By: Kelly Abrahams (Health24)
2015-02-06 10:08
Seeds are widely recommended as part of a healthy, balanced
diet – and with good reason. They’re packed with healthy plant fats,
fibre, protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Plus, they’re
naturally gluten-free.
As an excellent source of healthy polyunsaturated fats, seeds are
superfoods that play a role in weight management, as well as the
prevention of life-threatening chronic diseases such as heart disease,
diabetes and cancer.
Judith Johnson, a registered dietician from Cape Town, South Africa, gives some insight into the “seediest characters” out there and how to include them in your diet.
Chia seeds
These
tiny black seeds originate in Central America, dating back to the Mayan
and Aztec cultures. Ever since, native South Americans have enjoyed
them, often using them to up endurance during fitness training.
Chia
seeds are a good source of protein, iron, folate, calcium, magnesium,
zinc and manganese, and are very high in antioxidants, which are known
to protect us against disease-causing free radicals.
Their
claim to fame, however, is their high omega-3 content. Chia seeds are
one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are
required for optimal health throughout one’s life. If you consume a
typical western diet, chances are that you’re not getting enough of
these essential fatty acids.
Chia
seeds are also very high in soluble fibre, a type of fibre that
attracts water and turns into a gel-like substance during digestion,
making you feel fuller for longer and stabilising blood-glucose levels.
At the same time, it may also decrease total cholesterol and helps clean
out the digestive tract. For this reason, chia seeds are often used to
manage constipation, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In
a study done by Gayathri Balakrishnan from the University of Florida,
it was shown that incorporating chia seeds into your diet as a source of
fibre may promote and enhance satiety over time by increasing fullness
long after a meal.
Chia seeds are unique in their ability to absorb
more than ten times their own weight in water to form a gelatinous mass,
making them more versatile than most other seeds. Raw, ground up, or
soaked in water, simply add them to smoothies, yoghurt or breakfast
cereal, or sprinkle a teaspoon or two over salads, roast vegetables or
rice.
These seeds also make an excellent substitute for gelatine
or corn starch in cold desserts and stews. As milled flour, they add
moisture to baked goods and can even be used as an egg replacement in
some recipes.
Sesame seeds
We
see them on our burger buns and seed loaves, and many of us use sesame
oil in Asian cooking. In addition to essential omega-6 oils, sesame
seeds are rich in various minerals, including iron and magnesium.
Sesame
seeds are also exceptionally rich in a group of compounds called
lignans. These plant molecules are present in many foods, but sesame
seeds contain exceptionally high quantities. Lignans function as
antioxidants known to help inhibit the process of atherosclerosis
(thickening of the artery walls). It may also lower the risk of certain
types of cancers, specifically the hormone-related breast and prostate
cancers, and may contribute to increased brain function. Lignans have
also shown promising effects in other health conditions such as diabetes
and inflammation.
Sesame seeds are a good source of calcium. According to Manfred Urs Koch in Laugh with Health: The Complete Guide to Health, Diet, Nutrition and Natural Foods, sesame seeds are the ideal non-dairy calcium
food. Not only do they provide more calcium than cheese, but they
contain no cholesterol. As a matter of fact, they actually lower
blood-cholesterol levels through their phytosterol and high fibre
content. Among all the seeds and nuts, sesame seeds contain the highest
amount of phytosterols, which is good news for those of us with high
cholesterol.
Sesame seeds can be sprinkled on rolls and sushi. Try
adding them to mueslis, salads or as a crust instead of using bread
crumbs. One of the easiest ways to use sesame seeds and ensure better
absorption of their nutrients is to use ground sesame paste called
tahini in cooking. Tahini can be used in Asian dishes, hummus and stir
fries.
Flaxseeds
The humble flaxseed, or
linseed, is one of the most versatile and value-for-money seeds. They’re
an excellent source of protein and soluble fibre, and are best known as
a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid.
For this reason, they’re a favourite among vegetarians and those who
dislike anything fishy. Incorporating just two tablespoons of flaxseed into your daily diet is a sure-fire way to get all of the omega-3s you need.
Similar to sesame seeds, flaxseeds contain lignans, an excellent source of plant oestrogens and antioxidants,
which have potential anti-cancerous and cardio-protective properties.
Due to their low carbohydrate and high protein and fibre content,
flaxseeds have also been shown to stabilise blood-glucose levels, which
may aid in the management of diabetes, according to a study published in
the Journal of dietary supplements. What’s more, flaxseeds are also great for preventing constipation and bloating, promoting optimum gut health.
Flaxseeds
are often used whole in seed loafs. But, grounded up, they’re even
better. If you don’t grind the seeds, they can pass through your body
undigested, which means you’re not absorbing the essential nutrients
from the seed. Ground flaxseeds are commonly used as a low-carbohydrate
substitute for wheat in baked products. You’ll find that it’s used in
many of grain-free bread and cracker recipes, where the flaxseed powder
replaces some of the flour. It’s also commonly used as an egg
substitute.
Use flaxseed oil to make salad dressings or sprinkle
ground flaxseeds on top of salads for a crunchy treat. The seeds can
also be soaked in water overnight if you’re unable to grind them, and
then added to yoghurt, oats, smoothies, soups or stews.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin
seeds not only make bread look more attractive, they’re also extremely
healthy. These seeds are a tasty source of protein, B vitamins, iron and
zinc, and provide much magnesium – a mineral used in more than 300
biochemical reactions in the body. Pumpkin seeds also contain omega-6
essential fatty acids, and are rich in antioxidants and fibre.
Some reports show pumpkin seeds can improve symptoms of prostate enlargement
and urinary disorders. Research suggests they promote overall prostate
health by reducing the uptake of the hormone DHEA
(di-hydro-epi-androstenedione), which has been linked to the development
of gonadoblastoma – a rare, benign tumour that has cancerous potential.
Furthermore, pumpkin seeds may provide anti-hypertensive and
heart-protective effects.
Pumpkin seeds may also have
anti-depressive and anti-anxiety properties. In a research paper by
Shemi George and co-authors, published in the International Journal of Pharma Medicine and Biological Sciences
in 2012, it was found that pumpkin seeds could reduce depression
because they contain L-tryptophan, a highly concentrated amino acid that
is a serotonin precursor. Many athletes use pumpkin seeds quite
liberally as a source of magnesium and, of course, protein.
Raw
or roasted, they make for the perfect, high-fibre snack. Be sure to eat
them whole with the shells. Add them to trail mixes, muesli and healthy
baked products, or use these seeds as a garnish for salads and soups.
Sunflower seeds
These
seeds are very popular worldwide and are used to add flavour and
texture to all kinds of dishes, particularly when dehulled and roasted.
That said, they’re much healthier when eaten raw, as their fatty-acid
profile remains intact. Other than that, sunflower seeds are a good source of fibre, folic acid and vitamins B and E. According to Nuts and Seeds in Health and Disease Prevention
by Victor R. Preedy et al., organic sunflower seeds are an excellent
source of vitamin E, which is the body’s primary soluble antioxidant. As
an antioxidant, it plays a role in the prevention of cancer and
cardiovascular disease. It also provides anti-inflammatory effects in
the body.
Sunflower seeds are a good source of selenium, a trace mineral that plays a role in preventing cell damage and regulating metabolism.
A
handful of sunflower seeds make for a great, filling snack. These seeds
are delicious raw or roasted, and are generally more affordable in
comparison to other seeds. Pop them into muesli, trail mixes and seed
loaves, or give them a roast and add them to salads or stir fries for
crunch.
A word of warning
There have been
several reports of intestinal obstruction due to seeds like chia, flax
and even pumpkin seeds. This proves that you can get too much of a good
thing! As with most things in life, practise moderation, but do enjoy
seeds as part of a balanced, healthy diet.
References:
- Balakrishnan, G. 2012. Influence of Chia Seeds on Satiety (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida).
-
George, S., & Nazni, P. 2012. Antidepressive Activity of Processed
Pumpkin (Cucurbita Maxima) Seeds on Rats. International Journal of
Pharma Medicine and Biological Sciences, 1(2), 225-231.
- Koch, M. U. 2011. Laugh with Health: The Complete Guide to Health, Diet, Nutrition and Natural Foods. Exisle Publishing.
-
Mani, U. V., Mani, I., Biswas, M., & Kumar, S. N. 2011. An
open-label study on the effect of flax seed powder (Linum usitatissimum)
supplementation in the management of diabetes mellitus. Journal of dietary supplements, 8(3), 257-265.
- Preedy, V. R., Watson, R. R., & Patel, V. B. (Eds.). (2011). Nuts and seeds in health and disease prevention. Academic press.
Monday, 9 February 2015
How drinking can be good for your heart
2015-02-09 10:42
Lagos - A large new study suggests that people who have up to seven drinks a week in middle age have a lower risk of heart failure over the long term than those who abstain – though too much wine, beer or liquor could lead to an earlier death from other causes.
The study authors cautioned that people with heart failure should avoid alcohol, and that their study does not mean that others should start drinking "with abandon".
The results are based on observation over time, so they cannot prove that moderate drinking protects against heart failure, they added.
Alcohol and better health
"We don't know if alcohol is protective or if people who drink a little bit might do other things that might be contributing to their better health," said Dr. Scott Solomon of Harvard Medical School in Boston, the study's senior author.
While previous research has shown a link between mild to moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease, such as heart attacks, "what we didn't know was whether this would also extend to heart failure even in patients who did not have prior heart attacks," Solomon said.
"We were concerned because there is some evidence that alcohol is toxic to the heart directly," he said.
A moderate amount of alcohol is less than some people might expect – about seven drinks over the whole week. The study assumed that one drink contained 14 grams of alcohol, which is the amount in a little over five ounces of wine, 13 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
What the data shows
The researchers used data from the large and ongoing Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, following 14 629 adults who were 45 to 64 years old at the start of the study in 1987. People who didn't drink at all made up 61 percent of those included in the analysis, though 19 percent were former drinkers. About 25 percent of the study population drank up to seven drinks weekly, 8 percent averaged seven to 14 drinks a week, 3 percent had 14 to 21 drinks weekly and 3 percent drank 21 or more.
Men who had up to 14 drinks weekly were 20 percent less likely than abstainers to develop heart failure and women who drank up to 7 glasses weekly were 16 percent less likely, according to the results in the European Heart Journal.
"If we were giving a drug and doing this in a trial and showing that effect, people would say, okay that's a modest reduction," Solomon told Reuters Health. "It's simply not as robust for women," he said.
"It could be women are smaller in general and so this might have to do to some degree with body size. But also other factors with gender in terms of how we metabolize alcohol," he added.
A higher percentage of men and women developed heart failure if they were former drinkers compared to those who never drank. Men and women who drank 21 or more drinks weekly were also more likely to die from other causes than those who didn't drink that much.
Not a random move
"The decision to stop drinking may not be random, it may be influenced by other factors that might be related to risk of illness," said Solomon, who also directs Noninvasive Cardiology and the Cardiac Imaging Core Laboratory and Clinical Trials Endpoints Centre at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Showing that link between a low to moderate amount of alcohol and lower risk of heart failure (and not just heart attacks or stroke) is a "novel" finding, said Dr. Andrew J. Sauer at the Centre for Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Assistance at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
"A lot of us in the heart failure community have been suggesting something similar for patients," said Sauer, who was not involved in the study.
He pointed out that the researchers accounted for factors like age, education, body mass index, smoking, cholesterol and high blood pressure, which bolsters the suggestion that alcohol is what protected people from heart failure.
A little more alcohol . . .
But, the study did not show how often people were drinking daily or whether they might have even had seven drinks in one night, he said. Sauer also noted that many people pour seven or eight ounces of wine when they drink, and people who could stick to a truly moderate amount "are probably very disciplined" and might therefore have healthier lifestyles.
"A little more alcohol in your diet is continuing to show up . . . as a potential protector for cardiovascular events," Sauer said. "But until there is a trial where people are randomised to abstaining or drinking low to moderate amounts, we'll never know for sure."
Lagos - A large new study suggests that people who have up to seven drinks a week in middle age have a lower risk of heart failure over the long term than those who abstain – though too much wine, beer or liquor could lead to an earlier death from other causes.
The study authors cautioned that people with heart failure should avoid alcohol, and that their study does not mean that others should start drinking "with abandon".
The results are based on observation over time, so they cannot prove that moderate drinking protects against heart failure, they added.
Alcohol and better health
"We don't know if alcohol is protective or if people who drink a little bit might do other things that might be contributing to their better health," said Dr. Scott Solomon of Harvard Medical School in Boston, the study's senior author.
While previous research has shown a link between mild to moderate alcohol intake and lower risk of coronary heart disease, such as heart attacks, "what we didn't know was whether this would also extend to heart failure even in patients who did not have prior heart attacks," Solomon said.
"We were concerned because there is some evidence that alcohol is toxic to the heart directly," he said.
A moderate amount of alcohol is less than some people might expect – about seven drinks over the whole week. The study assumed that one drink contained 14 grams of alcohol, which is the amount in a little over five ounces of wine, 13 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
What the data shows
The researchers used data from the large and ongoing Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, following 14 629 adults who were 45 to 64 years old at the start of the study in 1987. People who didn't drink at all made up 61 percent of those included in the analysis, though 19 percent were former drinkers. About 25 percent of the study population drank up to seven drinks weekly, 8 percent averaged seven to 14 drinks a week, 3 percent had 14 to 21 drinks weekly and 3 percent drank 21 or more.
Men who had up to 14 drinks weekly were 20 percent less likely than abstainers to develop heart failure and women who drank up to 7 glasses weekly were 16 percent less likely, according to the results in the European Heart Journal.
"If we were giving a drug and doing this in a trial and showing that effect, people would say, okay that's a modest reduction," Solomon told Reuters Health. "It's simply not as robust for women," he said.
"It could be women are smaller in general and so this might have to do to some degree with body size. But also other factors with gender in terms of how we metabolize alcohol," he added.
A higher percentage of men and women developed heart failure if they were former drinkers compared to those who never drank. Men and women who drank 21 or more drinks weekly were also more likely to die from other causes than those who didn't drink that much.
Not a random move
"The decision to stop drinking may not be random, it may be influenced by other factors that might be related to risk of illness," said Solomon, who also directs Noninvasive Cardiology and the Cardiac Imaging Core Laboratory and Clinical Trials Endpoints Centre at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Showing that link between a low to moderate amount of alcohol and lower risk of heart failure (and not just heart attacks or stroke) is a "novel" finding, said Dr. Andrew J. Sauer at the Centre for Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Assistance at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
"A lot of us in the heart failure community have been suggesting something similar for patients," said Sauer, who was not involved in the study.
He pointed out that the researchers accounted for factors like age, education, body mass index, smoking, cholesterol and high blood pressure, which bolsters the suggestion that alcohol is what protected people from heart failure.
A little more alcohol . . .
But, the study did not show how often people were drinking daily or whether they might have even had seven drinks in one night, he said. Sauer also noted that many people pour seven or eight ounces of wine when they drink, and people who could stick to a truly moderate amount "are probably very disciplined" and might therefore have healthier lifestyles.
"A little more alcohol in your diet is continuing to show up . . . as a potential protector for cardiovascular events," Sauer said. "But until there is a trial where people are randomised to abstaining or drinking low to moderate amounts, we'll never know for sure."
Those moments when you can't find nobody
By: SAMUEL UFOT EKEKERE
2015-02-08 08:42
What do you do when you need someone so badly to support that idea you’ve been cooking up and you think it’s really going to succeed and you don’t find that someone. You may feel down-casted, pained and perhaps doubt if you really are in the world for good. These situations are part of our everyday existence and a fact we often have to face whether we like it not. However successful a man may be, he still has such issues to face.
A sales manager at a top commercial bank had this to face trying to defend his well thought through sales strategy. He had acquired all the advice from top sales analysts around his professional industry and had deep assurance that all the advice were worth it. But he had to face the top directors and managers at his office over defending the possibility of his sales proposals working. From one idea to another, his ideas got bashed and washed as each manager took turns to rubbish his work. This manager was dazed that his best work was being given a zero. He returned home feeling depressed and in need of just that one top manager that will stand and see from his stand point.
Whether you are down the ladder or up there at the prime, there is still that fear of being alone with your big set of ideas. Depression may steal in and you increasingly find yourself plunging downward away from your expected endpoint. The question at the beginning of this writ becomes necessary when we consider that many ideas are finding their way into dustbins because the inventors of those ideas could not find that person who they expect to believe in them.
Your idea is scarce and nobody will offer it the way you do even if those you believe to accept it don’t. They only do not accept it because, they aren’t in your shoe picturing from the same direction as you are. Yes, you need somebody, but not having that body to support your idea doesn’t mean it’s finished for you. You can afford to look up to “Someone.”
Every idea developed from its inventor or initiator takes a “long walk to freedom.” That freedom arrives only after some bashing and whitewashing by everyone. Everyone often does not see great ideas because they are easily deceived by the normal life they are used to.
Everyone loves the sky remaining blue; they can’t picture a green or yellow sky. Everyone sees only everyday possibilities, they can’t see beyond today. You can understand with such persons how short sighted they are.
In the face of a crowded disbelief system, is that someone who manages to call you aside and ask for a one to one discuss on the possibilities of your idea making grand entry into realism. That someone is ready to help you iron out those issues that seems to limit your idea and then help you make it a reality. That someone is always around watching out for you.
We are often plunged into depression by the uncelebrated acts of everyone who might have pushed at their thought of how irrelevant our special idea may be. We often are the ones who allow them this opportunity to demean our so much work often because we think we have them as our celebrators. They necessarily will not celebrate your work until you have gotten your way up. The crowd won’t support you up.
What the crowd does is boo your desire to climb and cheer only after you have strived your way up.
Finding that someone to give your idea a lift may not be as easy at the first trial. However your resoluteness at pushing your idea through however the encumbrances will attract that someone you will need. People are the hand tools of God for the manifestation of ideas and visions. Somehow someone will have to believe your idea makes sense once you can get going pushing behind you the fact that what you are offering hasn’t gotten the cheering as you had thought.
Coca-Cola won’t be Coca-Cola today if the man who had developed its recipe had quietly thrown it away after everyone he had tried to sell it to had disdained it as useless. Today, it is a brand name because the developer found that one person who bought into it against the crowd who had opposed its market value.
You might not find everybody walking in your direction because you may not be worth looking at now. Well, that’s for now. Just wait at that idea; someone will come knocking very soon.
What do you do when you need someone so badly to support that idea you’ve been cooking up and you think it’s really going to succeed and you don’t find that someone. You may feel down-casted, pained and perhaps doubt if you really are in the world for good. These situations are part of our everyday existence and a fact we often have to face whether we like it not. However successful a man may be, he still has such issues to face.
A sales manager at a top commercial bank had this to face trying to defend his well thought through sales strategy. He had acquired all the advice from top sales analysts around his professional industry and had deep assurance that all the advice were worth it. But he had to face the top directors and managers at his office over defending the possibility of his sales proposals working. From one idea to another, his ideas got bashed and washed as each manager took turns to rubbish his work. This manager was dazed that his best work was being given a zero. He returned home feeling depressed and in need of just that one top manager that will stand and see from his stand point.
Whether you are down the ladder or up there at the prime, there is still that fear of being alone with your big set of ideas. Depression may steal in and you increasingly find yourself plunging downward away from your expected endpoint. The question at the beginning of this writ becomes necessary when we consider that many ideas are finding their way into dustbins because the inventors of those ideas could not find that person who they expect to believe in them.
