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ASUU Strike: FG Registers Two New Academic Unions

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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In a bid to ensure harmonious industrial relationship in the nation’s academic system, the Federal Government has registered two more trade unions in the Nigerian university Academic Sub Sector.
The two Unions include Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics NAMDA and Congress of Nigerian University Academics CONUA.
Speaking in Abuja at the occasion in Abuja, the Minister of Labour And Employment Senator Chris Ngige who admitted university sub-sector as the major plank of any nation’s social economic growth, said the last eight months have been hell for the nation’s public universities, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities has persisted in the ongoing strike despite government’s attempt for dialogue and reconciliation.

Ngige added that, with the registration, the newly registered trade unions have the right to operate and exercise its powers like every other trade union in the country.

They minister further charged the two newly registered academic trade unions to go ahead and open the nation’s public universities without any fear of intimidation.
He added that the development would not forestall further reconciliation process with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU.

“In line with the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act CAP TS, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, this Strike was apprehended & Conciliations were done in this Ministry on February 22, 2022, and March 1, 2022. However, all efforts at conciliation failed resulting in the transmission of the trade dispute to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, for adjudication in line with the statutory trade dispute resolution processes.

“Ministry of Labour and Employment set up a committee to look into the merit of their application, adding that the committee saw merit in the application and recommended approval for the registration of the Association by the Registrar of Trade Unions, RTU, since 2020 But for the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and the recurring ASUU Strike, this would have been done.

“At the NICN, an Interlocutory Injunction Order was obtained asking the Union to get back to work while the substantive suit is being heard; an order ASUU leadership and members refused to obey. Interestingly, a lot of university teachers in the public universities had indicated their willingness to get back to work while negotiations continue but were obstructed by ASUU officials, while the VCs looked on helplessly,” he said.

He explained that Section 3(2) of the Trade Unions Act, CAP. T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, 2004 gives the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment powers to regroup an existing Trade Union of Workers or Employers.

“They are also to have members in the Nigerian University Pension Management Company Limited, NUPEMCO, and being on CONUAS Salary Structure/Scheme, they are equally entitled to Earned Academic Allowances, EAA, and all other allowances attached thereto. ASUU despite bickering experienced protests from a large majority of her members including CONUA and NAMDA members.

“These Associations will exist side by side with ASUU in the Nigerian Universities in the spirit and tenets of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, Core Convention nos. 87 & 98 which are respectively on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining; as well as the enthronement of the four (4) pillars and principles of the Decent Work Agenda, DWA, considered necessary for social justice and equity in the world of work.

“They are accordingly entitled to all rights and privileges accruing to such academic Association/organisation including but not limited to receiving check off dues of their members in accordance with Section 17 of the Trade Unions Act,” he added.

Kogi Govt Finally Seals Dangote Cement Factory Over Illegal Takeover, Tax Evasion

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State, has been closed down by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS).

On Wednesday afternoon, a staff member hint our correspondent that the development had occurred and that “in fact, I’m on my way home as we speak.”

Our correspondent gathered that the company had been sealed by the KGIRS due to tax fraud and acquisition issues.

The Kogi State House of Assembly reportedly supported the action.

According to Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information: “Pursuant to the Constitutional authorities of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and upon petition by the people of Kogi State, an investigation was carried out on the acquisition of Obajana Cement Company by Dangote Company.

“It was found that no valid acquisition took place, as Dangote could not show evidence of what was paid as consideration for the acquisition.

“The legislators invited the Chairman of the Company, Aliko Dangote, before the house for explanations but he failed to appear before the state assembly, giving excuses.

“The House of Assembly therefore ordered the closure of the company pending when they are able to present it with credible evidence of a valid acquisition.”

At 16.25Mta capacity across five lines, Dangote’s cement factor at Obajana is the largest of its three factories in Nigeria.

The company is owned by Dangote Group, which is founded by Nigerian business magnate, Aliko Dangote.

Church of Christ Karu-Jikwoyi Gets New Preacher As Evang Innocent Agu resumes

By
Toyin Adebayo
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When Evangelist Innocent Agu resumed his role as the congregational preacher of the Church of Christ, Karu-Jikwoyi Congregations on Sunday, it was a joyful time of praise, worship, and admonition.

After the regular Sunday church service, there was a quick unveiling ceremony in the church auditorium.

Speaking at the occasion, Evangelist Moses Obakemi of the Church of Christ Nyanya exhorted the congregation’s new Preacher to demonstrate a strong commitment and dedication to duty. He advised him to maintain his focus while preparing souls for heaven. He commanded him to be humble in his service and to avoid considering God’s people to be his subjects.

