A detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mahmud Tukur, denied promising the former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, leniency in exchange for indicting the former Minister of Finance and others.
The former Accountant General of the Federation had told the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 1, 2024, that the EFCC deceived him to admit to the allegations against him.
The ex-AGF specifically claimed that the EFCC told him they wanted to use him to get the Minister of Finance and some governors to receive derivation funds.
Idris and his co-defendants are standing trial on 14 charges of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109.5bn.
Idris was arraigned alongside Godfrey Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited by the EFCC in July 2022.
However, at the proceedings, Tukur, who was the second prosecution witness in the trial-within-trial, denied that the commission made such a promise to Idris.
The trial-within-trial was ordered by the court following the objection raised by counsel for Idris, Chris Uche (SAN), alleging that his client did not make his statements to the EFCC voluntarily.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, Tukur insisted that all the 13 statements involving Idris and his lawyers were voluntarily made.
He added that the ex-AGF was interviewed in the presence of his lawyers before filing 11 statements at different times.
Tukur added that two out of the 13 confessional statements were volunteered willingly with Idris waiving his right to have a lawyer present.
He said, “Idris signed on the back of the page of the statement sheet and it was witnessed by Barrister Haruna Isa.
The statement of May 21, 2022, was written by Idris.
“The statement of July 5, 2022, was made by the first defendant in the presence of Mr Gbenga Adeyemi. He was cautioned, interviewed, before those volunteered statements.”
While being cross-examined by the ex-AGF’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), Tukur said the EFCC had a standard procedure for getting a statement from a suspect.
He said, “My lord, he(Idris) requested that he wanted to come and volunteer his first statement, and at the management level, it was approved. At that time, he was the serving AGF. It was based on his request my lord.”
The witness, however, admitted that the EFCC did not send a letter of invitation to Idris following the second statement he made.
The witness said he would not know if Idris’ statement in Kano on May 10, 2022, was done in the presence of his lawyer as he was not there.
When quizzed about promising the ex-AGF soft-landing, Tukur described the allegation as “absolute falsehood”.
“I never promised him that he would not be prosecuted.
“ I never did as a unit head and the first defendant is a very senior civil servant, in my capacity I can not do that. “
The trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, adjourned till May 15 for the continuation of trial-within-trial.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended seven individuals suspected of producing illegal rifles and pistols within the Abuja metropolis.
According to a statement released on Wednesday (today) by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the criminal activity was thwarted thanks to a tip-off.
Afolabi noted that the NSCDC Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation promptly responded to the information and successfully arrested the suspects.
“Acting on a tip-off that a group of individuals were manufacturing semi-automatic rifles and pistols at Moshood Abiola National Stadium area in Abuja, the DII-SM acted based on credible intelligence, and the 7 suspects were caught in the act,” Daily Trust quoted the NSCDC spokesperson saying.
The suspects were identified as Amos Iyawo (M) aged 29 years, Jonah Mannaseh (M) aged 27 years, Ezekiel Nannim (M) 20 years, Naifa Pando (F) 26 years, Euphemia Peter (M) 26 years, Faith Gadang (F) and Philemon Karam (F) 26 years.
“From the confessional statements volunteered by the suspects, we gathered that Amos Iyawo is the leader of the team and that he recruited others to participate as manufacturers of the rifles,” the statement added.
Findings by the security agency revealed that rifles and pistols has just been made and none of them have been sold yet.
Naija News understands that the suspects were found in possession of five completed rifles, one pistol, one unfinished rifle, seven empty cartridges, two boots, rods, a welding machine, a filling machine, two searchlights, three pliers, a shovel, cutlass, axes, a hunter’s ID card, and a belt.
According to the statement, all the seized items will be handed over to the Nigerian Police for further investigation and potential prosecution.
The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has since instructed all Zonal Commanders, State Commandants, and formation heads to prioritize the gathering of timely intelligence.
The Senate has passed the Student Loan, Access to Higher Education, Act 2024.
The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.
The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.
The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.
The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.
The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.
The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.
Salawu, Akingbolu & Co., the legal representatives of Mrs. Wunmi Aloba, wife of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, have refuted a publication by UK-based Nigerian blogger Bukky Jesse. The claim made by Jesse alleged that the law firm had conducted a DNA test on Mohbad's son, Liam.
According to a disclaimer issued on Wednesday and signed by Kabir Akingbolu, the blogger had made a publication alleging that the law firm was involved in carrying out a DNA test on Mohbad’s son in connivance with one Latona Hospital and later, Lagoon Hospital, all in Lagos State.
SaharaReporters had reported how Bukky Jesse, a blogger and social media influencer who is based in Manchester, had intensified her cyberbullying of Mohbad’s wife.
Bukky Jesse had in a Facebook and Instagram live of over three hours accused Wunmi of killing her husband and taking possession of Mohbad’s properties, and using the media to gather the records she will use at the embassy of a foreign country to seek asylum and flee Nigeria with her son, Liam.
SaharaReporters had also reported how Bukky Jesse embarked on cyberbullying of renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), for requesting the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force over death threats coming to Mohbad’s wife.
She had in a Facebook post used derogatory words for Falana and his co-workers for taking the brief of MohBad’s wife.
Akingbolu said that the allegation has no iota of truth but one made by a “self-serving, jobless attention seeker and overseas fugitive” who believes in making money by maligning people with integrity so as to attract followers on the Internet
The disclaimer read, “The attention of the law firm of Salawu, Akingbolu & Co. has been drawn to an online publication by a Blogger named Bukky Jesse, who, in her desperate quest to garner more online followers threw caution to the wind by making an unfounded allegation that our Law Firm was involved in carrying out a Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) test on one Liam, the son of late Hip-hop Singer Aloba Ilerioluwa Promise popularly known as Mohbad in connivance with one Latona Hospital and later Lagoon Hospital.
“For the record, we state and maintain that we are Professional Litigation Lawyers of repute and our integrity in that light has never been in doubt since the inception of our Law Firm, for we are Lawyers who believe strongly in ethics and professionalism.
“As a matter of fact, our track records in defending the masses and fighting poor government policies and corruption are testimonials to what we do.
“Although Mrs. Wunmi Aloba, the wife to the late Singer, Aloba llerioluwa Promise (Mohbad), recently briefed our Law Firm and our service was retained to represent her in her cases and we have been doing our job strictly as Lawyers, we are, therefore, surprised by the unfounded allegation made by the so-called Blogger that we are into Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) test when we are not medical practitioners.
“NOTICE is hereby given to the general public to disregard the unsubstantiated publication made by the said Blogger. We have never, at any point in time, carried out any Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) test for Mrs. Wunmi Aloba nor any person whosoever because we are not running a hospital but a Law Firm.
“This is an allegation that has no iota of truth but one made by a self-serving, jobless attention seeker and overseas fugitive who believes in making money by maligning people with integrity so as to attract followers on the Internet.”
“We hereby urge the general public to discountenance and jettison the spurious, unfounded, baseless and puerile allegation by Bukky Jesse who has been dishing out falsehood and contradictory information to the general public under the pretence of seeking justice for the death of late Aloba Ilerioluwa Promise (Mohbad).
“For us, we know that under the law, it is only the father of a child, in this case, MOHBAD, that can question the paternity of the child, LIAM, but he never doubted the paternity of the child when he was alive.
“As a matter of fact, he had two lands, one was bought in the name of LIAM. This is more so because even if MOHBAD had adopted another child out of wedlock when he was alive, so far as there was/is such acknowledgement, the whole world cannot gang up to deny such a child of his inheritance even though he was born out of wedlock.
“So why would I bother myself with DNA (to prove what?) instead of facing the legal issues involved?
“Having said that, we assure the public that the long hands of the law will catch up with this impostor and accidental blogger of infinitesimal value with no traceable address in Nigeria, as soon as we are able to unveil her identity which has been shrouded in secrecy and we dare her to come out if she can defend any of her gutter vituperations.”
Chioma Adeleke, the wife of Afrobeats singer, Davido has shared the story how she met the singer.
She spoke during a question and answer throwback video with her followers.
Chioma disclosed that she met the father of her twins during their university days.
She shared that their meeting happened through a mutual friend who was dating one of Davido’s close associates at the time.
She said: “I met him when I was in school. My friend used to date his friend so from there it just happened.”
Nollywood actress Bimpe Oyebanji Adedimeji aka Mo Bimpe has revealed the problems she faced just for marrying popular actor Lateef Adedimeji.
According to her, she was insulted and cursed online for marrying her husband.
In a recent podcast, Mo Bimpe said she has been getting trolled daily since she married her husband. Her words: “Since I got married to my husband, the trolls have increased, from one troll to another. In fact, I get trolled on my social media accounts every day since I got married to Lateef Adedimeji.”
Mo Bimpe gave an instance of a lady, who trolled her and went to her husband’s page the next day to ask him to marry her as a second wife.
“An instance was when a lady came to my page and asked when I was going to get pregnant or something and I was like what kind of comment was that and fans took her up and she was responding to the fans, insulting and cursing some others. One thing I am sure of is that trolls don’t have a happy life.
They are not happy, they are sad, they don’t have a life and don’t have anything doing or going good for them. I feel like trolls are miserable and they just want to talk.
They just want other people to be sad like them. So, this instance I gave earlier on, after all this lady did on my page, she went on my husband’s page a day after and asked him to marry her as his second wife. At the end of the day, I am living well, I am happy and it is the trolls’ loss.”
Continuing, the actress said, “As a public figure, people will have different opinions about you. There is no way you can avoid it as long as you are great unless you are not out there. I am a public figure and got married to a star myself, how would I not be trolled? I am a private person and before I got married, I was not as outgoing as I am now but with marriage, you can only find me on the red carpet probably supporting my husband doing my wifely duties. It is impossible for me not to be out there and I am not going to shrink myself because of some certain individuals, this is my life, I chose it and can’t avoid all that comes with it.”
A 42-year-old driver, Ifeanyi Okafor, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command, with 11 wraps of Indian hemp and other illicit drugs in the state.
Parading the suspect on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, said he was arrested by Operation Safer Highway while on stop and search along the Benin-Lagos Road on his way to deliver the drugs to someone in Onitsha, Anambra State.
“The police intercepted Okafor’s vehicle and when a search was conducted on the vehicle, three well-conceived substances later found to be Indian hemp and other drugs were recovered from him,” the CP stated.
"But upon thorough search of the vehicle, another eight wraps were found concealed inside the vehicle spare tyre bringing the total recovered drugs to 11 wraps.”
"The driver of the vehicle one Ifeanyi Okafor was arrested and he has confessed that he was asked to deliver the items to someone in the Easter part of the country
In an interview with journalists, the suspect who hails from Anambra State, said he was not aware of the content of the waybill.
“The items were given to me as a waybill to be delivered to someone at Onitsha. The owner told me it was clothes and shoes inside the waybill," he said.
“But on getting to Edo State, I discovered it was drugs when the police arrested my vehicle.”
Media personality Denrele Edun has revealed that he was a cage dancer before hitting fame.
He spoke during an interview on Arise News TV while talking about his media journey.
He recounted his days dancing at the African Shrine, where he hustled to make ends meet while still a student.
Denrele reminisced about being a backup dancer for the African Shrine on weekends and also performing with the Iroko band.
Looking back on his struggles, he noted that May 21st would mark his third decade in the entertainment industry, tracing his professional start back to 1994.
In his words, “I used to dance in the shrine. I used to be in the cage, yes, I used to be one of the cage dancers. I did everything to hustle at that time. And I was still in Unilag at that time. So I was a backup dancer every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the African Shrine and I was a cage dancer. Also, I used to dance for the Iroko band which was headlined by Dr Ola Balogun, one of the pioneers of filmmaking. Come May 21st I will be marking 3 decades in the Entertainment Industry. I started professionally in 1994, on a TV soap opera. My first paycheck was N150”.
Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has revealed how Nigerians could tackle the hardship and hunger in the country.
She urged Nigerians to go into farming.
She said agriculture still held the key to bettering the lot of citizens.
The wife of the President said the Commander in Chief was making the right decisions to build a Nigeria that is more respected in the long run.
She also admonished Nigerians to be more accountable as a people as regards resources.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu gave the advice when she received the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed in her office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja Wednesday.
The First Lady noted that the various interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, especially in the areas of Agriculture, Empowerment, Education, Health and Social Welfare are to complement the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The President has made the right decisions. These decisions will help us build a Nigeria that is more respected. We should be more accountable as a people as regards our resources”.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu said there is a need to inspire the youth to think appropriately about the nation.
“We have to inspire them to think Nigeria first before any State”.
She explained that this necessitated her, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI organise the #ONE NIGERIA/Unity Fabric.
“Youth between 15 years to 25 years will design the fabric depicting Nigeria and not just their State or tribe. The prize money is huge”.
On the Issue of IDPs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the RHI has commenced the monthly Food Outreach Program to the IDPs and Persons with Disabilities.
“I am not being deterred. I will continue to do all I can for the people”.
In her remarks earlier, the Deputy Secretary General of the UN Amina Mohammed, explained that the Organisation is looking forward to the country committing more funds to Youth, Women and Girls.
The eyes of a young boy have been plucked out by suspected ritualists in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that the victim was herding animals in the bush when the unknown assailants ambushed him and forcefully gouged out his eyes.
The boy is currently admitted in a specialist hospital in Gombe State.
It was further gathered that the suspects were arrested.
A media aide to the Adamawa State Governor, Emmanuel Phillip Tumba, who confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, described the attack as an unspeakable act of violence and cruelty.
He called on relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to justice swiftly.
“A distressing incident occurred in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State, where a young boy who was tending to his flock was viciously attacked by a gang of ritualists. They brutally gouged out his eyes and abandoned him in the wilderness,” he wrote.
"The perpetrators of this heinous act have been captured and are currently in the custody of law enforcement. It is imperative that these malevolent individuals face the harshest consequences of the legal system without any leniency.
"The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that exist in the world we live in. The sheer brutality of the attack on the innocent young boy, who was only tending to his flock, is a stark depiction of the darkness that lurks within our society.
"The fact that there are individuals out there who are willing to harm and mutilate others for their own sick rituals is a chilling realization. It is a stark reminder that there are those who are capable of unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty, existing in a world that we often like to believe is safe and just.
"The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice swiftly and face the full consequences of their actions. It is imperative that the law punish them severely, sending a clear message that such acts of violence and evil will not be tolerated.
"As we grapple with the chilling reality of the strange and dark world we live in, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and work towards creating a safer and more just society for all.
“Let us stand united against such acts of violence and cruelty, and strive towards a world where such horrors are nothing but a distant memory.”
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A young Nigerian girl who is just 12 years old, has been arrested in Ondo.
The girl simply identified as Wumi was arrested for allegedly stabbing her 54-year-old adopted mother to death.
The decomposing body of her mother, Florence Adelayi, was found inside her residence at Premier Estate, Okunbadejo Street along Oda Road in Akure.
She was believed to have been locked inside to bleed to death after being stabbed several times on the back.
A knife which was suspected to have been used for the crime was found at the scene.
The teenager was the only person living with the deceased when the incident occurred.
It was the offensive smell from the apartment that made neighbours raise the alarm and policemen were invited and broke into the apartment.
Neighbours said they thought she travelled when they did not see her for days and her gate was locked.
One of the neighbours said: “We woke up to see some strange black flies coming out of her compound on Sunday morning. But we could not access the compound because the gate was locked from the outside. There was no sign of anybody at home. So, we put calls across to her family members. No one can say what was responsible for her death. The best people can do is to speculate.”
Another source said: “The deceased came home with the girl from the office on Wednesday, greeted us and drove into her compound. That was the last time we saw her.
“The woman had been going through a lot to cope with the mental challenge of the girl, which gave her many sleepless nights.
“She had spent more than N1.5 million on the girl’s illness and refused to take her back to her parents because she would be lonely since she had no child. So, she had been avoiding most of her relatives and friends advising her to return the girl.”
It was gathered that the deceased adopted the suspect as a daughter but became mentally unstable in September last year.
The suspect was said to have been seen wandering around the area for days.
It was that the suspect was apprehended at the Pelebe area and taken to the police station for questioning.
The remains of the victim have been deposited at the morgue of the University of Medical Science (UNIMED), Akure.
Ondo Police spokesman, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, could not be reached for comments.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command apprehended a pregnant woman identified as Mrs. Rosemary Ubah for purportedly colluding with Walter Ezeala to stage her own abduction.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters.
