A commonly used blood thinner can be used as an antidote to cobra venom, an international study has found, research that a Queenslandexpert has called “really exciting”.

In the study, published in the Journal of Science Translational Medicine on Thursday, Prof Nicholas Casewell described snakebites as the “deadliest of neglected tropical diseases, with its burden landing overwhelmingly on rural communities in low and middle income countries”.

Cobra bites are usually treated using antivenom administered through an intravenous drip, meaning the drug reaches the bloodstream rather than the tissue. Antivenom treatments are therefore ineffective in treating necrosis, the irreversible death of body tissue, which can lead to amputation or a loss of limb function. Treatment is also expensive, and it can take days for patients to get to a hospital.

The lead author of the study, Tian Du from the University of Sydney, said if human trials were successful, heparin – a blood thinner that can directly reach infected tissue – could be used on-site, most likely in combination with other drugs.

Du said after successful human trials, heparin, which is a World HealthOrganization-listed essential medicine, could be rolled out relatively quickly to become a cheap, safe and effective drug for treating cobra bites.

While she said it was unclear at this stage how much heparin would reduce tissue damage, she was hopeful that damage will be reduced by 50% to 100%, depending on the dosage and how quickly the drug is delivered.

The WHO has announced a goal of halving the number of deaths and disability due to snakebites by 2030, having recognised snakebites as a priority among neglected tropical diseases. While the number of people bitten by cobras is unclear, cobra species account for most snakebite incidents in parts of India and Africa.

The research team analysed which genes are targeted by snake venom. They then identified these genes are responsible for producing heparan sulfate on the surface of cells, as well as heparin sulfate, which is released in an immune response. Heparin acts as a decoy antidote binding to and neutralising toxins within the venom which causes tissue damage.

The researchers used the same method to find an antidote to box jellyfish venom in 2019, and are working on finding similar antidotes for Australian black snakes and blue bottle stings.

Associate Prof Bryan Fry, a venom expert at the University of Queensland who wasn’t involved in the study, said the research was “really exciting stuff”.

“Cobra venoms cause profound local tissue damage … it’s like you’ve injected the person with acid,” he said. “This is the first study of its type with this particular toxin class and the action that it has.”

The Guardian, UK

FCT Abuja: The protests in Abuja were marked by roadblocks on major roads, particularly the Zuba-Kubwa expressway, where protesters restricted access except for vehicles with leaves. Security forces struggled to disperse the groups, which kept regrouping. In Asokoro, protesters defied gunshots and teargas, marching towards the seat of power and causing significant disruptions. A PREMIUM TIMES journalist was attacked and injured by police while covering the protests.

Lagos State: Protests in Lagos saw police dispersing crowds with teargas at the Lekki tollgate, a site of significance from the 2020 anti-police brutality protests. Demonstrations occurred in Ikeja, Ojota, and Lekki despite a court order restricting protests to designated parks.

Niger State: Soldiers reopened the Abuja-Kaduna highway after protesters had blocked it for hours. There were reports of deaths and arrests following confrontations between security forces and protesters. Hoodlums set part of the Tafa LGA secretariat on fire, leading to 11 arrests.

Nasarawa State: Thousands of youths blocked the Makurdi/Jos highway, making it difficult for security operatives to manage the situation. Protesters held placards demanding President Tinubu's resignation and the reversal of fuel subsidy removal.

Borno State: A 24-hour curfew was declared in response to a bomb explosion and ongoing protests. The curfew was intended to restore peace and order.

Kano State: Violent protests in Kano resulted in the death of one person and the burning of a filling station and the NCC office. The governor declared a 24-hour curfew to curb the escalating violence.

Yobe State: In Potiskum, protesters set seven buses ablaze, prompting a 24-hour curfew in several towns. Security forces struggled to control the violence.

Katsina State: Protests near former President Buhari's residence involved bonfires and chants against hunger and bad governance. The APC office in Dutsinma was burnt, one protester was killed, and a police officer was injured as protests turned violent. Commercial activities were halted as protesters demanded government action on hunger, insecurity, and fuel subsidy restoration.

Oyo State: Hundreds of young people and residents marched across major roads in Ibadan, protesting poor governance and hunger. They demanded the scrapping of the 1999 Constitution, investment in education, reversal of fuel prices, and food price control. The protests were peaceful, with no injuries or acts of violence reported. The protesters vowed to continue until their demands are met.

Overall, the protests highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the government, marked by significant disruptions, clashes with security forces, and sporadic violence across multiple states.

Akwa Ibom:

- Low protest turnout due to rain.

- Confusion over protest location, initially set at Plaza but changed to Cenotaph.

- Protesters demand end to bad governance, criticize temporary palliatives.

Delta State:

- Four journalists attacked by anti-protesters in Asaba.

- Protesters in Port Harcourt called for constitutional change and reversal of fuel subsidy removal.

Warri and Surrounding Areas:

- Residents avoided protest due to heavy security presence.

