ONE WORD

Turmeric Malaria plant, turmeric, garlic top herbal ‘cures’ for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis There are mixed results for local plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug-resistant strains especially in Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) patients in Nigeria. While some plants such as the malaria plant, Artemisia annua, turmeric and garlic showed great promise against multi-drug resistant strains of TB, some other local plants have failed in clinical tests. Indeed, the emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively-drug resistant (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has further complicated the problem of TB control. In one study, researchers could not validate the anti- tuberculosis activities of some medicinal plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis in HIV patients. The team of researchers from Nigeria, United Kingdom (U.K.), India and Colombia evaluated claims by local herbalists in Nigeria that extracts of certain parts, t

FILE PHOTO: Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki. PHOTO: REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo The leader of Kwara’s crumbling dynasty has reportedly conceded defeat even as he urged his party to fight to the finish, apparently hoping for a political miracle in the gubernatorial and state assembly elections this Saturday. The margins of defeat from the February 23 elections are indisputable just like the resolve of the electorate to break away from the past; a past characterised by cronyism, ineptitude, deceit and profligacy. For over four decades, the Saraki political dynasty has held sway dictating who gets what in Kwara State. The patriarch of the dynasty, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, was very popular among his people due to his politics of inclusiveness. He consistently shared in their pains and joy. This perhaps led to his election into the upper chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly and his emergence as the leader of the Senate in 1979. From 1979, Saraki installed c

By Henry Ojelu With the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party, lodging their petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, challenging the outcome of the February 23, 2019 presidential election, the attention of Nigerians is gradually shifting to the tribunal, where the knotty issue of technicalities have not been fully addressed. court Though the elections are not over as the governorship and state House of Assembly election is scheduled for this Saturday, the need for election petitions to be decided on merit and on time have been an on-going campaign. Until the recent amendment of the Electoral Act, there was no time limit for the disposal of election petitions, as the inauguration of the victorious candidates comes immediately after election, but the campaign has been for the inauguration to only take place after the final determination of petitions, hence the limit in time frame for the conclus

VP, Osinbajo and President Buhari …we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart. Our government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open. That is the way to build the country of our dream – Muhammadu Buhari, after being announced winner of 2019 presidential poll. In our traditional winner-takes-all approach to elections, and with Nigeria more sundered now than at any other time in our history, the only sane path to follow in order to heal poll-inflicted wounds and distrust and draw all back into the common ground, is a resort to an inclusive government President Buhari is talking about. He has also pleaded with his party members and supporters to be reticent in excitement. He says: ‘’I would like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.’’ What you do about the grief caused your defeated opponent is the real test of your integrity.

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) under-performed in the funding of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state between 2017 and 2018 due to paucity of funds, a report of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) of activities of the Fund has revealed. Naira The Social Impact Assessment Report on LSETF Projects conducted by Sages Consult Limited with the support of Ford Foundation showed that LSETF posted 41.8 percent effectiveness within the period, funding 7,817 MSMEs as against the expected 18,705 by 2018. The main objective of the SIA was to evaluate the impact of LSETF activities on beneficiaries based on jobs created and business growth and based on the Fund’s mandate to provide financial support to residents of Lagos State, for job and wealth creation and to tackle unemployment. The report noted that the Fund achieved less than half of planned disbursements at the same period with an effectiveness of 41.8 percent, disbursing to 7,817 MSMEs out of 18,705 a

NSUKKA—The people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone have risen and intensified efforts towards the realisation of the appointment of an indigenous vice chancellor for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. University of Nigeria Nsukka Rising from a town hall meeting of the zone, Nsukka Town Union resolved to be more united in the struggle for an indigenous vice chancellor of the University which was cited on the soft green hills of Nsukka in 1960 and ever since then, the vice-chancellorship position continued to elude the people inspite of all the efforts made in the recent past for the zone to produce an indigenous vice chancellor. Addressing the people, a prominent community leader and Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor on Market Matters, Chief Aniebonam Ezugwu (Ike Echara) harped on the need for Nsukka to produce the next Vice-Chancellor of the University as the incumbent vice-chancellor Prof Benjamin Ozumba winds up his tenure June this year. “Nsukka can’t

By Michael Eboh Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company, AEEPCo, yesterday faulted claims by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, that it is trying to frustrate investigation into the fire incident in one of its facilities in Nembe, Bayelsa State. Aiteo, in a statement in Abuja, declared that NOSDRA’s assertions seem inconsistent with available evidence and suggests ‘either a communication gap within the organisation or an unexplainable fabrication.” NOSDRA, had on Monday, accused Aiteo of frustrating efforts to investigate the incident. Oil platform Francis Umeh, Head of NOSDRA’s Field Office in Bayelsa had disclosed that the stance of the oil firm was slowing NOSDRA from promptly carrying out its mandate. Umeh also accused Aiteo of not reporting the incidence within 24 hours of occurrence as stipulated by law. “The incident occurred on Friday and it took them some time to report it officially to NOSDRA; we have plans to visit the si