Your idea is scarce and nobody will offer it the way you do even if those you believe to accept it don’t. They only do not accept it because, they aren’t in your shoe picturing from the same direction as you are. Yes, you need somebody, but not having that body to support your idea doesn’t mean it’s finished for you. You can afford to look up to “Someone.”
Every idea developed from its inventor or initiator takes a “long walk to freedom.” That freedom arrives only after some bashing and whitewashing by everyone. Everyone often does not see great ideas because they are easily deceived by the normal life they are used to.
Everyone loves the sky remaining blue; they can’t picture a green or yellow sky. Everyone sees only everyday possibilities, they can’t see beyond today. You can understand with such persons how short sighted they are.
In the face of a crowded disbelief system, is that someone who manages to call you aside and ask for a one to one discuss on the possibilities of your idea making grand entry into realism. That someone is ready to help you iron out those issues that seems to limit your idea and then help you make it a reality. That someone is always around watching out for you.
We are often plunged into depression by the uncelebrated acts of everyone who might have pushed at their thought of how irrelevant our special idea may be. We often are the ones who allow them this opportunity to demean our so much work often because we think we have them as our celebrators. They necessarily will not celebrate your work until you have gotten your way up. The crowd won’t support you up.
What the crowd does is boo your desire to climb and cheer only after you have strived your way up.
Finding that someone to give your idea a lift may not be as easy at the first trial. However your resoluteness at pushing your idea through however the encumbrances will attract that someone you will need. People are the hand tools of God for the manifestation of ideas and visions. Somehow someone will have to believe your idea makes sense once you can get going pushing behind you the fact that what you are offering hasn’t gotten the cheering as you had thought.
Coca-Cola won’t be Coca-Cola today if the man who had developed its recipe had quietly thrown it away after everyone he had tried to sell it to had disdained it as useless. Today, it is a brand name because the developer found that one person who bought into it against the crowd who had opposed its market value.
You might not find everybody walking in your direction because you may not be worth looking at now. Well, that’s for now. Just wait at that idea; someone will come knocking very soon.
Plot to remove Jega thickens
Abuja - To ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan wins the March 28
presidential election convincingly, the Presidency has launched a
two-pronged war against those opposed to his re-election, reports Vanguard.
One of the plans is to replace the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega with a less independent-minded person.
The thinking in the Presidency is that Jega is too independent-minded and uncooperative despite being given the job on a platter of gold by the president’s men.
The plot is to forced Jega to comply with the civil service procedure by proceeding on his three months terminal leave with effect from March 1, this year since he is expected to retire on June 13.
The other plan to to stop Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate from contesting the election with Jonathan.
Read more at Vanguard.
Read more on: 2015 elections
One of the plans is to replace the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega with a less independent-minded person.
The thinking in the Presidency is that Jega is too independent-minded and uncooperative despite being given the job on a platter of gold by the president’s men.
The plot is to forced Jega to comply with the civil service procedure by proceeding on his three months terminal leave with effect from March 1, this year since he is expected to retire on June 13.
The other plan to to stop Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate from contesting the election with Jonathan.
Read more at Vanguard.
Read more on: 2015 elections
Ban Ki-moon asks INEC to embark on rapid PVCs distribution
Abuja - The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has asked INEC
to take advantage of the shift in polls to embark on rapid distribution
of the remaining Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to all registered voters.
This is contained in a statement from the Secretary-General on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the postponement of Nigeria's elections, initially scheduled for February 14 and 28.
The statement was made available to the media by Oluseyi Soremekun, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre in Nigeria.
Ban, in the statement, pointed out that the rapid distribution of PVCs to all eligible voters was imperative to ensure credible polls.
He urged, “the electoral authority to take all necessary measures, such as the rapid distribution of the remaining PVCs, to enable all eligible voters, including those displaced, to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner. “
“This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election,” the statement said.