- Limited commercial activities and high fuel prices reported.

- Protests in Ughelli and Sapele started late but remained peaceful.

Rivers State

- Governor Fubara appealed for peace, promising improvements in governance.

- Shops, banks, and public offices shut, reflecting widespread support for the protest.

- Protesters in Bayelsa clashed with youths opposed to the hunger protest but were protected by police.

- In Ughelli North, protesters were teargassed by security agents, leading to tyre burning and road blockades.

Edo State:

- Streets deserted in Benin City as major roads and businesses closed.

- Heavy security presence at government buildings.

- Protesters gathered peacefully, demanding better governance and reduced fuel prices.

- Skirmishes reported in outskirts with hoodlums attempting to hijack the protest.

We the undersigned, Nigerian Baptists home and abroad, read with great interest the recent communication penned by the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Israel Akanji. In the communication addressed to "the entire Nigerian Baptist Convention family", and under the title "On the planned protest", Akanji raised concerns about the nationwide protest being organised by a coalition of Nigerian civil society groups, and scheduled to commence on Thursday 1st August, 2024. The Convention President asserted, inter alia, that the protest was being "awaited" by people desperate to unleash violence on "our beautiful nation". He was also emphatic in his conviction that "the outcome of the protest will draw our nation many decades backward". In one of the more telling passages in this communication, the Convention president, in reference to 1 Timothy 2:1-3, declared that "there is no way one can be steeped in this word of God and other similar Scriptures and continue to advocate for a protest, which one can predict would be hijacked".

We found the intervention of the Convention President to be deeply concerning and unsettling, not least because of the timing and context. We fear that our respected President has regrettably positioned himself on the wrong side of history on this matter. We are sad that the Convention president has not only missed a historic opportunity to identify with longsuffering citizens in their time of distress, but he has doubled down on the hapless citizens, invoking the Scriptures to delegitimise their cries for help. Our Baptist leader appears to have ignored the spirit and intent of the mandate to "seek justice. Defend the Oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" (Isaiah 1:17). In the circumstances, it behoves on us as joint heirs of the Grace of God in Christ Jesus, to raise our considered and conscientious objections to the President's letter, and in support of the rights, nay duty, of citizens to use every peaceful means to call elected leaders to account and demand better governance and improved outcomes for all.

We set out our key positions as follows, in response to the major issues raised by the president:

1. Organised citizens protest is a tried, trusted and effective instrument in a representative democracy: We take exception to the suggestion that organised citizens protest is inherently an invitation or incitement to violence. On the contrary, citizens protest is one of the most effective, peaceful instruments through which citizens can seek accountability and better performance from their elected leaders who derive their mandate from the people in the first instance. This is a cardinal principle of liberal democracy. And it bears emphasizing that, for all the dissatisfaction and anger that precipitates protests, citizen protest is ultimately a fundamental act of faith of citizens that their country can be better, and that elected leaders can do better and must therefore do better. Citizen protest is a patriotic repudiation of mediocrity. Peaceful protest is also a rejection of violence as an instrument of change. It deserves commendation, not condemnation. While understanding that peaceful protests are always at the risk of being hijacked by violent people, it is the government's responsibility to provide security and protection to citizens exercising their fundamental rights to protest.

2. Prayers and protests are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive: Akanji cited 1 Timothy 2:1-3 to support his position that believers who embrace the biblical call to prayer and intercession cannot at the same time be advocates of protests. We consider this to be a regrettable interpretation that does not align with closer and deeper engagement with that and similar Scriptures. Citizens protests are in the finest biblical traditions, and they often go hand in hand with prayers. It was in the place of prayer that Moses was encouraged to confront Pharaoh and make petitions on behalf of the people. The Old Testament prophets were never shy to confront national leaders who did wrong or needed to do better, and Apostle Paul protested his poor treatment in the hands of the Roman authorities when he was jailed (Acts 16:35-39). It is our view that, alongside effective fervent prayers, the peaceful protests of righteous people indeed avails much (James 5:16). Our Baptist history is replete with inspiring examples of this, notably the example of Civil Rights Movement led by the renowned Baptist pastor, Martin Luther King Jr, who originally launched the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to organise the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott. And lest we forget, King was denounced as a rabble rouser by none other than fellow clergymen, who have since stood condemned on the wrong side of history. We pray history is not repeating itself.

3). Peaceful protesters are history makers*: Peaceful protesters, in the mould of King and others like him, are among the world's greatest history makers. They summon us to a vision of the world that can be shaped without violence or shedding blood. They show us that, indeed, power flows not from the barrel of a gun but from the voices of conscious citizens. These patriots risk their necks, driven by the dreams of a better future not just for themselves but also for posterity. At this point we cannot but draw attention to the story of the famine in Samaria (2 Kings 6 &7) cited in your communication. It is indeed true that the situation of the nation in question was turned around overnight, but that was not before four leprous men challenged themselves, saying "why do we sit here until we die?" (2 Kings 7:3). These ordinary people took the risks, approached the camp of the Syrians, and brought about a great turnaround for their country. They are the real heroes, instruments in God's hands, tired of the status quo, and powered by faith in God and their dreams of a better future.

