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Increase 2019 budget to N15 trillion – ANRP appeals

Increase 2019 budget to N15 trillion – ANRP appeals
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Budget
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2018 (NAN) The Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) has advised the Federal Government to increase the 2019 budget to N15 trillion to improve the lives of Nigerians.
The Presidential Aspirant of the party, Mr Tope Fasua, gave the advice during a news conference on Saturday in Abuja.
According to him, in gross the 2019 budget is smaller than the budget for 2018 by over N200 billion.
“It was reported in the newspapers that the federal government of Nigeria in its fiscal strategy paper is planning a budget of N8.9 trillion for the people of Nigeria for the year 2019.
“Nigeria’s population grows at about three per cent per annum. This means that an extra five or six million mouths are added to the response of government each year.
“The 2019 budget and all budgets hoping forward should not be the budgets of convenience and appurtenances for 18,000 top civil servants and politicians,
“but should be used clearly and succinctly to reflate and reboot the economy by focus on critical sectors,’’ Fasua said.
He listed the critical sectors as security, basic public education, environment, health, commerce, agriculture, rural and urban housing for the poor, tourism development and incentisation of a local textile.
He noted that the 2018 budget was being implemented in breach, saying there is little or no capital release made.
“Nigeria can generate revenue to finance the proposed ambitious N15 trillion budget through the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“The original PIB was focused on increasing signature bonuses, royalties and other advantages due to the Nigerian people.
“Other ways to generate revenue are reorganising budget management, transparency in tax, establishment of shared services agency and compulsory annual accounting,” Fasua said. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Expert raises alarm on increased kidney disease in Nigerian women

Expert alerts on increased kidney disease in Nigerian women
NAN-HG-1
Kidney
By Ibukun Emiola
Ibadan, March 7, 2018 (NAN) Dr Yemi Raji, a consultant Nephrologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCHI), says untreated medical condition peculiar to women is the leading cause of increased Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Nigeria.
Raji disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday while speaking on the theme of the 2018 World Kidney Day, which is observed every second Thursday in the month of March.
He noted that the prevalence of kidney disease in Nigeria is about 20 to 30 per cent of the country’s population; saying most people has one form of kidney disease or the other.
According to him, it accounts for 10 per cent of all medical admission in most of our teaching hospitals; sadly most people are not aware they have kidney disease because it is still in the early stage.
NAN reports that the theme for the 2018 World Kidney Day is “Kidney and Women’s health: value, and empower’’, with the aim of sensitising the public on the need to enhance women’s kidney health.
Raji stressed that women were at a disadvantage in the family and the society at large when it comes to accessing quality healthcare on kidney health as opposed to their male counterpart.
“In most parts of the world, particularly in the developing world, women are at disadvantage in terms of how you diagnose kidney disease early, how you prevent it and how you treat it.
“So at every level there is disadvantage for kidney disease diagnosis, detection and prevention among women; that’s why this year is focusing on how that trend can change.
“And looking at women and also considering the fact that there are some conditions that are peculiar to women that could lead to kidney disease and how we can sensitise the whole world both women and men about those conditions that are related to women that can lead to kidney disease.”
The nephrologist however identified cancer of the womb (endometrial cancer and cervical cancer) as the causes of chronic kidney disease in women, adding that there are other non-cancer related causes like fibroid.
He further said chronic kidney disease cuts across men, women, children and adults; with causes such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Auto Immune Disease, which is mostly common among women.
Raji further explained that “cancer is linked to kidney disease because when people have cancer there is a swelling in their tummy which compresses on the pipe that brings water from the kidney to be passed out, this causes an obstruction thereby transmitting pressure on the kidney and that destroys the kidney.
“Other problems which are not cancer related happen when there is a swelling which compresses on the pipe that takes urine away from the kidney to the outside, this obstruct the free flow of urine which destroys the kidney.
“Any obstruction that blocks the pipe that takes urine out will always lead to kidney disease, this is called obstructive neuropathy,” he said.
The nephrologist however said one out of every four Nigerian has hypertension, while more than 50 per cent of them are not aware they do and so it continues to damage the organs of the body, including kidney, heart and eyes.
“Then recently we found out that HIV is also a common cause of kidney disease among the populace; in addition there are drugs people use; a lot of pain killers, all sorts of herbal concoction and herbal medication that people take also contribute to kidney disease.
“Then we have some rare diseases, the one called Auto Immune Disease where the individual starts destroying its own organ and tissue; its own kidney just on its own without anything, the body just starts fighting and destroying itself,” he said.
Raji urged Nigerians to do regular screening by checking their blood pressure, blood sugar level, urine and do regular exercise as well as reduce salt intake and eat healthy food as means of preventing kidney disease.
“When you notice any abnormal sign see the doctor rather than do self medication; every effort should be made to prevent kidney disease as the cost of treating it is enormous,” he said. (NAN)
IBK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Agriculture

NGO advocates 10% increase in agric budget

NGO advocates 10% increase in agric budget

NAN-H-45

Food

By Awayi Kuje

Lafia, March 9, 2017 (NAN) The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), an NGO, in Nasarawa State, has advocated 10 per cent budget increase for agriculture by government at all levels to achieve national food security.

Mr Ango Adamu, the Executive Secretary of the NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lafia.

He fielded questions at this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.

Adamu said: “As you can see our NGO women wearing T-shirts advocating for 10 per cent increase in agricultural budget because the importance of agriculture cannot be over-emphasised to the development of the country.

“No society can live comfortably without agriculture.

“Agriculture is the major source of livelihood of every family, nation and its importance cannot be over-emphasised to the development of any society.

“Apart from ensuring food security, agriculture also provides job opportunities as well as boost the revenue and the socio-economic development of the state and the country at large,” he said.

According to him, if government at all levels give topmost attention to the agriculture sector, the present economic challenges facing the country will be a thing of the past.

He added that it would also reduce over-dependence on oil as the nation’s major foreign currency earner and fight poverty, youth restiveness and other social vices in the country.

The executive secretary also appealed to the government to continue to give soft loans to farmers in order to achieve food sufficiency.

The women also concurred with the executive secretary.

They said that if government increased its budget spending by 10 per cent, it would boost food production, fight poverty, and boost the revenue base of the nation.

Mrs Kasuwa Nathaniel, said: “We are here to celebrate our day and we are happy that the state government, through the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Mary Enwongulu, has made the day a reality for us.

“Our appeal is for the government to increase the agricultural budget so as to tackle poverty.

“The present hardship the nation is facing would fade away as agriculture is one of the ways that the nation can boost the economy in order to get out of recession,” she said.

Another woman, Mrs Halima Abu, also urged the government to increase agriculture budget to encourage food sufficiency.

She also urged the government to initiate projects that would have positive effects on the lives of rural dwellers for the overall development of the country.

The event also featured different women wearing T-Shirts advocating 10 per cent increase in agricultural budget.

NAN reports that the theme for this year’s IWD is: “Be Bold for Change”. (NAN)

AKW/MOL/MST

Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola