…Decries exorbitant electricity bills

By Chioma Obinna

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) is positioning the institute for a transformative 2025, as it is focused on tackling local health challenges with homegrown vaccines.

To this end, the institute’s vision for the coming years includes intensified research on diseases of indigenous importance, especially those that disproportionately affect Nigerians.

One of the key areas of focus for NIMR in 2025 is developing vaccines targeted at local health challenges, such as Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.

A recent collaboration with international partners, including a South African team charged with producing a COVID-19 vaccine for Africa, is expected to enhance NIMR’s capabilities in vaccine production.

The South African team is working alongside Biobasics, a key partner, to ensure that necessary equipment and resources are available for local research and trials.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, the Director General of NIMR, Prof John Obafunwa, said already, the agency had already held a Zoom meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to discuss vaccine production for Lassa fever, with hopes that by next year, progress will be made on this front.

He said while NIMR faces the challenge of securing adequate funding for these ambitious projects, particularly from the Nigerian government, there is optimism about the potential for locally produced vaccines to address specific diseases.

“Another significant research initiative involves chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, which have increasingly become prevalent in Nigeria. NIMR is exploring the unique environmental and genetic factors that may contribute to the rise of these diseases, including the aggressive forms of breast cancer seen in people of African descent. There is also a focus on the genetic screening of children for diseases that may be genetically determined, to improve early diagnosis and intervention.

“The institute is also working closely with the Institute of Human Virology, Lagos State, and other local health agencies to address common diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera.”

He recalled that in a recent collaboration, NIMR helped analyze cholera samples, contributing to the containment of a recent outbreak.

He noted that while NIMR’s role may be limited to sample analysis rather than field interventions, its contributions remain vital in controlling infectious diseases.

In line with these developments, Obafunwa called for a shift in attitude and cooperation across departments.

He emphasised the need for a personal commitment to service, urging Nigerian researchers to prioritise doing what is right without external oversight.

He also envisioned a more harmonious working relationship between senior and junior staff, with an emphasis on improving service delivery across the board.

He said the Centre is positioning itself as a central player in addressing Nigeria’s health challenges, with a focus on local research and innovations that can improve public health and contribute to global solutions.

Continuing, the institute further cried out over what it described as exorbitant electricity bills which have put immense strain on the institute’s finances.

He said despite being classified under Band A for electricity billing, NIMR has received monthly bills as high as N49 million, significantly outstripping the annual capital budget for electricity, which is just N20 million for 2024.

“The bill that I got for August was about N49 million. Now, the capital budget for electricity for the whole year, 2024, is N20 million. The bill alone that an EKO electricity distribution company gave us was 49 million in August. We got about N48 million in September. We got about N44 million in October. In November, I got something about N34 million. This month of December, I got over N43 million. When the first bill in August came, we were trying to find ways to deal with it. By the time the next one of N48 million came in September, it was like, what is happening? Of course, we wrote a letter to a coal electricity distribution company, and I tried to seek an audience.”

He said the situation has led NIMR to ration power, shutting down electricity supply to residential quarters by 9 p.m., and reducing laboratory hours.

The institute has been forced to find alternative ways to manage costs, including approaching electricity distributors for meters and exploring solar energy solutions, though efforts to get a response from the electricity distribution company have been unsuccessful.

Obafunwa also emphasised the importance of public understanding of the role of NIMR, as many people, including professionals and lawmakers, are unaware of the institute’s work.

To address this, NIMR is working to improve its public relations, including regular media interactions and involving researchers in discussions about their work.

He said the institute’s funding predominantly comes from foreign organizations such as the WHO, NIH, and USAID, which means that most of the research conducted aligns with international interests.

He expressed the need for NIMR to focus more on issues that directly affect the Nigerian population, such as malaria, cholera, and chronic diseases like kidney failure, which are of significant public interest.