We conclude by saying, sir: citizen protesters are neither the enemy nor the problem of the Nigerian state. They are not insurrectionists, neither are they bandits or armed terrorists, of which Nigeria is not in short supply. The planned protest is, in fact, a teachable moment for Nigeria as a nation. It sends the right and timely message that aggrieved citizens need not take up arms against the State in order to give voices to their dissatisfaction and demand for better governance. They need not be militants or bandits before they can get the audience and ears of government. Therefore, the government of President Bola Tinubu has an important role to play, including through provision and guarantee of security for protesting citizens, to send a clear and unequivocal message, that in "our beautiful country", there will always be room and audience for peaceful citizen protesters. The government should not fluff their lines.

Those who want to protest have the right to do so, just like those who don't want to. Both categories are found in the Nigerian Baptist Convention churches. They should be allowed to exercise their choices.

Signed:

Seun Kolade,  Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

Wale Fatade, Isolo, Lagos Nigeria

Endorsed and co-signed by:

Victor Adebiyi, Texas US

Bola Makinde, Lagos Nigeria

Kunle Adedeji, Oyo Nigeria

Ifeoluwa Alabi, London UK

Olusola Ojediran, Lagos Nigeria

Segun Akindele, Ile Ife, Nigeria

Yinka Kotoye, Lagos Nigeria

Abiodun Egbetokun, Leicester UK

Femi Adeleke, Wolverhampton UK

Tinuke Adeleke, Wolverhampton UK

Ashimije Rufus, Wolverhampton, UK

Recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled a striking milestone in the nation’s financial landscape. As of June 2024, the currency in circulation (CIC) reached an unprecedented N4.05 trillion, marking a dramatic 56 per cent increase from N2.6 trillion in the same month the previous year. This figure represents the highest level of CIC ever recorded in Nigeria.

The CIC encompasses both the currency held outside the banking system and the vault cash maintained by banks. Notably, this surge represents a 2 per cent month-on-month growth from May 2024, when the CIC was N3.65 trillion.

The data reveals a staggering 94 per cent of the CIC—amounting to N3.79 trillion—is now held outside the banking sector. This marks more than a fourfold increase in the amount of cash held outside banks over the past year. This dramatic rise highlights a significant trend towards cash hoarding, driven by a combination of factors including public skepticism about the banking sector, inflationary pressures, and a widespread preference for cash transactions.

While an increase in CIC may signal robust economic activity and consumer spending, it also carries notable risks. A surge in cash supply can intensify inflationary pressures. Nigeria’s inflation rate, which reached 34.19 per cent in June 2024, up from 22.79 per cent in the same month the previous year, reflects these growing concerns.

The high rate of cash hoarding is attributed to multiple factors. Public mistrust in the banking system, fears about rising inflation, and a preference for physical cash in daily transactions have all contributed to this trend. The inflation rate has risen sharply, with June 2024’s rate being 11.40 percentage points higher than in June 2023.

On a month-to-month basis, the headline inflation rate climbed to 2.31 per cent in June 2024, a slight increase from May 2024’s rate of 2.14 per cent. If the growth in money supply continues unchecked, it could lead to further inflationary pressures.

Analysts at Coronation Research cautioned that if this increase in money supply is not counterbalanced by a corresponding rise in production, it could erode purchasing power and exacerbate the cost of living, particularly impacting lower-income households. The current economic conditions underscore the need for careful monetary management to mitigate the adverse effects of rising inflation and ensure economic stability.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday, stated that it will collaborate with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to implement measures that protect foreign investors from devaluation losses.

This initiative, it said, is part of a broader effort to encourage foreign direct investments (FDIs) and bolster confidence in the Nigerian financial system. Its Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, stated this at the Afrinvest 2024 Nigerian Banking Sector Report Launch themed; Bank Recapitalisation: Catalyst for a $1 trillion Economy? which held in Abuja on Wednesday.

Whilst commending Afrinvest for creating a platform where experts and stakeholders can discuss the financial landscape in Nigeria, Cardoso who was represented by the Acting Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, John Onoja, noted that although several banks are currently raising funds through the capital market, the apex bank is providing guidance and reviewing their capital plans.

He explained that the CBN remains conscious of imported capital from foreign investors and assured them that they will not face devaluation losses on their investments, with plans in place to work with the SEC to implement these protections.

“They will be able to go back home with their currency and value at which they brought it into the country. We have taken note of that and we are working with the SEC to ensure that that is done”, Cardoso stated.

The CBN Governor also revealed that it is collaborating with other financial institutions, including the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), SEC, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), fiscal authorities, and the National Assembly, to ensure proper oversight while adding that only qualified individuals participate in the ongoing recapitalization exercise.

He said, “We will vigorously enforce our fit and proper person criteria for new shareholders, board members, senior management to ensure that there are no illicit funds that will flow into the system”.

Whilst stating that the apex bank is committed to supporting investments in Nigeria, with an emphasis on creating an inclusive economic growth environment, Cardoso said, “Between 2010 and 2015, records have shown that investments in bank shares yielded an average of 17 per cent per annum and so the recapitalization exercise of the banking sector is a pivotal strategy aimed at strengthening the resilience of the Nigerian banks and promoting sound financial system in Nigeria and support the government’s goal of achieving the $1 trillion economy by 2030.

So, we are glad that the recapitalization drive has already attracted foreign direct investments (FDIs) and improved foreign exchange liquidity as well as boosted sectors in the economy already”.

He further clarified that the recapitalization exercise for Nigerian banks, announced last year, was not unexpected as the banks were given advance notice.

According to him, the recapitalization exercise is designed to strengthen the banking sector’s capacity to absorb economic shocks and enhance their lending abilities.

Sun

Mohammed Deif: Hamas military leader and Oct 7 mastermind  was killed in Gaza airstrike, Israel says

The head of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza last month, the Israeli military said on Thursday, a day after the group's political leader was assassinated in Tehran.

Deif is believed to have been one of the masterminds of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered war in the Palestinian enclave.

"The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) announces that on July 13th, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike," the military said.

Hamas neither confirmed nor denied the killing of Deif, but one official, Ezzat Rashaq, said any word on deaths of its leaders was its responsibility alone.

"Unless either of them (the Hamas political and military leadership) announces it, no news published in the media or by any other parties can be confirmed," Rashaq said.

The Israeli announcement came as crowds gathered in the Iranian capital for the funeral procession of Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh.

Iran and Hamas have blamed Haniyeh's killing on Israel, which has neither denied nor confirmed a role in the assassination. Israel did however confirm it killed a senior commander of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement in Beirut on Tuesday.

Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran. The latest killings have raised concern of a further escalation in hostilities in the Middle East, with threats of revenge against Israel, which has said it does not seek regional war but that it would respond forcefully to any attack.

"Israel is in a state of very high readiness for any scenario – on both defence and offence," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau said following a meeting with the Home Command. "We will exact a very high price for any act of aggression against us from any quarter whatsoever."

STRING OF DEATHS

On Thursday, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Haniyeh's death would not weaken the group's fighters in Gaza.

"Despite the crime, Hamas remains strong and the confrontation in Gaza is continuing," he said.

But his death was the latest in a series that has targeted the group's leaders. Haniyeh's deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in a drone strike in Beirut in January. In March, Israel said it had killed Marwan Issa, Deif's deputy.

The United States confirmed Issa's death in an Israeli operation. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his death.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Deif's death was a milestone in Israel's goal of destroying Hamas' military wing, known as Al-Qassam Brigades.

"Hamas is disintegrating," Gallant said on X. "Hamas terrorists may either surrender or they will be eliminated."

One of Hamas' most dominant figures, Deif rose through the group's ranks over 30 years, developing its network of tunnels and its bomb-making expertise.

He has topped Israel's most wanted list for decades, held personally responsible for the deaths of dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings. Scores of Palestinians were killed in the airstrike that killed him, medics in Gaza say.

The other mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, Yahaya Sinwar, is still believed to be directing military operations, possibly from bunkers beneath Gaza, while playing a leading role in indirect negotiations with Israel for a prisoner swap deal.

But now on the 300th day of warfare in Gaza, hopes for a hostage deal and ceasefire have dimmed.

The war erupted when militants led by Hamas stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking around 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The Gaza health ministry says more than 39,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in the subsequent Israeli offensive. The ministry does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its fatality reports.

Israel has lost 329 soldiers in Gaza and says around a third of the Palestinian dead are fighters.

On Thursday, as the Israeli military continued its operations in Gaza, forces hit a school in the area of Shejaia in Gaza City, killing at least 15 people and wounding 29, according to Palestinian emergency services.

The military said it had targeted fighters operating in a compound within the school that it said was used as a hideout for Hamas commanders and fighters. Hamas has denied Israeli accusations it operates from civilian facilities such as schools and hospitals.

Elsewhere in the enclave, strikes against a car and a house in central Gaza killed at least 13 people, while tanks pushed into the Al-Maghazi area, where one of the strikes took place.

Earlier, Israeli authorities released 15 Palestinians whom it had detained in the past months in Gaza. The men arrived for treatment at a Gaza hospital, complaining of abuse during their detention. Israel denies torture and is investigating suspected abuse of detainees.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

F-16 jets no silver bullet for Ukraine in war with Russia

Ukraine has received a first batch of U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets to help it fight Russian invasion forces, Lithuania's foreign minister and a U.S. official have said.

The long-awaited arrival is a milestone for Ukraine, which has not publicly commented on it for now. The lengthy process to procure the U.S.-designed aircraft and train Ukrainian pilots to fly them has frustrated Kyiv.

Russia has had time to prepare defences to try to nullify the F-16s' impact, and Ukraine has had to survive with a depleted air force that is a fraction of the size and sophistication of its enemy's.

Here are some facts about how the F-16s may help Ukraine and what obstacles still lie in the way of effective deployment.

SMALL NUMBERS

The number of delivered F-16s appears to be small for now. The Times of London cited a source familiar with the matter who put the figure at just six aircraft.

That number is expected to grow, but it is far short of what military analysts say Ukraine needs more than 29 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, a non-governmental research group, said at least 60 planes would be needed for significant operations as Ukraine attempts to push Russian aviation back from its borders.

Lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova, who heads Kyiv's parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, said that Ukraine would need nearer to 120 F-16s to boost its air capability significantly.

While the pilots gain experience in Ukrainian skies and the military builds out its air infrastructure, the initial deliveries could at least help Ukraine strengthen its air shield, some experts say.

"It will provide some air defence and depth capacity, potentially also help intercepting Shaheds (Iranian-built drones) and cruise missiles, although it is a very expensive way of doing that, munitions-wise," said Justin Bronk, senior research fellow for air power and technology at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Valeriy Romanenko, an aviation expert, said the jets would likely help Ukraine better launch air-to-surface missiles, which it already possesses. Much, he said, would also hinge on what new missiles Ukraine is given with the warplanes.

"If we receive the 95-km range (missiles), F-16s will only engage in air defence tasks and chase Russian attack aircraft or helicopters in the south," he said.

Receiving missiles with 180-km range would allow them to attack Russian warplanes armed with guided bombs and help significantly reduce Russia's offensive opportunities.

Ukraine's military has worked hard to reduce the threat to the arriving F-16s in recent months by attacking Russian air defences, according to Kuzan.

"The formation of the battlefield, especially in the south, is already taking place. Ukraine has the capabilities to systematically strike Russia's foremost air defence complexes."

PILOTS AND MAINTENANCE

Training will be crucial.

"You can have lots of fast jets but if they don't have effective weapons, and air crew able to employ them with effective tactics, then they will just be shot down in large numbers," said Bronk.

The timeline for the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s has dominated discussions about deliveries and pledges of more than 70 jets.

By the end of 2024, Ukraine expects to have at least 20 pilots ready to fly F-16s, Ustinova said.

"It is difficult to solicit more planes when you don't have people to pilot them," she said, adding that, at first, Ukraine will have more F-16s than qualified pilots.

"Waiting in line for 10 years before our pilots are trained is not OK."

The Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson declined to comment.

U.S. officials have directed questions on training to Ukraine and noted that pilots can also be trained in Europe. However, Bronk said NATO's capacity was already stretched.

He added that aircraft maintenance is an even more pressing challenge than pilot training.

He said most repairs and maintenance would need to happen inside Ukraine, and that Kyiv would probably have to rely on foreign contractors who know the aircraft.

AIR BASES UNDER THREAT

Russia has intensified its attacks on infrastructure that could be used for the maintenance and deployment of F-16s, according to some experts.

"Russia is striking all airfields, potential F-16 bases, every day, including attempts to damage airstrips and infrastructure. These strikes have not paused for the last two months, at least," Kuzan said.

The targets will become all the more valuable when the aircraft, pilots and maintenance teams arrive. This is likely to force Ukraine to install missile defences to protect them, even though it is short of both air defence systems and ammunition.

"We have to accept the fact that the airfields will be well-protected when civilian objects could be under attack," Kuzan said, adding that each base would need at least two Patriot and two NASAMS batteries to secure it.

"As soon as we (build up our flight capabilities), we will push their planes back and the terror will stop. But these couple of months will be truly difficult."

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Zelensky says most of world wants him to talk to Russia

The majority of the world believes that diplomatic settlement of the Ukraine conflict is only possible with Russia’s participation in negotiations, and wants to see Moscow take part in a planned second international peace summit scheduled for November, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has told French media.  

Russia was not invited to the first peace summit, hosted by Switzerland in June; according to Zelensky, it was deliberately excluded from the gathering. Now Moscow should take a seat at the table, the Ukrainian leader said in an interview published on Wednesday.  

“The majority of the world today says that Russia must be represented at the second summit, otherwise we will not achieve meaningful results,” he said, adding “since the whole world wants them to be at the table, we cannot be against it.” The first conference was snubbed by several countries, including China, which demanded talks that would allow both sides of the conflict to participate.  

Moscow has repeatedly said it is open to negotiations with Kiev, but there are issues that must first be addressed for any meaningful conversation to begin, including Zelensky’s legitimacy as head of state. His term ended in May and elections were not held due to martial law. According to Zelensky, by November Kiev intends to prepare a plan based on the results of the first summit that will include “territorial integrity, sovereignty and so on.”  

Asked whether Ukraine’s return to the borders of 1991 would be a mandatory precondition for peace talks with Russia, Zelensky replied that it is desirable but not obligatory.  

Last month, the Ukrainian leader signaled that he wanted to end the conflict “as soon as possible,” and was now ready to talk with Russia regardless of who is in charge of the country.

In 2022, Zelensky barred his country from any talks with the current leadership in Moscow after four former Ukrainian regions voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in referendums which were summarily dismissed by Kiev and its Western backers.  

The first summit mainly focused on Kiev’s ‘peace formula’, demanding that Russia withdraw its troops from all territory claimed by Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed the plan, calling it “detached from reality.”

Last week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that signals sent by Kiev about Ukraine’s willingness to resume peace talks with Moscow are not credible.     

Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his own peace proposal in June, saying he was ready to start talks once Kiev commits to neutral status and cedes its claims to all six former Ukrainian regions that chose to join Russia in 2014 and 2022. His overture was rejected by Zelensky as an “ultimatum.”

Reuters/RT

We met last on April 21. I went to Asaba from Lagos to promote my new book, Writing for Media and MonetisingIt, at Delta State University, which, according to JAMB statistics, is one of the country's highest subscribers to Mass Communications in 2021.

Ifeanyi Ubah was on the flight to Asaba that morning. I didn’t see him until we entered the arrival hall. He seemed to have added some weight for a man his height. I teased him about his robustly prosperous looks. He replied that journalists like me tend not to add weight because we’re too busy causing trouble, to which I replied that he should not go there.

We laughed and parted ways outside the terminal building. And then, on July 26, news broke that he had died only days after arriving in London. A few days earlier, he shared a video of himself looking slimmer than when I saw him in Asaba in April. He videoed himself singing on a London street with his family, and everyone looked happy.

Gone too soon

He was 52 and only reelected to the Senate last year under the Young Progressives Party (YPP) platform before he defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Ubah was the fourth member of the current National Assembly to die this year, bringing to 29 Federal lawmakers who have died in office from 2015 to date.

The others who died this year were Isa Dongoyaro, APC member of the House of Representatives representing Garki/Babura Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, who died on May 10; Ekene Adams of the Labour Party, representing Chikun/Kajuru, Kaduna State, who died on July 16; and APC member Musiliudeen Akinremi, representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State, who died on July 10.

It's not just the number of deaths that is striking. None of all four legislators who died in office this year was up to 55. The outlier was the Federal legislator Abdulkadir Jelani Danbuga, an APC member from Isa/Sabon Birni, Sokoto State, who passed away in October at 64. He died three months after he was sworn in, bringing the total dead in one year to five.

At 52, Ubah was the oldest federal lawmaker who died in office this year. Dongoyaro was 47; Adams 39; Akinremi 51.

By life expectancy projection, you could argue that for a country with a life expectancy of 52 years, the average age of the deceased legislators shouldn’t be too unusual. Yet, if a company specialises in life policies for lawmakers, the recent events may force it to review its premium.

Beyond the numbers

There are 469 lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly, with the states proportionally represented in the Senate. Representation in the House of Representatives is based on population (favouring the North), among other factors.

However, the constitutionally provided numerical advantage for the North only partially explains the higher proportion of legislators who died in office from the region since 2015.

When I raised the trend of sitting legislators dying at relatively young age, one immediate response was that it’s the prayers of discontented, ordinary citizens at work. Divine recompense, if you like. Why wouldn’t the discontents come out to vote or hold their representatives to account instead?

I have only anecdotal evidence to support my theory, but the trend elsewhere does not support the view that the deaths of our lawmakers in office are the outcome of spiritual warfare. If religion or culture plays any role at all, it reinforces conditions that not only potentially increase the chances of early deaths but also increase the casualties among the affected population.

Different elsewhere?

What do the statistics elsewhere show? According to the Congressional Research Service, 84 U.S. Congress members – 69 Representatives and 15 Senators – died in 39 years between 1973 and 2012. The average life expectancy was 72, similar to that of white males in the larger population.

In 2015, relevant data about members of the British House of Commons between 1945 and 2011 showed that mortality among the 650 members was 28 percent lower compared to the general UK population. The figure in South Africa showed that in its Fourth Parliament 2009-2014, out of 103 members of parliament replaced, 18 passed away, four of them in car accidents.

The common causes of death in these countries range from coronary artery disease to cancer, especially in the U.S. and the UK, to complications from HIV/AIDS in South Africa to diabetes, kidney-related diseases and accidents.

Because of the availability of data in these countries, it is possible to determine the cause of death and take steps to enhance safety, well-being, and longevity. It’s different in Nigeria, where disclosing the cause of death is treated as taboo.

