Features
HIV, The Church And Theology
Not many Theologians
would accept that sexual and reproductive health and rights are issues that the church can discuss particularly going by the meaning of theology and the stance taken by churches.
The stance, when taken by the church on such issues bordering on sexuality, reproduction, HIV and their attendant rights as it affects women, is mostly based on the general feeling that the pulpit, nay church, is only meant for discussions and teachings about God.
The extent to which this is true, or otherwise, has been a subject for discourse in different fora. Lately, there are indications that the refusal of the church to address such issues may, to a large extent, have culminated in the rampant societal decadence.
Those were the views canvassed recently at a 3-day training workshop on “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS”. The event was organised by the World Council of Churches (WCE) in conjunction with the Christian Council of Nigeria from August 7-9 at the Presbytarian Church, Rumuomasi, in Port Harcourt.
In his presentation titled “Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Theology”, The President, Nigeria Commission of Reformed Churches, Rev. Dr. Benebo Fubara –Manuel, noted that the inability or refusal of the church to openly address issues on sexual and reproductive health and rights has led society into seeking other explanations regarding the issues.
In the process, society has continuously degenerated into what it is today, mostly because the church, which sees itself as the originator of truth, guides its own version of the truth jealously.
Fubara-Manuel, who is also the Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Rivers State and the immediate past Principal Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, said a major mistake the church has made is its refusal to listen to society on issues. about sexual and reproductive health and rights. This situation, he said had affected society negatively.
“This is because most churches are formed with the notion that they have truth in their hands. This concept of truth that was bequeathed to us was given to us with a lot of untruth. So, many churches think that they have truth in their possession and therefore have no room to listen to others.
“Every truth claim of every church is a contextual truth claim. It is not wrong in its entirety because it testifies to Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. But it is limited, and therefore, always to be understood as dated, hence the truth understanding of the church today, may be different from the truth understanding of tomorrow … whereas, the truth is bigger than every church”, he said.
Continuing , the Clergyman said if the Church could come off its high horse in such issues and include its teachings in its curriculum, society would have fewer cases associated with sexual and reproductive issues.
Such issues include: early marriage, early indulgence in sexual activity, issues relating to divorce, unwanted pregnancy and the rights of women in marriage, different from the strict doctrines of the Church, which bases its teaching on a woman’s submission to her husband, even when her right is trampled upon.
Fubara-Manuel said the church should, for instance, see it as its duty not to condemn the woman with an unwanted pregnancy, and address the issue in its own contest. This would most likely lessen the number of unwanted pregnancies in the society.
In her presentation titled “HIV and AIDS in Nigeria”, the Executive Director of “Support for Mankind Development Initiative”, Mrs. Iminabo Austen-Okoroafor, highlighted the present state of HIV / AIDS in Nigeria.
The focus of her presentation was on key operational challenges experienced in the fight against the HIV/ AIDS pandemic, and the role expected of the church. She identified six key operational challenges:
They are: poor ownership and leadership of the HlV response at various levels, limited state government contributions to the fight against AIDS, and weak supply chain management system and limited human capacity and service delivery.
Others are: Limited private sector, including faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the fight against AIDS, more monitoring and evaluation plus data management system.
She also stated the President’s Comprehensive Response plan (PCRP) for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria from 2013 to 2015, which is aimed at achieving Global Commitments, Universal Access, as well as the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halting and reversing the HIV epidemic by 2015.
The objective of the PCRP, she said, is to avail 80 men and women aged 15 and above knowledge of their HIV status, to enroll an additional 600,000 eligible adults and children on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), and provide ART for 244,000 mv pregnant women for PMTCT.
Others are: 2,000 new PMTCT and ART service delivery points across the country, provide access to combination prevention services for 5,000 MARPs and provide access to combination prevention for 4 million (9%) young persons aged 15 – 24 years.
Mrs. Jessie Fubara-Manuel, the Coordinator of the training, which was organised under the auspices of the Ecumenical Hl V and AIDS Initiative in African WorId Council of Churches (EHAIA/WCC), in collaboration with the CCN, focused on “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Families and Communities”.
Using concrete situations, Jessie identified specific issues about SRHR in family and community settings and established the need for open discussions on SRHR both within the family and various shades of communities and how to take specific actions against acts bordering on SRHR.
Taking participants through the topic, “Youth and Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Nigeria”, a clergyman, Reverened Okechukwu Kalu Iro, x-rayed youth and adolescent psychology as it concerns their indulgence, and the attendant right issues that emanate from it.
President of the “Niger Delta Coalition of Persons with Disabilities”, David ThankGod Enogho, in his paper titled “Disability and Marginalization in Nigeria”, laid bare the dehumanizing experiences meted on the physically challenged by the Nigerian society, which constitutes outright infringement on their fundamental human rights.
Tracing “disability” and its attendant marginalization to the Bible, he identified some key areas in which discrimination and marginalization of people with disability can easily be noticed. Such areas include education, employment, transport, housing, political participation and religion.
A trainer on SRHR, Mrs. Kaine Bob-Manuel, presented a paper on “Sexual and Gender- Based Violence in Nigeria”, particularly as it affects the girl- child and women. She identified five types of Sexual and gender-based violence against women. They include sexual, physical, emotional, psychological and socio-economic violence.
She also identified avenues through which such violence manifest in Nigeria. They are forced prostitution, ponography, trafficking in women, partner violence and marital rape.
Others are dowry abuse, murders, partner homicide, psychological abuse, abuse of women with disabilities and forced pregnancy.
While making their presentations, speaker after speaker re-echoed one key phenomenon and that is that the church needs to take a clear stand on such issues as critical to society as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and the fight against the HlV/AIDS pandemic, particularly as it affects the woman and youth, who are the worst hit.
All speakers agreed on the fact that beyond affording members spiritual guidance, the church has to venture into issues of SRHR and HIV/AIDS. Among its members, different from strict adherence to what is perceived to be the dictates of the Bible, as interpreted by the church.
The central message from the workshop was to the effect that the church should, not regard issues pertaining to SRHR and HIV / AIDS as being out of its purview or something capable of attracting disrepute and hence must be avoided.
Participants at the 3-day training workshop. Photo: Soibi Max-Alalibo
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku