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By Bala Ibrahim.

Every job or service has its own hazard or hazards, depending on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the environment of assignment. In Nigeria, the duties of the police are spelt out as follows:

The prevention and detection of crime. The apprehension of offenders. The preservation of law and order. And finally, but most importantly, the protection of life and property. However, for some reasons that seem bizarre, while the Police is assigned the duty of protecting the life and property of the citizenry, his own life is left exposed to the possibility of being harmed, all the time.The police ethics enjoins him or her to move around always with the following quote in mind:

“I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule, develop self-restraint, and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed, both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department and country”.

Last night, some Nigerians, the people of Kano state in particular, slept in agony, because of the sad story of a ghastly road accident, wherein at least five police officers attached to the Kano State Police Command were confirmed killed. According to the Kano police command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna, the auto accident occurred along the Kano-Zaria highway, in the wee hours of Tuesday. 11 others were also left with different degrees of injuries. SP Abdullahi said the accident happened around Karfi Village, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, while the officers were on their way back to Kano from an official assignment. A trailer was attempting to reverse on the main road, and it rammed into the oncoming police vehicle.This is sad.

All the scriptures have told us, and we believe that indeed death is inevitable. Yes, every mortal shall die, but how he or she is going to die is the unknown. Some die peacefully in their sleep. Some die in the hospital. Some die as a result of over air-conditioning. Some die as a result of over feeding. While others die due to anxiety, occasioned by the over comfort of excessive accumulation of wealth, ill gotten wealth. They would all be classified as deaths, but some deaths come as tragedies, or even catastrophes, because of the way they happened. For some reasons, some members of the Nigeria Police Service, by design or deliberate neglect, seem destined for catastrophic death. Why?

Indeed, Police officers know that each time they put on their uniform, they are taking risks to protect others. The system that puts them on such assignment must reckon with the fact that these police officers are putting their lives on the line, for the protection of others. Sometimes, in the discharge of these duties, the police insist on checking the roadworthiness of vehicles that ply the streets, in order to ensure that they are in suitable operating condition for safe driving and transportation of people or cargo. The ambition of the police is to promote safety on public roads by reducing danger to the passengers or other road users. Yet, in most cases, their own operational vehicles are road worthless. Apart from the issue of overwork, which is largely due to poor staff strength, police on duty in Nigeria do not have enough rest, talk less of the time to adequately prepare for the next challenge. Nigeria currently has a little over 370,000 Police Officers, which is just about 1:600 Police-Citizen ratio. This leaves them under a permanent stress threat, that takes advantage of their vulnerability.

If a thorough investigation were to be made on the Kano police accident, apart from questioning the mental health of the truck driver, for reversing a trailer on the Highway, the vehicle carrying the police officers on duty may also fail the test of road worthiness. It may also be road worthless. They were sent on a national assignment, in a rickety vehicle, that was probably without brakes. And the poor police met their deaths, dreadfully. There is no single day in Nigeria today, that you don’t hear of the police being killed in one mishap or another. The news is always of unlucky accidents, and the poor police are the victims. Why? Is the police service scheduled for Supreme sacrifice?

Numerous researches have indicated that the Nigeria police officers have an elevated risk of death, relative to the general population of the country, and the reasons are specific-poor working conditions.The controversy over the life expectancy of police officers in Nigeria is not limited to poor remuneration, but also the issue of kitting. When you refuse to provide someone with the appropriate equipment for an assignment, especially such assignments that are associated with high risks, you are politely assigning the person to death.

This article is intended to serve as a tribute, not just for the officers that died yesterday, but all the police that died on duty before them. There is an honourable memorial day quote that reads:

“We don’t know them all, but we owe them all. We come not to mourn our dead heroes but to praise them. We stand for the flag, we kneel for the fallen”.

May this accident prompt the government of Nigeria to do a great deal of soul-searching, with regards the situation of the police. And may the
souls of the fallen, rest in perfect peace, ameen.

By Vincent Kayode

For two entities that are supposed to work together to provide energy security for Nigerians, you may wonder why Dangote has been using every means available to paint NNPC as the bad guy, while projecting himself and his company as the saviour Nigerians have all been waiting for. After some digging, I found out that Dangote is not telling the whole truth. In fact, he is manipulating the media and using paid influencers to tarnish NNPC’s image. The truth will shock you.

Now follow me, let us get into the facts.

1. The first question is why is DR not releasing its product prices, even after accusing NNPC of being “mischievous“. I was shocked that NNPC was so transparent in its dealings, which you would expect of any company operating in the public domain. But Dangote, even with his blatant accusations against NNPC, is not happy.

2. ⁠While subsidy is gone, most marketers have refused to import PMS because the margins are too low for their profitability calculations. NNPC on the other hand, is interested in the lowest prices for Nigerians, as it was not set up solely for profit. Dangote is not happy.

3. ⁠If left unchecked, DR would sell the product to Nigerians at 1300 Naira per litre. What NNPC did was to negotiate with Dangote, and drive down the prices to a range that will be cheaper for Nigerians to afford. Dangote is not happy.

4. ⁠By selling crude to DR in Naira, the FG and NNPC have shown not only good faith, but accountability. Reciprocity is the norm in business. This is why NNPC must have an office inside DR complex, to avoid “stories that touch the heart”. I guess DR is not happy that another entity ( NMDPRA, NNPC, MoF) is checking his production and supply claims. Trust me, but verify.

5. ⁠The much-touted business model of Mr Dangote is being tested here. His business successes have usually being around being a monopoly player, stifling competitors through unfair practices, and arm-twisting government to get special favours and waivers. If in doubt , Ask Mr Abdussamad Rabiu of BUA. Go and inquire about Ibeto Cement. The current administration believes in fairness to all players. Dangote is not the only businessman in Nigeria. Do your business, but don’t play blackmail card because you can’t have your way all the time. But Dangote is still not happy.

6. ⁠The crude oil being produced by NNPC and its JV partners are for the benefit of all Nigerians. NNPC is not in business to increase Dangote’s profit margin, but to ensure energy security for all Nigerians. This is a key provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Still Dangote is not happy.

7. ⁠I think Mr Dangote is creating smokescreens to divert attention away from his refining issues. He should focus on producing the products he has promised, and in the quantity that he has promised. He should stop seeing NNPC as a threat.

8. ⁠The sky is big enough for all birds to fly. You cannot monopolise the Nigerian oil sector please. PMS is not cement, it is not sugar, and it is not flour. It is basically an essential commodity that can’t be allowed to be manipulated by just single individual, to the detriment of poor, unsuspecting Nigerians.

Vincent Kayode, wrote in from Lagos.

By Favour Oriaku

Building a more vibrant, secure, and sustainable future is important to eHealth Africa (eHA). And a key part of that mission is engaging the next generation with real-life work experiences. Where better to do that than around their heroes—their parents? Bringing kids into the office might conjure up images of chaos: papers scattered everywhere, loud noise, and maybe even crayon drawings on the walls. But at eHA, “Bring Your Kids to Work” day has turned into a big hit that everyone looks forward to—kids, parents, and colleagues alike.

For the past two years, eHA has been hosting “Bring Your Kids to Work” days. This event gives families a chance to learn more about what we do, understand our culture, and see our mission in action. We recently held our second edition, and it was a huge success! The office was buzzing with excitement as staff members welcomed their children into the workplace, creating a unique day filled with learning, creativity, and lots of laughter.

The day was jam-packed with activities to engage and educate the children. There were career talks where professionals shared insights into different career paths, inspiring the kids to think about their futures. Health tips were provided, thanks to the eHA Clinics, where the children learned about healthy living and even received vaccinations. They had a chance to ask questions about what their parents do at work, giving them a better understanding of the “mystery” behind the job titles. A campus tour allowed the kids to explore the office space, and creative painting sessions gave them the chance to unleash their imaginations. Of course, it wouldn’t be a kids’ day without playtime—bouncing castles were set up, and they were a big hit. Throughout the day, there were plenty of snacks and a delicious lunch to keep everyone energized. Each child left with wonderful gifts to remember the day by, a little piece of the organization’s branded materials to take home.

The event was about more than just fun, though. As Mr. Adesina, our HR Manager at eHealth Africa’s Kano HQ, put it, “This event was inspired by the HR team to bring families together, seeing that the staff are usually busy with a lot of work. It was also an avenue for the kids to meet other family members of eHA and for the children to see where their parents work, what they do, and integrate family life with work. We want to make sure our staff feel a sense of belonging. After the maiden edition, staff wanted it to be an annual event, hence the second edition.” He continued, “One of the intentions of this event was to educate staff kids on healthy living and career choices. Thanks to Dr. Ben Igbinosa, our Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), and eHA Clinics, these goals were achieved. There is an improvement from last year’s edition with the inclusion of health talks and vaccinations. We have plans to accommodate hybrid and remote staff, using technology as eHA is technology-driven. I appreciate the Executive team and staff for their support to the HR team and for making their children available for the event.”

Safety was a top priority for us during the event. Regina, our Associate HR Manager at eHealth Africa’s Kano HQ, highlighted this, saying, “What stood out for me is ensuring a safe space for the kids. Though eHA is always a safe space, with children, extra attention was needed. Knowing that kids love to explore their environment, we worked to seal up all electrical points.” We wanted to create a memorable experience, so each child went home with gifts to remember the day. “As one of the best places to work, our goal is to make eHA a family-friendly organization, so the ‘Bring Your Kids to Work’ event speaks to that,” Regina added.

Linda, our Senior HR Coordinator in the Abuja office, explained that this event is part of our corporate social responsibility towards our staff. “eHA believes in the power of shared experiences and the value of family,” she said. “Bringing your kids to work is a fun activity for the children while also showing our commitment to creating and supporting an inclusive workplace for all our staff. It also helps us recognize work-life balance, which is part of our culture.” Linda praised our staff for their ability to balance work and family life, noting, “Parents, especially those who have a professional career, are doing so well. I commend eHA staff for being able to balance their work with family life.”

At eHealth Africa, we know that our employees perform at their best when they can balance their professional and personal lives. Events like “Bring Your Kids to Work” not only provide a fun day for the children but also strengthen the bond between employees and the organization. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event and many more opportunities to celebrate our staff and their families.

Favour Oriaku, is a Senior Communications Coordinator, eHealth Africa