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NNPCL ships newly unveiled crude to Spain despite local demand shortfall

Ehime ALEX
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NNPCL ships newly unveiled crude to Spain despite local demand shortfall

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said it had unveiled and shipped new crude oil grade into the international crude oil market amid demand constraints for crude oil by local refineries.

The NNPCL’s chief corporate communications officer, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, August 5.

He said, “The new Utapate crude oil blend commenced operations in July 2024, as its first cargo headed for Spain.”

The Utapate crude oil blend is from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NNPCL Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), an NNPCL’s upstream subsidiary.

It is located offshore Akwa Ibom State with a current crude oil production capacity of 28,000 barrels per day (bpd), with the potential to increase it to 50,000 bpd.

According to Soneye, the Utapate crude oil blend has a sulphur content of  0.0655 per cent.

“Spanish oil giant Repsol won the tender for the initial cargo of the new crude blend which is comparable to the much sought-after Amenam crude,” he said.

The  Gulf Transport and Trading, another leading crude oil dealer, has secured the cargoes’ tenders for August and September 2024, Soneye said.

He recalled that during the Argus European Crude Conference in London last year, NNPCL announced the unveiling of Nembe crude oil, produced by the NNPC/Aiteo-operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint Venture (JV).

“Similar to the Nembe crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required spec of major buyers in Europe.

“This remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow reserves through the development of new assets,” Soneye said.

However, despite having four refineries, Nigeria exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum products, which has been ongoing over the years.

The country’s inability to refine crude oil production from its soil has negatively impacted its economy.

According to analysts, Nigeria would have earned more foreign exchange if it refined its crude oil rather than exported it, which creates an imbalance in the foreign exchange earnings and leads to volatility in the Nigerian currency market.

The recent outburst between the Nigeria oil and gas regulatory authorities and the management of Dangote Refinery over the secret opening of a blending plant in Malta by some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), oil traders, and terminals is a concern fresh in the minďs of Nigerians.

The revelation came following the Dangote Refinery’s struggle to get crude oil for its 650,000-capacity built refinery.

The ICIR had reported that the Dangote Group had been at loggerheads over getting crude oil to commence the refining of petroleum products.

The refinery had repeatedly postponed the date for the commencement of refined petroleum products and hopes to start this August.

“If the Dangote Refinery starts to work, it means there will be no business or Malta. Malta is the reason why your naira is weak,” a development economist, Kalu Aja, said in his official X account while reacting to the problems with fuel import, The ICIR reported.

While supplying crude to local refineries seems a recent challenge, a long-time worry has been not meeting its OPEC-assigned crude oil production quota, currently set at 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd).

Nigeria’s daily crude oil production dropped to 1.27 million bpd in the second quarter (Q2) of the year compared to 1.33 million bpd production in the first quarter (Q1), findings by The ICIR show.

The shortfalls in crude oil production directly affect the country’s budgeted revenue from crude oil, which is a major source of income for the government.

Between January and May this year, Nigeria lost over N16 billion in revenue daily from crude oil production, The ICIR reported.

In a recent revelation, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria spends $25 billion per annum on the importation of petroleum products.

Tinubu’s economic claims raise concerns amid extravagant, frivolous government spending

Mustapha USMAN
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Tinubu’s economic claims raise concerns amid extravagant, frivolous government spending

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Sunday, August 4, boasted of his administration’s achievements in blocking economic leakages and implementing critical reforms, calling on Nigerians to suspend the ongoing nationwide protest. 

In his speech, Tinubu detailed measures he took to stabilise the economy, such as removing fuel subsidies and unifying foreign exchange systems, which he said were important to stop mismanagement that his administration inherited. 

According to him, his government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of Nigeria’s economy to carry citizens into a future of plenty and abundance in the last 14 months that he has led the nation.

“On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over N9.1 trillion in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people,” he said.

He also noted increased productivity in the non-oil sector with commensurate rise in government revenues and progress in various sectors as evidence of his administration’s success.

“My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97 per cent of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68 per cent in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5 billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.”

Concerns raised

However, there are concerns over the President’s claims as they do not align with the reality of extravagant government spending and rising economic hardship for many Nigerians.

The trajectory also contrasts sharply with the leaders who many citizens believe show sheer profligacy in utilising national resources – a culture that has stagnated the nation’s progress for decades.

More Nigerians are poorer and hungrier, as food inflation stands at 31. 52 per cent, even as the surge in food prices squeezes an average citizen’s spending.

