INSTANT NEWS

Professor Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka, a soil science expert at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike, Abia State, has cautioned farmers against planting crops at dumpsites, warning that it could lead to cancer. Speaking during a community outreach event, she expressed concerns about poor soil texture in the southeast region and advocated for measures to mitigate looming food insecurity. Onwuka identified harmful cultural practices such as bush burning, population pressure, climate change, erosion, and indiscriminate fertilizer use as major factors affecting soil fertility and leading to poor yields. She warned farmers to avoid planting crops at waste dump sites, as heavy metals like mercury, lead, and chromium can be absorbed by crops and lead to cancer and other health conditions. The professor also addressed the recent surge in food prices, encouraging Nigerians to grow their own crops. She demonstrated biochar production and organic fertilizer conversion using domestic and agricultural waste, urging Abia farmers to utilize MOUAU's community services to boost food production. Onwuka lamented the difficulty rural women face in accessing fertilizers and emphasized the importance of extending research innovations to rural farmers to enhance food production in Abia and Nigeria.

Pharmacist Umeh Camillus Chibueze, MD/CEO of Camillus Pharmaceuticals, has warned that many people are unaware they have been infected with cholera, a highly infectious disease that can lead to dehydration and death if left untreated. Chibueze attributes the spread of cholera to poor sanitation, crowding, and inadequate healthcare, and criticizes the government for not doing enough to stem the tide. Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, found in contaminated food or water. Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration, which can lead to death if left untreated. Chibueze notes that most people infected with cholera are unaware of their status, and can still infect others through contaminated water or food. To prevent the spread of cholera, Chibueze recommends avoiding tap water, well water, raw food, and undercooked seafood. He also advises drinking bottled water, eating prepackaged food, disinfecting water, washing fruits and vegetables with clean water, and avoiding street vendor food. Chibueze emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Chibueze also criticizes the government's response to the cholera outbreak, citing a lack of effective policy and awareness. He calls for increased education and awareness, similar to the approach taken by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the US. By taking preventive measures and improving healthcare infrastructure, Chibueze believes that cholera can be prevented and controlled.

Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Transformation and Orientation Initiative, a advocacy group, has condemned the continued mistreatment of Nigerians in diaspora, describing the situation as alarming. The group visited the headquarters of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja to protest the general maltreatment of Nigerian citizens abroad, with a specific focus on the detention of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji in Benin Republic. According to DAILY POST, Nigerians had recently staged a protest at the Benin Republic Embassy in Abuja, urging the Nigerian government to intervene in Pastor Egbaji's case and address the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in several countries. Samson Eze, media coordinator of the group, led the delegation to NiDCOM and stated that over 5,000 Nigerians are currently detained in Benin Republic, in addition to Pastor Egbaji. Eze expressed disappointment that the Nigerian government has not taken sufficient action to address the situation, despite the country's proximity to Nigeria. He called on the government to apply the principle of reciprocity and demonstrate its power in response to the unacceptable behavior from the authorities in Benin Republic. The group also suggested that Pastor Egbaji may have been set up due to his popularity in the country, and lamented the hatred and victimization of Nigerians in diaspora. Responding, NiDCOM spokesman Abdur-Rahman Balogun assured the group that the government has intervened in Pastor Egbaji's case by providing additional legal representation, which he believes will help in his case. Balogun stated that the government will apply diplomatic efforts to ensure justice for the Nigerian detainee, but advised Nigerians to be law-abiding in their host countries. He emphasized that the government's intervention would be more effective if cases against Nigerians abroad are not based on criminality and infringement of the laws of their host countries. The group's visit to NiDCOM is a follow-up to their previous protests and calls for the government to take action against the maltreatment of Nigerians in diaspora. The continued detention of Pastor Egbaji and other Nigerians in Benin Republic has sparked outrage among Nigerians, with many calling for the government to take decisive action to protect its citizens abroad.