Cost of taboo

The norm, not just in the legislature but in the broader population, is not to discuss it – an attitude more prevalent in the predominantly Muslim North, where deaths are accepted as “the will of God”, and any discussion of a post-mortem is out of the question.

Such cultural attitudes, reinforced by religion, tend to encourage poor record keeping and further nudge the population to ignore pre-existing health conditions in the fatalistic belief that “something must kill a man” when early detection or greater care could have prevented fatality. A cultural taboo that is useless to the dead and increasingly expensive for the living needs to be reviewed.

It's bad enough that sometimes bereaved families have to bear the avoidable losses of loved ones. In the case of legislators, the death of sitting members also has consequences for the constituents and the electoral management body. The constituents are deprived of representation, and the electoral management body has to conduct by-elections.

In the last election cycle in 2023 alone, N335 billion was budgeted for elections. Still, that sum, later supplemented with N18 billion due to inflation, was not entirely for the general election but also for by-elections that have become a norm.

Court-determined results, political appointments, and, increasingly, deaths have increased legislative turnover and turned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into one of the world’s most overworked and undervalued election management bodies. It’s a thankless job.

New approach

We can’t continue this way. Small changes could start with journalists understanding that it is vital to get and include the cause of death in their reports instead of allowing prevailing taboos to take them hostage. Of all five deaths, including Ubah’s, there was not a single case in which the press reported the possible cause of death.

The data of consequential deaths for Nigerian lawmakers cited earlier do not include deaths of sitting members in state houses of assembly, seven of which occurred in the last nine years, bringing the total recorded in that time to 36.

Knowing the cause might not raise the dead; it might help the living take greater care.

The process for replacing dead legislators also needs to be reviewed. We have a system that makes everything expensive and unnecessarily complicated. The Constitution stipulates a by-election on top of other by-elections to fill vacancies for political appointees and court-ordered reruns. Three senatorial by-elections in any state are equivalent to the cost of a governorship election.

Beyond the tears

One way to reduce such unnecessary costs is to use the example of Germany, New Zealand or South Africa, where the next candidate on the party’s list takes the deceased's place. Or to allow the party to nominate the replacement for the deceased since a candidate holds the seat at the party's pleasure.

Beyond the tears of this mourning period, we should find a sustainable way to fill parliamentary vacancies. That’s one way to honour the memory of Ubah and the other dead members of the National Assembly.

** Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and the author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It

Just because a piece of advice is common doesn't mean it applies to every entrepreneur.

Follow your passion. Always be hustling. Don't be afraid to take risks. Every new and aspiring entrepreneur has likely heard common pieces of business advice like this repeated over and over again.

The problem is that these types of tips are rarely universal; each business is unique and needs to find its own path to success, regardless of what has worked for other entrepreneurs.

Below, eight entrepreneurs shared some common business principles that they believe are overrated. Here's why they think you shouldn't necessarily follow these tips, and what they would advise doing instead.

Believe that the customer is always right.

Customer service is crucial to the success of any business, says Mark Stallings, co-founder of Casely, Inc. But contrary to the popular saying, the customer is not always right.

"When a customer is being unreasonable, it's crucial for employees to feel supported, empowered and heard," Stallings says. "Forcing them to appease irrational customers is bad for morale and ultimately bad for business."

Raise investor capital to get started.

While investor capital can be an important catalyst for startup growth, it's not an essential piece of the puzzle for every single startup.

"To start most businesses, you don't need funds or investors," says Piyush Jain, CEO of Simpalm. "I have lots of clients who want to start a business and they waste a lot of time finding investors because they read about it online. You just need guts to launch a business."

Create a business plan.

Most entrepreneurs are told they need to create a business plan before they can get off the ground. Having an outline is important, says Rachel Lipson, founder and CEO of Blue Balloon Songwriting for Small People, but unless you're seeking out investors, having a robust business plan may be unnecessary.

"An extensive document can be an opportunity to organize your new business, but putting that energy and time into creating a website can serve the same purpose -- and then you're much further on your way," Lipson says.

Hire fast, fire faster.

While this may be a common recruiting strategy for certain companies, the rapid turnover could actually put a strain on your team, says Firas Kittaneh, co-founder and CEO of Amerisleep Mattress.

"Having to train new people constantly is a distraction compared to hiring folks who are more likely to grow, stay and thrive with your business," explains Kittaneh. "Instead, I recommend hiring slowly and strategically, with a focus toward nurturing long-term talent."

Never turn down an opportunity.

Wearing all the hats in your startup often creates pressure to "do everything" and "be something" for everyone, says Blair Thomas, co-founder of eMerchantBroker. Unfortunately, taking every opportunity that comes your way often leads to a founder spreading their resources too thin.

"The most successful business leaders are more than comfortable saying 'no' to things that don't align with their overall vision," Thomas says.

Ensure your business is completely unique.

It's important for any new business owner to know what differentiates their company and helps them stand out in the marketplace. However, that doesn't mean it has to be 100 percent unique and never done before.