While the administration over the past year claimed to have rolled out a series of palliatives to alleviate the hardship and suffering that the removal of fuel subsidy has foisted on citizens, many Nigerians didn’t benefit from such interventions.

Similarly, the government’s frivolous and extravagant spending has cast doubts on the administration’s commitment to alleviating hardship in the country.

The ICIR, in March 2024, reported how the country’s 2024 budget has over 512 billion from frivolous line items, according to findings by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).

This amount is spread across more than 24 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and could have been saved had the legislature conducted proper oversight.

The ICIR findings from the report revealed that over N358 billion could be saved from the Service Wild Votes; N10 billion from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and N2.5 billion from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development among others.

Recall that the Nigerian Senate suspended a Senator, Abdul Ningi, a senator, for three months over the allegation that the National Assembly padded the 2024 budget.

Worries over Nigerian leaders’ spending spree 

Similarly, in November 2023, The ICIR reported widespread concerns over fiscal rascality by political officeholders in Nigeria, as N1 trillion additional monthly revenue accrual from petroleum subsidy removal was unaccounted for.

Despite being urged by Tinubu to make sacrifices after the fuel subsidy removal, Nigerians are currently under severe economic pains, with the nation’s currency – the naira – galloping from its free fall to the US dollar despite interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Many economists have argued that a bloated federal executive council of 48 cabinet members has become worrisome for an economy that borrows to fund a large chunk of its national budget.

“Should the government be that large at a time when a lean cabinet seems more needful given the financial state of the country,?” a political economist, Segun Sowunmi, said in response to the development.

The ICIR also reported a huge amount expended on the importation and delivery of 360 sports utility vehicles (SUVs) by the House of Representatives worth N57.6 billion for its members while neglecting indigenous companies and exporting jobs to other advanced economies.  

Also, the dust raised by the N5 billion yacht included in the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget, which many had assumed was for the President, has yet to fully settle, despite borrowing from the World Bank and other multilateral lending institutions to fund the budget.

Peter Obi: Tinubu’s address fails to connect with Nigeria’s realities

Mustapha USMAN
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Peter Obi: Tinubu’s address fails to connect with Nigeria’s realities

FOLLOWING President Bola Tinubu’s address to the nation amidst ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, former Vice Presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed disappointment over Tinubu’s address, noting that it’s disconnected from the harsh realities faced by Nigerians.

In a statement via his X handle, on August 5, Obi acknowledged the President’s ‘belated’ address, which he said might have prevented the loss of lives. 

He lamented the lack of empathy towards those injured, arrested, and detained during the protests, citing the approach of security forces as a great concern.

“While I had hoped that, in consoling the families of those who lost their loved ones in the protest, he would also show some empathy towards those who were injured, arrested, and detained due to the overzealous and unprofessional conduct of some security operatives, this was unfortunately not the case. It is the responsibility of the government to identify criminal elements attempting to disrupt the protest through looting and other unlawful behaviours and to protect those genuinely exercising their democratic rights.”

He also noted that he had hoped a more decisive action would see immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for disrupting the peaceful protest.

Expressing concern over what he described as a lack of awareness or deliberate disregard for public sentiments, Obi called on the President to surround himself with advisers who provide candid assessments of the nation’s challenges.

“The President’s address regrettably appeared disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the people and failed to address critical issues that initially triggered the protest. It either reflects a lack of awareness among his advisers regarding the scale of anger, hunger, and hardship in the country, or a deliberate choice to disregard it. At this point, I strongly advise the President to distance himself from sycophants and surround himself with individuals who will present the unvarnished truth,” he said.

Obi emphasised that while the President’s address focused on the past, the people had been more concerned with present and future challenges. 

He said the President should address urgent priorities such as reducing governance costs, combating corruption, tackling the high cost of living, and effectively allocating resources to critical sectors like health, education, and poverty alleviation.

He said persistent corruption and mismanagement of public funds should have been addressed decisively in his press briefing.

“Nigerians do not expect the President to solve the nation’s problems overnight, but we do expect a concerted effort to address the mismanagement of public resources, reduce the high cost of governance, and tackle issues like insecurity, corruption, electricity, agriculture, and productivity to set the country on a path to recovery and growth. By doing so, the President can restore hope and rekindle the people’s  faith in our dear country Nigeria.”

The ICIR reports that many Nigerians have trooped to the streets to protest poor governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The protests have been marred by violence, largely caused by the security operatives in places like Lagos and Abuja, where protesters have been subjected to tear gas and harassment.

In some states, political thugs have hijacked the protest to cause mayhem, attacking demonstrators and looting properties.

With the attacks and looting in some states, generating outrages, President Bola Tinubu in his broadcast on Sunday, August 4, called on the protest organisers to dialogue with the government, and immediately suspend the demonstration.

While condemning the attacks on properties and lives, the President branded the protesters as ‘violent’ noting his “government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.”

Tinubu further stressed that those who had taken advantage of the protest would face the wrath of the law, adding that the security operatives should continue to protect lives and property.

Like Obi, a coalition of civil society organisations has accused the government of escalating violence and unrest in the country.

SSS denies arresting protest leader in Abuja

Bankole ABE
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SSS denies arresting protest leader in Abuja

THE State Security Service (SSS) has denied it arrested one of the #EndBadGovernance protest leaders, Michael Lenin, in Abuja.

In a message posted on its X handle Monday evening, the secret police declared that Lenin was not in its custody.

“The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody,” the Service wrote.

The ICIR reported that the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said operatives of the.Service arrested the activist Sunday night.

In a chat with The ICIR, Adenola alleged that the SSS was responsible for the arrest and claimed Lenin was picked up from his house.

He also added that he was assaulted during his arrest.

He said Lenin was arrested for being one of the protest organisers.

The spokesperson of the TIB, Abiodun Sanusi, also confirmed Lenin’s arrest to The ICIR.

During a press briefing on Sunday, Lenin was among the organisers who voiced their dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast.

He claimed at the briefing that the President’s broadcast showed how far he was from the country’s economic and other realities.

The ICIR reported on Saturday, August 3, that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and the Army chased away protesters and journalists from the MKO Stadium in Abuja, where the government had restricted them.

The Police reportedly fired several tear gas canisters in the direction of the protesters.

It was also gathered that the SSS personnel came later to disperse the remaining protesters and journalists covering them.

Meanwhile, the SSS in its tweet on Monday confirmed that it had arrested some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the city. 

The ongoing nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria aims at addressing the lingering hunger crisis experienced since the assumption of President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, according to the organisers.

Protest: Kaduna government declares 24-hour curfew

Bankole ABE
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Protest: Kaduna government declares 24-hour curfew

THE Kaduna State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria areas of the state and their environs.

The State Security Council, led by Governor Uba Sani, said the curfew took immediate effect.

According to the Council, the state’s security situation was reviewed, and it was found that criminal elements were using the protests to loot and destroy property, both public and private.

Consequently, the government urged citizens to report suspicious activity and stay indoors while security forces worked to maintain security.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, advised citizens to stay indoors.

On Monday, the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria demonstration persisted in Kaduna, with many young people taking to the streets to call for an end to the country’s poor governance and dire economic conditions.

The youth claimed that despite President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday address to the nation, which called for patience and an end to the nationwide protest, his speech ignored the fundamental challenges faced by Nigerians, the reason they said the protests continued.

According to reports, some groups were also protesting along the Ungwan Sariki Ali Akilu Road in Kaduna, calling for the removal of fuel subsidies and making the nation’s economy better.

The protesters marched along Constitution Road down to the Stadium Roundabout in Kaduna, carrying placards with various inscriptions and Russian flags.

Protesters were heard demanding the resignation of President Bola Tinubu while waving Russian flags and chorusing anti-government songs in Hausa Language.

Many of the protesters were seen looting shops and other public offices. A number of them were observed carrying away office chairs, roofing sheets, generator sets, door burglaries, and other belongings.

The nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance aims at addressing the lingering hunger crisis experienced since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, according to its organisers.

Nigerian government cautions citizens in UK over anti-immigrant protests

Bankole ABE
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Nigerian government cautions citizens in UK over anti-immigrant protests

THE Federal Government (FG) has cautioned Nigerians living in the United Kingdom (UK) to be vigilant following the “increased risk of violence” in anti-immigrant protests.

Protests in several UK cities intensified over the weekend in response to a knife attack at a Southport school that claimed the lives of three students.

On July 29, at a dancing school, there was an attack during an American artist, Taylor Swift’s performance, during which children were stabbed.

In a statement on Sunday, August 4, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eche Abu-Obe, said the violence in the UK had escalated to hazardous levels and that the girls’ killings had given rise to a narrative that is anti-immigration, specifically targeting Muslims and people of colour.

“To this end, citizens are advised to be extra vigilant and take measures as follows; avoid political processions and protests, rallies or marches, avoid crowded areas and large gatherings. Be vigilant and self-aware at all times.” the statement reads.

The ministry advised Nigerians to contact the High Commission to pass information that could be of interest via e-mail and telephone at hc@nigeriahc.org.uk, +442078391244.

Large-scale protests by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups have been taking place in various parts of the UK in recent weeks.

A sizable gathering outside a mosque resulted in riots as people threw bricks and bottles at police cars.

False reports circulated claiming the attacker was an immigrant who adhered to radical Islam. Subsequently, groups opposed to immigration and Muslims seized control of the protest.

Eight more children were stabbed, and three girls, aged six to nine killed in the crisis.

The riot moved to Manchester, Bristol, and Liverpool on Saturday, August 3.

Several arrests were made, according to the police, as stores and other establishments were robbed and vandalised while several officers were injured.

In the most recent violence, rioters attacked a Rotherham hotel that houses asylum seekers.

During the altercations, demonstrators smashed hotel windows, hurled objects, and sprayed fire extinguishers at police officers.

The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, declared that the law would catch up with people who participated in violent anti-immigration demonstrations in some areas of the nation.

In an address on Sunday, August 4, Starmer promised that arrests would be made and called the rally “organised violent thuggery.”

He said there was no excuse for the assaults and that any rational person would find the violence intolerable.

“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves,” Starmer warned.

Before this, Starmer promised to provide law enforcement with the “complete support” of the government to combat ‘extremists’ who want to “sow hate”.

The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also issued a warning, stating that anybody involved in “unacceptable disorder” could face jail term and travel restrictions in addition to other penalties.

Cooper declared, “There is no place for criminal violence and disorder on Britain’s streets,” adding that ‘sufficient’ jail space had been made available.

 

Fuel marketers blame scarcity on protesters, despite weeks of nationwide shortage

Ehime ALEX
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Fuel marketers blame scarcity on protesters, despite weeks of nationwide shortage

NIGERIAN oil marketers have shifted the blame of fuel scarcity being experienced across the states in the country to the #EndBadGovernance protest which started five days ago, despite many filling stations being under lock and key for many weeks in several cities in the country.

In a statement seen by The ICIR on Monday, August 5, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) claimed the hunger protest was responsible for the resurgence of long fuel queues in filling stations in major cities across the country.

The IPMAN’s National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chinedu Ukadike, said there was no movement of trucks during the protests, especially on Thursday and Friday, August 1 and 2 respectively.

“Now that the trucks are no longer moving due to this protest, the depots are not working, the truck drivers are not driving, particularly during the first and second days of the protest, these issues have disrupted the supply of petroleum products. So it will result in scarcity at the filling stations,” Ukadike stated.

The youth-led demonstration against hardship in the country started on Thursday, August 1, which is barely one week and has been relatively peaceful in southern states, especially in Lagos State, where petroleum products are mainly loaded and transported to other parts of the country.

Fuel queues started to build up in some filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday, July 26. Motorists were seen engaging in panic buying, as most filling stations closed shops and a few hiked their pump prices.

Responding to the resurgence of the long queues, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) blamed it on a “hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” The ICIR reported on July 27.

On July 25, The ICIR reported that fuel scarcity hit most of the NNPCL filling stations as marketers anticipated products from Dangote Refinery.

The ongoing fuel scarcity started on July 5 when it resurfaced in Abuja and spread to other states, including Lagos. The NNPCL had said it was caused by flooding and logistics challenges.

Specifically, the NNPCL said the flooding disrupted the ship-to-ship transfer of petrol between mother vessels and daughter vessels, and weather conditions affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, disrupting supply to filling stations.

In a report on July 12, the IPMAN PRO told The ICIR  that NNPCL’s supply to oil marketers was still a bit slow and affected by higher demands for the products.

“NNPCL is giving products to marketers. There are still issues around epileptic distribution which shows that the supply hiccups are not sorted. It is taking longer before the products get to the marketers. We are not fully independent as we are still dependent on the products supplied to us by the Federal Government through NNPCL,” Ukadike said.

The ICIR observed a few queues on Monday, August 5, at the filling stations that opened for operations in Lagos.

At the NNPCL stations at Ojodu Berger, the queues were minimal and selling at a pump price of N568.

However, several filling stations have hiked their pump prices, selling above N700 to over N800 per litre, while other filling stations have been under lock and key for weeks.

Bobrisky regains freedom after months in prison

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Bobrisky regains freedom after months in prison

POPULAR Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has been released from the Kirirki Correctional Centre.

In a viral video on social media, he was seen leaving the facility after serving over four months out of his initial six-month sentence.

Following his release, he urged Nigerians to desist from spraying the naira, the offence that took him to jail.

“Follow the rules, abide by the law. Don’t spray money, unless you’ll be a landlord inside Kirikiri.

“It’s not just about killing or any criminal activity, something light like this can take you there,” he said.

The ICIR reports that in April, Bobrisky was arrested and detained by the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in Lagos and was sentenced to six months without an option of a fine for abusing the Nigerian naira.

Reacting to a question on his gender, he confirmed to the court that he was a man and not a woman.

“I’m a man, my lord,” he told the court.

Bobrisky is well-known for dressing like a woman and flaunting all the bodily features of the female gender.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, had confirmed that he was arrested, not for his lifestyle as a crossdresser but for abusing the naira.

Days before his arrest, Bobrisky had been on the news for several controversial reasons, including winning the ‘Best Dressed Female’ at a movie premiere in Lagos.

While there was an outcry by Nigerians for his arrest, a report by The ICIR shows that there is no law in Nigeria yet that criminalises cross-dressing.

Intestinal microorganism community directly impact human health 

Editorial
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Intestinal microorganism community directly impact human health 

By Ayodeji ADEPOJU

THE human intestine is essential for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and excreting waste. The intestine extends through the duodenum to the small intestine and large intestine, liking the colon to the outlet anus, where faecal excretes are being passed out. 

The intestine plays a significant role in health and disease, to the extent that a little disruption of the intestinal content could result in states of metabolic disorders. These intestinal contents are made up of trillions of microorganisms of which 99 per cent are bacteria.

The intestine of a healthy human was estimated to hold 38 trillion bacteria, together with the 1 per cent of other microorganisms (i.e. fungi, protozoa and viruses) that are collectively called intestinal microbiota.

The relative distribution of intestinal bacteria is unique to an individual, partly owing to strain-level diversities and differences in microbial growth rates and in structural variants within the microbial genes, and partly owing to influence from the considerable inter-individual variation in the host genetics and environmental exposures such as diet, and lifestyle.

The overall genetic composition of these intestinal microbiota is referred to as intestinal microbiome. The number of genes in the intestinal microbiome is 150- to 500-fold more than in human DNA.  Imbalances or alterations in the intestinal microbial composition or activity, also called Intestinal dysbiosis 

The mode of birth and access to breastfeeding shape the infant gut microbiota, and it matures gradually during childhood in response to environmental exposures. Thereafter, the intestinal microbiota remains relatively stable in late childhood, adolescence and adulthood until a decline in diversity occurs as a result of environmental exposures and host genetics.

Breastfeeding, food and water security are major protective factors against malnutrition and are crucial factors in the maturation of the healthy gut microbiota. Globally, malnutrition affects ~160 million people and is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years. Early loss of Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, two key members in mother milk, represents some of the first disruptions in the intestinal dysbiosis of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

The loss of the healthy mature anaerobic gut microbiota gradually leads to a deficiency in energy harvest, immune responses and vitamin synthesis, and links with chronic malabsorption, diarrhea and systemic invasion from pathogenic bacteria. 

The diet is regarded as one of the key drivers for the differences in gut microbiota between people and environmental exposures and lifestyles. Whole diets as well as food components (protein, fat, carbohydrates, polyphenols), influence the total bacteria community as well as the relative abundance of certain species. Food processing and preservation reduces the intake of commensal, food-associated microbes, whereas fermented foods enrich specific bacteria that transiently colonize the gut. 

Plant protein diet like whey, pea, bean nourishes the beneficial bacteria. However, an animal protein-based diet usually also means a higher fat intake.  Fruits, seeds/nuts, vegetables, tea, cocoa products, and wine contains polyphenols which increases the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria. Fruit polyphenols work against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium which are disease causing (pathogenic) bacteria. Food delivering prebiotics are soybean, chicory roots, raw oats, unrefined wheat, unrefined barley, as they contain carbohydrates which are not digested in the small intestine but are fermented in the large intestine by anaerobic colonic microbiota to beneficial metabolite (i.e. short chain fatty acids). 

The microbiota produces signalling molecules and metabolites that influence several intestinal functions: visceral-sensing, motility, digestion, permeability secretion, energy harvest, mucosal immunity, and barrier effect. These products are also transported to various organs affecting their functionality: brain (cognitive functions), liver (lipid and drug metabolism), and pancreas (glucose metabolism).