He also charged the new Preacher and his family to maintain high moral standards as both the Church and community now see them as standards for measuring God’s people.

Evangelist Obakemi also charge members of the congregation to support the new Evangelist and take good care of him so that he would put in his best to grow the Church.

Also speaking Evangelist Imoh Atakpa of the Church of Christ, Kubwa enjoined Preacher and congregants to be passionately committed to the course of heaven and the welfare of one another.

He admonish the church to brace up for more duties noting that the new preacher is coming with strong zeal to Reposition the church.

In his speech, The New Preacher promise to do all to ensure that the church grows spiritually and work in compliance with the Teachings and doctrines of Christ.

Evangelist Innocent Agu told members that his first task is to ensure total unity amongst Brethren. He pointed out that his main goal is to prepare believers for heaven and expand the frontiers of the gospel of Christ.

While thanking the Evangelists who graced the occasion, he called on members to brace up for more works in God’s vineyard.

Highpoint of the event was the offering of special prayers for the new Preacher, his family as well as the congregation

FG Frowns at ASUU’s Continuous Strike Despite Court Order

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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The Federal Government has advised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to cease taking laws into its hands by directing its members to continue with the 8-month old strike in defiance of the interlocutory injunction by the National Industrial Court (NICN) which restrained the union from further action.

In a statement signed by the Head of
Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, the Minister Senator Chris Ngige said a new directive by ASUU, exhorting its members to continue with action is an unwarranted lawlessness, noting that “the Federal Government strongly frowns at this .”

He accused the leadership of the union of misinforming and misleading its members and warned of consequences of contempt of court order.

“ The union is dishonest and misleading its members and the general public, that it has filed an appeal as well has a stay of execution of the order of National Industrial Court on September 21, 2022, though it has none of this.

“ Rather, ASUU only filed an application for a permission to appeal the order. It also attached to the application, a proposed notice of appeal which it intends to file if the leave to appeal is granted. The application for a stay of execution as of this moment, has not even been listed for hearing. Where then is ASUU coming from?

“It is therefore contemptuous, dishonest and misleading for the union to tell its members that it has not only appealed the interlocutory injunction by the National Industrial Court, directing it to call off strike and return to work, but that it also has a stay of execution.”
The Minister once again called on the union to respect the court order and return to work while negotiations are concluded on the remaining issues in contention.

The statement also denied reports that the Minister walked out on the meeting between the House of Representatives and ASUU last Thursday, 29 September , 2022. It said the Minister left the meeting to attend to other pressing matters with the permission of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila after making his presentation. It stated that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was earlier granted such permission by the Speaker.

The statement further recalled that at that meeting , Senator Ngige addressed the two major issues over which ASUU is still on strike.
“On renegotiation of salaries and wages of lecturers, I sympathize with ASUU just like other Nigerian workers. The economy is bad and hard time, biting hard on everybody. ASUU deserves no blame. They know that many times during reconciliation, I said that left to me, this is what lecturers will get. I know the enormity of the work they do and have brothers who are also lecturers.

“The Briggs Committee was the product of reconciliation of my ministry, which had to move to the ASUU’s direct employers – Ministry of Education for a Collective Bargaining Agreement, so we can arrive on what is good to be paid to ASUU , subject to approval by the President

“ The President has a Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages chaired by the Minister of Finance, with myself as co-chair and other members – National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Budget Office etc. Every MDA whether drawing from the treasury or not , must pass through this committee on any issue concerning salaries for approval, before transmission to the President. The report of the Briggs Committee did not unfortunately pass this route.”

The Minister revealed that when the issue of payment platform – UTAS came up on January 9, 2020, he was the one that persuaded the President to give the platform a trial in the spirit of Executive Order 3 and 4.

“The SGF supported me. That was how I took it upon myself to write to all the parties, Communication and Digital Economy, NITDA, ASUU and others. At a point, I had to spend three and half hours at the Office of the Accountant General, while UTAS was on demonstration because we must support this platform that promised to save us foreign exchange.

“ If the system is good, we adopt it for the whole country but meanwhile – the hardware is not there. How do you do it? The test- the three of them – IPPIS, UTAS, UPPPS have failed the test. Do you recommend something that has failed a test? . So, no matter how I love ASUU, I won’t support something that failed a test.

“ I had advised ASUU when the first result came, to have UTAS do a handshake with IPPIS so as to capture all the university system peculiarities. They accepted but while negotiation was going on , they went on strike.”

The Minister also narrated how the medical doctors once threatened to go on strike over IPPIS.

“But their peculiarities have now been captured by IPPISS, even those teaching in the universities with special allowances . About a year ago, NARD wrote me that they would go on strike if we don’t put them on IPPIS. This is because all their peculiarities have captured and no one is losing anything.

