’s aim. Hence, we must therefore look inwards towards solving our collective problem, rather than being myopic or shying away from the truth. Think about it!