Igweh explained that the two suspects were nabbed on March 11 after Rosemary’s husband, Chiedozie Ubah, reported to Gwagwa Police Division that his pregnant wife who left home for a scan, failed to return.
He said Chiedozie later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that she has been kidnapped.
The caller demanded N2 million ransom for her release.
“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper. He later brought his wife to the station after her release.
“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to having conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.
“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000).
“The sum of Seven hundred and ninety three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phones was recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.”
VIDEO: Properties Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed As Fire Razes Three Buildings In Idumota, Lagos
AFOLABIProperties worth millions of naira have been destroyed as fire gutted three buildings in the Docemo area of Idumota, Lagos State.
In a statement via its official X handle, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call about the fire incident around 7:40 am, and emergency services swiftly mobilized.
It stated that upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the fire had gutted three buildings, including two two-storey structures and one three-storey building, adding that firefighting efforts were underway.
According to the statement issued by its Director, Margaret Adeseye, the service said that the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing.
The service also revealed that casualties have not been confirmed at this time.
The post reads: “The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service have been alerted to a Fire emergency at the intersection of Nanadi Azikwe and Docemo in Idumota, Lagos. At 07:41 hours, the call was received, and emergency services swiftly mobilized.
“Upon arrival at 07:58 hours, it was discovered that the fire encompassed three buildings, including two 2-storey structures and one three-storey building.
“Currently, Firefighting efforts are underway at the scene. The Fire stations at Ebute Elefun, Ilupeju and Alausa have deployed resources to mitigate the situation effectively as firefighting operations are ongoing.
“The cause of the Fire is yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing. Casualties have not been confirmed at this time.
“We urge residents to cooperate with emergency personnel and avoid the area for their safety.
“Further updates will be provided as the situation unfolds.”
Media
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service have been alerted to a Fire emergency at the intersection of Nanadi Azikwe and Docemo in Idumota, Lagos. At 07:41 hours, the call was received, and emergency services swiftly mobilized.
— Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (@LagosRescue) March 20, 2024
Upon arrival at 07:58 hours, it was discovered that pic.twitter.com/Dxl7Y4gENB
VIDEO: Emergency responders battle to put out a 4-storey building which was engulfed by fire at Dosunmu in Lagos Island pic.twitter.com/9rKra1DgCE
— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) March 20, 2024
This is according to the annual World Happiness Report published on Wednesday, March 20.
Fiinland's Nordic neighbours Sweden, Denmark and Iceland also retained their places in the top 10.
Rising unhappiness, especially among young people, has seen other Western countries drop down the index, with the United States and Germany dropping out of the top 20 for the first time since the report's first edition more than a decade ago.
The United States and Germany came in 23rd and 24th respectively. In turn, Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20 at 12 and 13, while Eastern European countries Serbia, Bulgaria and Latvia reported the biggest increases in happiness.
Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, remained in last place.
The survey asks people in 143 countries and territories to evaluate their lives on a scale from zero to 10, taking into account factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.
Its release coincides with the International Day of Happiness on March 20.
The report noted that the happiest countries no longer included any of the world's largest countries.
“In the top 10 countries, only the Netherlands and Australia have populations over 15 million. In the whole of the top 20, only Canada and the UK have populations over 30 million,” the report states.
Previous research into well-being often found happiness to be highest in childhood and early teens, before falling in middle age and then rising again upon retirement.
However, the report found that in some countries, today's younger generations were more likely than older age groups to report loneliness.
"Youth, especially in North America, are experiencing a mid-life crisis today," said University of Oxford economics professor and report editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve.
He associated the increasing unhappiness among Western youth with a range of factors including the negative aspects of social media, increased polarization over social issues, and economic inequality that made it harder for young people to afford their own homes than in the past.
Where does Nigeria stand
Nigeria ranked 102 in the happiness index. [See full list]
Nigeria ranked 102 in the happiness index. [See full list]
Nigeria ranked 102nd happiest nation in the world with 4.881 points, according to the latest edition of the World Happiness Report released Wednesday.
This represents a drop of seven places from 95th in the 2023 report by Sustainable Development Solutions.
The rise was especially distinct among the old and in Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting inequalities in “income, education, health care, social acceptance, trust, and the presence of supportive social environments at the family, community and national levels,” the authors said.