Imbalances or alterations in microbial composition or activity, also called Dysbiosis can influence health and is implicated in various diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, asthma, allergies and inflammatory bowel disease.  

Obesity results from the accumulation of excess fat in the adipose tissue. Causes include behavioral and environmental factors, such as excessive consumption of energy-dense foods and a sedentary lifestyle. But also, intestinal microbiota turned out to take part in the development of obesity. Microbiota from obese individuals has an increased capacity to harvest energy from the diet.

The elevated harvested energy causes a state of imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, a resultant model for the development of obesity. Microbiota also influences the host’s lipid metabolism by increasing fat deposition and storage in adipose tissue, liver, and/or muscle.  

Diet is one of the critical factors in progression of obesity and is profoundly linked to intestinal microbiota composition. Nutrient intake and eating habits directly influence the composition, diversity, and metabolism of intestinal microbiota. Furthermore, the composition and functionality of intestinal microbiota respond quickly to changes in dietary composition.

Interestingly, a healthy dietary pattern related to intestinal microbiota profiles exerted protective effects against development of diabetes in obese individuals. Therefore, a balanced diet is required to maintain the composition and proper function of the intestinal microbiota, and this have the potential to improve the human health condition. 

Aside diet, lifestyle, physical activity and exercise acutely promote a more anaerobic intestinal environment potentially promoting increased inhabitation of anaerobic bacteria.

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Exercise can also influence the gut’s mucus layer, a critical barrier between microbes and the gut lining; as well as gut motility which can alter GI transit time, potentially impacting microbial habitats and their nutrient availability. Resistance training increases abundance of selected SCFA producers and microbial metabolic pathways and improves cardiometabolic health 

In conclusion, the human intestine is a dynamic and essential part of our overall health, influenced significantly by diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. From birth through adulthood, maintaining a balanced gut microbiota is crucial for preventing diseases and promoting well-being. By adopting a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, individuals can support their gut health, thereby enhancing their overall health and quality of life. This underscores the importance of informed dietary choices and regular physical activity as pivotal strategies for maintaining a healthy microbiota and, consequently, a healthier life. 

Image by suraj gputa from Pixabay

Ayodeji Adepoju is a Gut microbiome specialist/ Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.

#EndBadGovernance: SSS allegedly arrests protest leader in Abuja

Bankole ABE
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0
#EndBadGovernance: SSS allegedly arrests protest leader in Abuja

THE State Security Service (SSS) has allegedly arrested one of the leaders of the ongoing nationwide protest, Michael Lenin, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Lenin was said to have been arrested by operatives of the secret service around 2 am on Monday, August 5,  at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT.

In a chat with The ICIR, the Director of Mobilisation of the Take It Back Movement (TIB), one of the groups organising the #EndBadGovernance protest, Damilare Adenola, alleged that the SSS was responsible for the arrest and claimed Lenin was picked up from his house.

He also added that he was assaulted during his arrest.

“He has been arrested. He was arrested over the night.”

Adenola claimed there was no news yet on the activist’s whereabouts after the arrest.

He confirmed that he was arrested for being one of the protest organisers.

The spokesperson of the TIB, Abiodun Sanusi also confirmed Lenin’s arrest to The ICIR in a chat.

Adenola also said that protesters who gathered at the Gudu area of the FCT to continue their protest early Monday morning were dispersed by the security operatives.

During a press briefing on Sunday, Lenin was among the organisers who voiced their dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast.

He claimed at the briefing that the President’s broadcast showed how far he was from the country’s economic and other realities.

The ICIR reported on Saturday, August 3, that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and the Army chased away protesters and journalists from the MKO stadium, Abuja.

The Police reportedly fired several tear gas canisters in the direction of the protesters who were demonstrating against the high rate of poverty and hunger in Abuja on Saturday, August 3.

It was also gathered that the State Security Service (SSS) personnel came later to disperse the remaining journalists and protesters.

The ICIR also reported that on the second day of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Abuja on Friday, August 2, protesters witnessed violence with police throwing tear gas canisters at demonstrators.

Security operatives had taken strategic positions at the stadium even before the protest began on Thursday, August 1.

The nationwide protest is aimed at addressing the lingering hunger crisis experienced since the assumption of President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, according to the organisers.

The SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not respond to calls, texts and WhatsApp messages from The ICIR  over the alleged arrest when filing this report.

 

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