The statement also said that the UN scribe had spoken in a telephone conversation with President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday over the postponement of the election, and also to Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
He had encouraged both Jonathan and opposition candidate Buhari to respect the Abuja Accord they adopted and which commits them to non-violence, peace and tolerance during the elections.
"He looks up to Nigeria's authorities to uphold their commitment to ensure a violence-free election and put in place adequate security measures, so that citizens across the country are able to exercise their civic duty safely and without fear,'' the statement added.
The secretary-general expressed the hope that the forthcoming elections would meet the high expectations of the Nigerian people and the international community.
"The successful conduct of these polls would strengthen Nigeria's democracy and enable the country to continue to play a leading role in the promotion of regional peace and security," Ban said.
This is contained in a statement from the Secretary-General on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the postponement of Nigeria's elections, initially scheduled for February 14 and 28.
The statement was made available to the media by Oluseyi Soremekun, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre in Nigeria.
Ban, in the statement, pointed out that the rapid distribution of PVCs to all eligible voters was imperative to ensure credible polls.
He urged, “the electoral authority to take all necessary measures, such as the rapid distribution of the remaining PVCs, to enable all eligible voters, including those displaced, to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner. “
“This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election,” the statement said.
The statement also said that the UN scribe had spoken in a telephone conversation with President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday over the postponement of the election, and also to Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
He had encouraged both Jonathan and opposition candidate Buhari to respect the Abuja Accord they adopted and which commits them to non-violence, peace and tolerance during the elections.
"He looks up to Nigeria's authorities to uphold their commitment to ensure a violence-free election and put in place adequate security measures, so that citizens across the country are able to exercise their civic duty safely and without fear,'' the statement added.
The secretary-general expressed the hope that the forthcoming elections would meet the high expectations of the Nigerian people and the international community.
"The successful conduct of these polls would strengthen Nigeria's democracy and enable the country to continue to play a leading role in the promotion of regional peace and security," Ban said.
- NAN
Decision to postpone polls highly provocative - APC
With just a week to go before the country's general elections, INEC decided to postpone the polls by six weeks.
The elections have been pushed from 13 February to 28 March, while the state gubernatorial and legislative votes have been moved to 11 April.
The United States on Sunday said it was disappointed by INEC's decision.
"Political interference with the Independent National Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impending the democratic process," Secretary of State John Kerry was reported as saying.
Security reasons were stated as the major reason for postponing the elections.
The delay was set to give a new multinational force – made up of at least 8 700 troops, police and civilians to secure north-eastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram Islamist insurgents.
There were fears that millions could be disenfranchised if the vote went ahead while the Boko Haram held a large swath of the northeast.
According to Africa Check, this is not the first time that INEC has delayed a presidential vote. The commission did so in 2011, but this time it has come "in the context of a far tighter political race".
Osun auto crash claims 17 lives
2015-02-09 10:41
Abuja - No less than 17 people have lost their lives in an auto crash along the busy Ilesa-Ife Expressway on Sunday, PUNCH reports.
The accident, which occurred after 4 pm, was allegedly caused by the driver of a Toyota Hiace who moved out of his lane and crashed into Toyota Sienna space bus travelling on the same road.
Ten of the seventeen deceased are said to have been children.
Items found at the accident scene suggest that the occupants of the Toyota Sienna were set to attend a funeral.
Injured parties have been transported to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile Ife for treatment.
The identities of the deceased have not been ascertained at this time.
Read more from PUNCH
Abuja - No less than 17 people have lost their lives in an auto crash along the busy Ilesa-Ife Expressway on Sunday, PUNCH reports.
The accident, which occurred after 4 pm, was allegedly caused by the driver of a Toyota Hiace who moved out of his lane and crashed into Toyota Sienna space bus travelling on the same road.
Ten of the seventeen deceased are said to have been children.
Items found at the accident scene suggest that the occupants of the Toyota Sienna were set to attend a funeral.
Injured parties have been transported to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile Ife for treatment.
The identities of the deceased have not been ascertained at this time.
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