Nigerian, US Varsities Discover Cure for Sickle Cell Anaemia

University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s Premier University.

OVER five million sickle cell patients in Nigeria and other African countries can now heave a sigh of relief as the University of Ibadan in partnership with the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA and University of Loyola, Chicago have discovered a permanent cure for the terminal disease.

The cure of the deadly disease, according to the Professor  of Medicine, Victor Gordeuk, who is the Director, Sickle Cell Centre, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA and his colleagues, Prof. Damiano Rondelli, also from the same university and Prof. Bamidele Tayo, University of Loyola, Chicago this new treatment is done through bone marrow transplant and that it is less risky.

This was revealed yesterday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan after a three-day brainstorming session with other experts in the teaching hospital.

Unlike the other conventional method of stem cell transplant which exposes patients to radiation which could cause cancer, first blood and marrow stem cell transplant, BMT, is much more effective.

The experts who were flanked by the Chief Medical Director, UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, Dr. Titilola Akingbola, an haematologist and Dr. Foluke Fasola, said this  stem cell transplant is a standard procedure for the treatment of many blood cancers in both adult and children.

He said: “With this chemotherapy-free transplant, we are curing adults with sickle cell disease, and we see that their quality of life improves fast within just one month of the transplant.

“About 90 per cent of the approximately 450 patients who have received stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease have been children. Chemotherapy has been considered too risky for adult patients, who are often more weakened than children by the disease.

“Adults with sickle cell disease can now be cured without chemotherapy — the main barrier that has stood in the way for them for so long. Our data provide more support that this therapy is safe and effective and prevents patients from living shortened lives, condemned to pain and progressive complications.”

“In the new procedure, patients receive immuno-suppressive drugs just before the transplant, along with a very low dose of total body irradiation, a treatment much less harsh and with fewer potentially serious side effects than chemotherapy.”

“ Donor cells from a healthy and tissue-matched sibling are transfused into the patient. Stem cells from the donor produce healthy new blood cells in the patient, eventually in sufficient quantity to eliminate symptoms. In many cases, sickle cells can no longer be detected. Patients must continue to take immunosuppressant drugs for at least a year.

The CMD, Prof. Alonge who called for support from government, philanthropists, donour agencies and corporate bodies like banks and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for provision of equipment and completion of the sickle cell centre, described sickle cell as a disease of bone crisis which the patient suffers from head to toe.

He added that Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disorder due to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin in the red blood cells, called haemoglobin S (Hb S) instead of haemoglobin A (Hb A). Haemoglobin in the red blood cell is responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the body.

Vanguard

Election Monitoring: Tanzanians Laud Jonathan’s Exemplary Record

Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is leading the 54-member nations of the Commonwealth as part of the international observers to monitor the Tanzanian general election scheduled for October 25 is billed to leave the country this Monday for Dar es Salaam.

Reports indicated that Jonathan is walking into the warm embrace of many Tanzanians who are upbeat and confident that his presence would bring credibility to the polls which analysts consider the toughest and closest elections in the country’s history.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party which has been in power since the country’s return to multiparty democracy in 1992 is up against a united opposition that has increasingly been making significant electoral gains.

As Tanzanians prepare to vote in either side, they are happy that high profile observers including Jonathan, who they consider as ‘a hero of free and fair election in Africa’, would be on ground to monitor the elections. They are hoping that their presence would ensure a transparent and peaceful election process.

Paying tribute to Jonathan in a recent editorial ahead of the elections, The Daily News of Tanzania commended the former president for taking his defeat in the last presidential election “in all magnanimity,” adding that “Jonathan may very well have averted bloodshed that is characteristic of incumbent leaders who cling in power tooth and nail, fang and claw! What lesson is there in this for us in Tanzania, pray?”

In the editorial entitled: ‘Salutary lessons for Tanzania from Nigeria’s latest elections; the paper said further: “It is generally admitted that the election in Nigeria was unprecedentedly free, fair and transparent, whereby the opposition candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, won the Presidency. What is more remarkable is that the incumbent president who sought re-election, Goodluck Jonathan, … most graciously accepted the results promptly!

“Oh, I don’t know beyond the fact that Tanzania could tragically do worse if it fails to dedicatedly take a leaf out of Nigeria’s newest book on elections!”

Similarly, the Guardian of Tanzania also poured encomiums on former President Jonathan, describing him as a democrat who has pointed the way forward for the rest of Africa.

In its own editorial comment entitled ‘High profile figures among observers will add credibility to poll process, results’, The Guardian stated: “Jonathan’s voluntary handover of power to the opposition wrote a new chapter for Nigeria’s democracy, given the fact that it is rare for sitting presidents in Africa to hand over powers to winning opposition parties.”

Reports also indicate that the people of Tanzania are happy to see Jonathan lead the Commonwealth election monitoring team because of his exemplary feat of conceding defeat even before the end of the electoral process and subsequently handing over power to the opposition party.

While in Tanzania, Jonathan is billed to meet with the country’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, other heads of delegation as well as the local and international media.
President Muhammed Buhari profusely praised Jonathan for being magnanimous enough to initiate a telephone conversation where he conceded defeat even before the final votes were tallied, thus saving the nation from predicted Armageddon.

While receiving the handover notes from the former President, Buhari had said: “What I will say is since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that, you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi party democracy system and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.

“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.

“If you (Jonathan) had attempted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you choose the part of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much your excellency.”

ThisDay

Nigerian Univeristy Don Sights Rare “Flying Lizard”

A rare species of lizard, known as Neon blue-tailed tree lizard, has been spotted in a forest in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, about 49 years after it was first reported to have been seen in Nigeria.

Known by its scientific name, Holaspis guentheri, the lizard is recorded in Global Biodiversity Information Facility to have first been sighted in Nigeria, at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, in March, 1966 by an English conservationist, H. B. Wesselman.

It is popularly called flying lizard because of the way it glides from one tree trunk to another, to feed on insects or escape from predators.

Very colourful in nature, the flying lizard looks like the five-line skink.

A Senior Lecturer, Wildlife Resources Management, University of Uyo, Dr. Edem A. Eniang, sighted the lizard in Akai Edoho forest, Eket, where he had accompanied a fellow Uniuyo lecturer, Prof. Kingsley Akpabio, for a UNDP-sponsored biodiversity research project.

“As soon as I saw it I realised that I have never seen this kind of lizard before in my life. In fact, I shouted on a female student in our team to bring me a better camera because she was helping to hold my camera bag. But because of the way I screamed with excitement she ran in the opposite direction, probably thinking I saw a snake,” Dr. Eniang told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr. Eniang succeeded in capturing images of the lizard from a distance of about 10 metres from the ground, using a small under-water camera which he said wasn’t good enough for such photography.

But then, for several months he had difficulty identifying what species of lizard it was until he emailed its pictures to a world renowned herpetologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Zoology, University of Rome, Italy, Prof Luca Luiselli, who identified it as ‘flying lizard’.

Another rare species of lizard sighted and photographed by Mr. Eniang at about the same time he spotted the flying lizard is yet to be identified.

“It’s a great sighting,” Prof. Luiselli told Dr. Eniang in a response to his email.

Prof. Akpabio, a lecturer at Uniuyo’s Department of Botany and also the team-lead for the UNDP Environment Project, corroborated Dr. Eniang’s claims on the sighting of the flying lizard in Akai Edoho forest, adding that the sighting of the rare lizard had heightened his concern over the continuous destruction of forests by people in the local communities.

Mr. Eniang said both him and Prof. Akpabio had since revisited the forest thrice, but not really to look out for the flying lizard.

“We can’t determine their population in that forest unless we do intensive search,” Mr. Eniang said.

He explained how significant the sighting of the lizard is to Nigeria and the global community.

“It shows that this lizard is still alive in Nigeria, and not extinct,” the lecturer said. “Also, it adds to the global spread because it is endemic to West Africa, and to some extent, East Africa. It is not even a global species.‎

“I can assure you, this lizard has great potentials to boost eco-tourism in Akwa Ibom State, and maybe a further impetus to encouraging the government and people of Akwa Ibom State to set up a protected area, maybe a national park, a biosphere reserve, a nature reserve or world heritage site.

“This is because we must know that Akwa Ibom falls within the continuous tropical rainforest zone that is classified as biodiversity hotspot for the world, from the gulf of Guinea all the way down to the Sanagha River in Cameroun.”

Dr. Eniang, from Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has spent 20 years in field biological research as an herpetologist.

The West African zebra gecko, otherwise known as Hemidactylus eniangii, is named in his honour for being the first person to collect the rare species of gecko nine years ago.

PremiumTimesNG

TOTAL: Three Main Exploration and Production Projects in Nigeria

In addition to projects in sectors strategic for its growth, Total is involved in several other new exploration and production projects throughout the world. Nigeria, one of Total’s biggest foreign exploration and production investments shall witness a huge chunk of it’s strategic expansion projects.

THE IMA PROJECT

The IMA offshore project will consolidate Total’s presence in the Nigerian gas sector while also contributing to development in the coastal communities of the Niger Delta.

Total is a partner in the IMA offshore gas project operated by Amni, located in Oil Mining Leases (OML) 112 and 117. The capacity of this field is estimated at 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Total holds a 40% interest in the project. Amni is the other partner (concessionaire), with a 60% stake.

Total’s presence in the IMA project strengthens our positions in Nigeria’s booming gas sector.

IMA extends over 50 square kilometers (km²) in the eastern Niger Delta, in a water depth of 10 m. The Nigerian oil company Amni joined forces with Total to draw on our technical experience and tap the gas potential of this field. Total and its local partner are contributing to resource development in Nigeria.

The IMA field development will go hand in hand with community development initiatives focusing on education, especially in coastal communities.

OFON PHASE 2

Tapping as-yet undeveloped reserves safely and incorporating solutions for lasting environmental progress.

Nigeria’s Ofon field, on stream since 1997, is about 60 kilometers from Port Harcourt in 40 meters of water. The second phase of field development raises output from the current 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) to a total of 90,000 boe/d of oil, gas and condensate. Phase 2 sharply reduces Total’s greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating flaring during routine operations. We monetize the associated gas from the field, a major step forward for the environment. During the whole field development phase until the start in January 2015, we deployed an array of technical innovations and implemented our most extensive local content programs in the country to date.

THE OML-58 UPGRADE PROJECT

The OML-58 upgrade project will increase the capacity of the block’s production facilities and keep local communities closely involved in the project.

Total is operator on the additional condensate gas development project on onshore lease OML-58. Start-up of the new facilities with expanded capacity is expected in 2013.

Total has a 40% interest in the project. Its partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC, concessionaire) holds the remaining 60%.

Upgrading the facilities of OML-58 is consistent with Total’s strategy of maximizing production to enhance the value of resources in the Niger Delta.

When completed in 2013, the OML-58 Upgrade will raise the condensate gas treatment capacity from 10 to 15 million cubic meters per day (Msm3/d). This entails building a second treatment train at the Obite Treatment Centre, modernizing the facilities of the Obite gas plant, and building a 42-inches/45-km gas pipeline to handle the new volumes for export to the Bonny LNG plant.

Total is contributing to economic and social development in the region by involving local communities in the project: 90% of the total hours worked will be performed locally.

TOTAL

Chile 2015: Nigeria cruise past USA to start U-17 World Cup title defense

The USA lost their opening match in the Chile U-17 World Cup, 2-0 to Nigeria, thanks to second-half goals from Chukwudi Agor and Victor Osimhen. The USA simply looked outclassed for the majority of the match and when Auston Trusty was ejected late for stomping on Osimhen, it completed a miserable day for the Yanks.

Unable to break the pressure brought by the defending champions, the Americans looked quite a cut below the average, particularly in the back. Agor’s goal came off a dreadful defensive error – as it happens, from Trusty. Trusty shanked a clearance in the box into traffic, and John Nelson was unable to sweep it away on the second attempt. Agor simply ran onto it and blew the ball past William Pulisic in the net. Osimhen, Nigeria’s leading scorer in qualifying, exploited the centerbacks again to put the game to bed on the hour, simply heading the ball past Trusty and Hugo Arrelano to fire home cleanly.

The young Americans’ odds in this tournament were always long. Despite fielding a largely professional squad, the USA had missed out on the last edition of this biennial tournament, and only barely squeaked back into this one. Richie Williams’ squad survived a six-round penalty shootout in March against Jamaica just to get into Chile, and were rewarded with a tough draw into what is arguably the tournament’s group of death. The Americans also have not won a knockout game in the U-17 World Cup since 1999 and alongside the defending champions, the USA will have to face the hosts and a tricky Croatia side.

On the evidence of today’s game, the Americans will unfortunately continue what has been a bad run for the program overall. US Soccer is already reeling from shambolic losses to Mexico and Costa Rica by the full national team, and the Olympic side is not favored in their one game playoff against Colombia to get to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Many of the failings those teams showed – a lack of tactical and technical acumen, an inability to play at pace – were also on display here, indicating perhaps that the youth pipeline is quite dry.

Read more – FoxSports

Total Completes OML 58 Projects, Records High Nigerian Content Achievements

Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited has said that it exceeded Nigerian Content targets in the execution of Oil Mining Lease 58 upgrade projects which it completed recently.

The OML 58 is located onshore in Rivers States, approximately 85 kilometers North West of Port Harcourt and the upgrade projects were designed to improve oil recovery, boost gas supply for industrial and domestic use and increase deliveries to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) while meeting the Federal Government’s Gas flare out policy.

Oil production from OML started in 1966 from Obagi field while gas production started in 1999 from Ibewa. Gas export from the facility to Bonny NLNG is through the GTS1 while oil is exported to Shell Bonny terminal through SPDC lines at Rumuekpe.

Giving a breakdown of the project during a visit by the NCDMB media crew recently, the Project General Manager, Engr. Kayode Akiode listed the components to include the upgrade of the Ogbogu Flow Station, erection of a new Field Logistics Base, construction of a new Obite Gas Treatment Centre, construction of the 42 kilometer O.U.R Pipeline from Obite to Rumuji and the construction of 50 kilometer 24inch Northern Option Pipeline (NOPL).

Listing key Nigerian Content achievements on the Obite Gas Plant and Ogbogu Flow Station, Akiode stated that detailed engineering on the project was done by Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited and Cakasa while Carbon Steel was executed by Dormanlong Nigeria.

Another major Nigerian Content accomplishment on the project was also the Obagi pipe insulation which was executed by Deepwell Technical Nigeria led by Mr. Lawrence Ezeh.

Other Nigerian companies that executed key scopes on the projects included NEGRIS, PNL, CHIMESS and LUBROK Nigeria.

Firms like Point Engineering, DAMAGIX Nigeria, Pipe Coaters, SURVICON, Fezinar, Sanaglobe and MUDIAME were among other firms that worked on other aspects of the project.

According to the General Manager, the company set out to achieve 70 per cent Nigerian Content on the upgrade of the Ogbogu Flow Station but exceeded expectations by recording 73 per cent.

He also reported that Total targeted 78 per cent on the O.U.R Pipeline but achieved 79 per cent while it accomplished 91 per cent Nigerian Content on the Northern Option Pipeline (NOPL) as against the target of 89 per cent.

The OML 58 upgrade project also sponsored and trained 247 Nigerian youths in diverse areas including machining, welding, instrumentation, pipe welding and pipe fitting, with 42 of them getting their training in Norway and Namibia.

In its determination to develop its host communities on the back of the project, Akiode said Total E&P signed 25 memorandum of understanding. The highlight of the MoU is that the members of the community constituted 100 per cent of unskilled labour that worked on the project, 60 per cent of semi-skilled labour and 40 per cent of skilled personnel.

The company also committed to train over 100 community personnel on welding, and fitting, scaffolding and other specialised skills.

He put the number of contracts awarded to community contractors at 2,743 even as he said that steady power supply to its primary host communities-Egi has been provided free since 2005 at the annual cost of $1.7m.

NCDMB

Nigeria: Leventis Motors Completes Auto Plant in Nigeria

Lagos — Leventis Motors, a division of A.G Leventis Nigeria Plc has announced the completion of its auto assembly plant in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The new plant can assemble Foton close to 1,000 capacity,according to the company’s Head of Commercial Vehicles, Nikos Giannousas

He disclosed this in Lagos at the launch of five models of brand new light duty trucks namely; BJ1020, BJ 1039, BJ1049, BJ 1069 and BJ 1151.

He explained that the launch of the new models was in line with the company’s desire to serve its increasing number of customers in the country with quality and affordable products that can stand the test of time.

He said the launch was not just another customers’ event but one designed to build robust partnership.

He said it is not enough to stay with customers alone, adding that Leventis Motors is working to build partnership with stakeholders in the auto sector.

He said that Leventis Motors has already built an assembly plant in Ibadan and can assemble Foton vehicles up to 1, 000 capacity.

He also pointed out that there are provisions for financial options through Leventis Motors and some designated banks such as Stanbic IBTC bank.

Speaking,Head of After-Sales, Leventis Motors, Chris Thornton, said Leventis Motors is known for sales of reputable and genuine auto products, adding that the company has had the privilege of maintaining trucks for Nigerian companies such as Nigerian Bottling Company Limited.

AllAfrica

Huawei Marine Completes Marine Installation of Nigeria-Cameroon Submarine Cable System

NCSCS lands in Lagos in Nigeria

Huawei Marine Networks Co. Ltd. (Huawei Marine), a global submarine network provider, today announced that it has completed marine installation of the Nigeria-Cameroon Submarine Cable System (NCSCS) and achieved a major step towards system ready for service in Q4 2015.

The NCSCS is Cameroon’s first submarine cable with all investment provided solely by the Cameroon Government. Spanning approximately 1,100 km, marine installation of the NCSCS system began in mid-June, 2015, to provide a direct link between Kribi in Cameroon with Lagos in Nigeria. The system also incorporates branching units for future connection to Escravos and Qua Iboe in Nigeria’s Southeast region.

“NCSCS will bring an enhanced end-user experience through faster, more reliable international connectivity, which will facilitate affordable broadband services and increase broadband penetration rates throughout the region” said Mike Constable, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Marine. “It has paved the way for improving the communications infrastructure across Southeast Nigeria and Cameroon. Completion of NCSCS will realize phase one of Cameroon’s strategies to implement a National Broadband Network, which will enable international connectivity to Europe and beyond and significantly boost the economic and commercial development of Cameroon.”

Delivering 12.8 Tbps of capacity to broadband users in both countries, the NCSCS system utilizes the world’s first titanium-cased six-fiber pair erbium-doped fiber amplifier developed by Huawei Marine. This innovative product, the result of many years of development and qualification brings the substantial advantage of being not only smaller but 40% lighter than any other erbium-doped fiber amplifier; which supports enhanced burial capability through simultaneous lay and burial beneath the seabed to reduce both marine installation costs and associated system risks.

“Huawei Marine is thrilled to have achieved this project milestone. Our teams have worked closely with our subcontractor Global Marine Systems Ltd. to deliver the system on time and to specification. We’re committed to building a global platform that services the growing needs of our diverse customers, through our innovated turnkey solutions,” added Jas Dhooper, Vice President Service Delivery, Huawei Marine.

Huawei

Dangote Cement commissions Tanzanian Plant

Nigerian Cement Conglomerate, Dangote Cement has commissioned its 3 million tpy cement plant in Mtwara, Tanzania. The plant reportedly cost some US$600 million to build and will provide direct employment for about 1500 people and further indirect employment for some 9000 people. The new plant is located in Msijute in Mtwara Rural District.

The additional capacity brought to the market is expected to bring down cement prices in Tanzania, which currently range between Sh.12 500 – 13 500 per 50 kg bag. During the commissioning ceremony, Aliko Dangote, the company’s Chief Executive, expressed his intention to make Africa a cement export continent, rather than being import-dependent. The company has plans to be present in 18 countries, mostly across Africa but also in Nepal in Asia. The Tanzanian plant is the fourth to commissioned this year as part of the company’s expansion strategy, and it hopes to commission plants in Senegal and South Africa before the end of the year.

Mr Dangote has been praised by many for the investment he has put into Africa. A representative for the President of Nigeria spoke at the commissioning ceremony, saying that Africa is taking its destiny into its own hands rather than waiting on outside investment. In turn, Mr Dangote praised the government and people of Tanzania for providing an environment that enabled investment.

WorldCement

‘Nigeria ranks as fifth highest exporter of football talents’ – CIES

A study by research outfit, CIES Football Observatory, has revealed that Nigeria is the fifth highest exporter of football talents in the world and the biggest in Africa.

The report, the eight in the CIES Football Observatory’s monthly report, which focuses on international migration in football, reveals that Nigeria’s figure of 596 players scattered in leagues across the world, is only lower to biggest exporter, Brazil (1,784), Argentina (929), France (758) and Serbia (607).

The analysis includes a record number of 6,135 clubs and 458 leagues of 183 countries worldwide.
While Brazil is the most represented origin among foreigners both in Europe (1,137 players) and in Asia (437 players), Argentina is the main exporting country at Latin American level (511 players compared to only 124 Brazilians).

The CIES Football Observatory report entitled “Exporting countries in world football” provide an overview of migration of footballer’s around the world.

It said the dataset was not precisely defined but included “6,135 clubs and 458 leagues of 183 countries.”
“18,660 foreign players of 194 origins,” representing 13 per cent of the total number of players included in the analysis, have been identified.

On regional basis, Brazil by far provides the largest foreign contingent in Asia, with Asian clubs tending to favour foreigners from outside the continent, including Africans, who are well represented in the AFC.

While Brazil dominates exports to other parts of the world, Argentina exports the highest number of players to South America, with about 30 per cent of the foreign players in the region’s leagues.

In Europe, Brazil has the largest foreign contingent (8.5 per cent), followed by France and Serbia. But the most foreigners (56.1 per cent) come from other European nations.

The body devotes a section of its report on the U.S., which shows a “marked diversification of international recruitment.
“The further development of football in the United States will, without doubt, be accompanied by an increase in transfers on a worldwide level. In the race for new talent, US teams will progressively become tougher rivals for European, Asian and South American clubs.”

– TheGuardian