"Every idea has been explored already and none will be completely brand new or unique," says Stephanie Wells, co-founder and CTO of Formidable Forms. "However, if you can show why your product is essential and how it solves a problem for your audience, it'll be sure to speak to your audience."

Always stay ahead of your competition.

Many businesses focus on their competitors and how they can "get ahead" of them. Instead, it's better to obsess over your customers, explains Cody Candee, CEO of Bounce.

"Focus on your customers and play your own game," Candee says. "It's common to get caught up in what your competitors do and how you should respond to it. But the best business stories I've heard, from Amazon to Hinge, involve companies doing things differently and being customer-centric."

Only do what you're passionate about.

According to Tyler Bray, CEO of TK Trailer Parts, telling people to only do what they are passionate about isn't always great advice.

"Don't expect your passion for watching Netflix, for example, to translate into a dream business," Bray says. "I prefer to tell people to bring their passion to everything they do. You'll be surprised at how passionate you can become about an idea that is truly starting to work."

Inc

There was chaos at the house of representatives on Wednesday over a bill seeking to raise the ways and means advances from 5 percent to 10 percent of the previous year’s revenue of the federal government.

Ways and means is a loan facility through which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) finances the federal government’s budget shortfalls.

The CBN law stipulates advances by the apex bank must not exceed 5 percent of the previous year’s revenue of the federal government — but this has been observed in breach over the years.

During the plenary, opposition parties staged a walk out after Kingsley Chinda’s recommendation of two percent was rejected.

The minority leader proposed the amendment during the consideration of the report on the bill at the committee of the whole, saying this will enhance transparency in federal government spending.

The report proposed raising the ways and means advances from the existing 5 percent to 15 percent.

James Faleke, chairman of the committee on finance, opposed Chinda’s amendment, urging the house not to go below the 5 percent in the act.

Ibrahim Isiaka, a lawmaker from Ogun state, supported Faleke’s position, proposing the borrowing limit should be raised from 5 percent to 10 percent of the previous year’s revenue.

Idris Wase, a former deputy speaker, moved a motion for an amendment that 10 percent should be maintained.

DEPUTY SPEAKER RULED IN FAVOUR OF THOSE SUPPORTING 15%

When Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker and presiding officer, called for a voice vote on Wase’s amendment motion, the “nays” were louder than the “ayes,” but he ruled in favour of the “ayes.”

This provoked the lawmakers, who loudly expressed their dissent with a repeated “no”.

At this point, the opposition lawmaker led by Chinda, walked out of plenary.

Subsequently, the report was adopted and passed for third reading.

Debates on ways and means began on December 28, 2022, when former President Muhammadu Buhari requested the national assembly securitied N22.7 trillion ways and means advances from the CBN.

In January 2023, Buhari told the senate it would cost the federal government about N1.8 trillion in interest if the national assembly failed to approve the N22.7 trillion in extra-budgetary spending.

On May 23, 2023, the senate approved Buhari’s request.

In December last year, Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of CBN, was linked to a “fraud” case involving the apex bank’s loan.

A report by a panel investigating CBN and related entities — led by Jim Obazee, a special investigator — had said Emefiele and Zainab Ahmed, former finance minister, had jointly signed a statement advising Buhari to restructure the ways and means of N23.71 trillion despite presenting “a different figure to the National Assembly on the same date”.

The Cable

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has mocked Nigerians who plan to take part in the nationwide protest against economic hardship, saying he and other members of the National Assembly would be “eating” while they (Nigerians) protest.

Akpabio stated this on Tuesday at the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Youths and Women Group Sensitisation Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was broadcast live on Arise TV.

A video clip of Akpabio making the remark has also gone viral on social media.

Akpabio’s remark

During the event, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said the Niger Delta region was not interested in a change of government in Nigeria.

Speaking shortly after, Akpabio said Nigerians should exercise patience over the current economic hardship in Nigeria which he said would end soon.

“All of us feel the impact of what is happening now. But we are aware it will be for a short while,” he said, apparently referring to the current economic hardship in the country.

The senate president then corroborated Ogbuku’s comments that the people of the Niger Delta were not interested in a change of government in Nigeria.

“Managing Director, I want to thank you for what you said. You said we are not interested in regime change; let us own this government.

“Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be here eating,” Akpabio remarked.

Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, is known for often making controversial remarks over serious national issues.

The Senate president lamented the impact of oil spillage in the Niger Delta region.

“We acknowledge the fact that the impact of oil and gas activities in our region has done immeasurable damage to our people,” he said.

Akpabio assured that the National Assembly was ready to help with necessary legislation to fight oil spillage and environmental pollution in the region.

“The specific issues faced by the Niger Delta must be contained in that communique because we are going to make it available to Mr President,” he said.

“The ones that need legislation will come to us (National Assembly members), the ones that need intervention will go to NDDC, the ones that need more money will go to the president and commander-in-chief and I assure you that those issues will be addressed.”

PT