German Government Makes 200 Million Euro Donations To End Polio 

By
Toyin Adebayo
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An official of the German government has revealed that they have given more than 200 million euros over the past 20 years in the fight against polio eradicate.

Mr. Vincent El-Haidag, KfW Portfolio Manager for the German Government Credit Institute for Reconstruction Mission gave this revelation when they visited the Family Health Clinic in Garki on Wednesday in Abuja.

The German and Nigerian governments, according to him, have partnered in the effort to eradicate polio.

According to him: “We are responsible for the financial cooperation between the government of Germany and government of Nigeria in the fight against polio. Germany has been contributing over 200 million euros for the last 20 years and KfW is facilitating this programme and also giving recommendations to the government of Germany.”

El-Haidag disclosed that the team was in Nigeria to monitor and assess progress made so far in the eradication of polio in the country.

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) is an international organisation that works together with its partners in developing countries.

“This is in order to identify projects/programmes which promote sustainable development. We were able to see very good examples in ranges of services that addresses basic health needs of children and women.”

He said the example they saw in the Family Health Clinic needed to be duplicated in all the primary health care centres in the country.

El-Haidag advised the government to also duplicate same efforts done in polio eradication in the fight against other disease in the country.

While speaking, Dr. Vatsa Isa-Yahaya, the Acting Director, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, acknowledged that the team was a mission from Germany and had been supporting Nigeria in polio eradication.

Isa-Yahaya noted that Germany was one of the countries which had been providing the resources which has been supporting in polio eradication.

He said the team members were taken round the facility to see for themselves how the country has made progress with the fund given to Nigeria.

Isa-Yahaya said that from the look of things, they are very happy with what they saw at the Family Health Clinic.

“The team is happy with the progress made in the centre, especially in the areas of immunisation, family planning, antenatal services and COVID-19 vaccination.”

Isa-Yahaya called on Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccination as the virus was still in the country, “The vaccination is free and safe, so people should endeavour to take the vaccine.”

The Acting Director said the Federal Government was doing a lot in the fight against diseases in the country and not just waiting for assistance from donors.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Processed More than 5 million Passengers in 2021-FAAN

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has hinted that over Five (5) million passengers were processed through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja in 2021.

The Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Hamisu Yadudu disclosed this in Abuja at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Airport. He said there have been remarkable development compared to when it was established 40 years ago.
He said that “just like the stages in the product life cycle, a concept in marketing; which are introduction, Growth, Maturity and Decline, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja came into being 40 years ago”.

“I am glad that the airport has continued to grow in leaps and bounds since then. In the year 2021 for example, a total of 5,323,905 passengers were processed through the airport, which was a whopping 37.23% increase on the year 2020 figures. In terms of facility upgrade, the airport also has been quite progressive”.

The MD who was represented by the Director Operations, Capt. Muktar Yusuf Muye, said “the trajectory of progress has been upward ever since, as passengers and stakeholders have commended the level of facilities and service delivery at the airport.

“As a testament to this, the airport was adjudged the Best Airport in Safety for the year 2018 by Airport Council International, Africa Region. The airport also received ACI’s Airport Service Quality Award in the year 2020, amongst several others.

“Therefore, I am particularly elated that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja is not only celebrating its 40th anniversary, but has continued to wax stronger and stronger”.

Yadudu commended the contributions of all staff, both past and present, as well as partners and stakeholders for the last 40 years. “The milestone being celebrated today could not have been achievable without your hard work and cooperation.

“So, as we continue to celebrate this notable feat, I want to charge you all to continue to strive harder to deliver the best possible service to our highly esteemed passengers at this airport. I urge you all to progressively consolidate on the labour of our heroes past in this airport.

“We must continue to improve on our service delivery. I am confident that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and other airports in Nigeria will be ranking amongst the best of airports in the world, in no distant time” he said.

In his speech, the Regional General Manager/ Airport Manager of NAIA, Abuja, Kabir Mohammed revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the construction of a new runway at Abuja airport.

“The new runway will come with a new terminal and a new fire station” stating that “i don’t know how long the construction will take but once that is achieved, it will improve on passengers’ output as well as businesses at the airport”.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) was established on the 29th of September, 1982.

Govt’s, Philanthropies, Private Donors Pledges $577 Million In Response To Worsening Child Malnutrition Crisis

By
Toyin Adebayo
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***At least 60 per cent of commitments will directly support UNICEF’s work in 15 countries hardest hit by the food and nutrition crisis 

The governments of Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the Eleanor Crook Foundation, the Greta Thunberg Foundation, and Humanitarian Services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and King Philanthropies came together at the high-level event during the 77th annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to address the growing food crisis.  

The commitments were made as climate-driven drought, conflict, and rising food prices continue to drive up emergency levels of severe wasting in young children worldwide. In 15 countries hardest hit, including in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, a child is being pushed into severe malnutrition every minute, according to a recent analysis by UNICEF.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said : “An escalating malnutrition crisis is pushing millions of children to the brink of starvation – and unless we do more, that crisis will become a catastrophe.” 

 “UNICEF is immensely grateful for the pledges we have received, but we need further unrestricted funding to reach children before it is too late. We cannot stand by and let children die not when we know how to prevent, detect, and treat severe wasting.”

Today’s commitments build upon pledges made in July, when USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced an unprecedented contribution of US$200 million to UNICEF to detect and treat severe child wasting, out of which US$22 million was allocated to UNICEF Nigeria to accelerate and expand the coverage of services for early detection and treatment of severe forms of child wasting in fragile contexts in the conflict-affected local government areas of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina States in North-West Nigeria.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power said, “The truth is that the majority of children facing severe malnutrition, nearly two-thirds of children, live in places that don’t normally receive humanitarian aid.” 

 “We are working to change that, to recognize that treatment for severe malnutrition should be accessible not just in humanitarian settings, but in non-crisis settings as well.”

Severe wasting which makes children dangerously thin – is the most visible and lethal form of undernutrition. Weakened immune systems increase the risk of death among children under 5 by up to 11 times compared to well-nourished children.

In response, UNICEF has scaled up its efforts in 15 countries most affected by the malnutrition crisis. Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen are included in an Acceleration Plan calling for US$1.2 billion to help avert a rise in child deaths and mitigate the long-term damage of severe wasting.

In Nigeria, UNICEF is meeting the increased demand for nutrition services, treating severe acute malnutrition in children living in fragile conditions, providing core preventive nutrition services across the first 1000 days, from pregnancy through 24 months and building the resilience of the mother-child dyad across all accessible LGAs in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States.

“The treatment of child malnutrition cannot stop at only providing nutrition services,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Representative. “With this fund, we are not only reaching approximately 200,000 children with treatment for severe acute malnutrition, but also strengthening the availability of nutrition data for decision makers, strengthening programmes in health facilities and integrating WASH interventions.

The pledges to UNICEF will help provide services for the early prevention, detection and treatment of child wasting, and expand access to life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and other essential nutritious commodities needed during crises.

During today’s event, UNICEF and partners also launched an expansion of the Child Nutrition Fund, a long-term multi-partner financing mechanism to support the early prevention, detection and treatment of child wasting. By working with governments to consolidate and strategically allocate financial resources, the Child Nutrition Fund aims to accelerate global progress and end the cycle of severe child wasting.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented child malnutrition crisis. The fact that many millions of children have to experience severe malnutrition in their first few years of life is unacceptable,”  said Co-founder and Chair of CIFF Chris Hohn. “We already know many of the solutions for prevention, early detection and treatment of child wasting but we need to do more to ensure these solutions are scaled. This requires sustainable long-term and coordinated funding. The early success of the Child Nutrition Fund is incredibly encouraging and its expansion into becoming the largest centralised response to combat child wasting at scale is exactly what’s needed. I am pleased to announce the CIFF intends to allocate an additional $40 million for addressing child wasting.”

“As we face global challenges, including the ripple effects of COVID-19, we should always keep acute malnutrition and stunting as priorities on the multilateral agenda,” said Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the United Nations Diamane Diome. “Working with national and international stakeholders, such as USAID, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and other multilateral and bilateral partners, Senegal has made great progress in this regard. This shows that we can overcome the challenge of child acute malnutrition and stunting, if we work collaboratively and with a sense of urgency, on the basis of our shared values. Senegal is committed to sharing the experience and lessons it has learned in the process. That is why I am happy to take part in this timely meeting alongside USAID and UNICEF.”

 Thousands of prominent Nigerians including Islamic scholars, gathered at the Ansar-Ud-Deen central Mosque for the 3rd Day (Fidau) prayers for late Zainab Sidi Ali, mother of the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu.

Expert Warns of Interlopers Destroying Journalism With False Identities

By
Toyin Adebayo
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An expert has warned that “interlopers” with false identities will destroy the media industry through fake news and serial manipulation unless immediate action is taken.

The managing director of Abuja Broadcasting Corporation, Malam Ibrahim Damisa, bemoaned over the weekend how Nigeria’s media sector was bleeding heavily as a result of a flood of uneducated people using the Internet platform.

In his office in Abuja, Damisa hosted a small group of media professionals from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister’s Press Corps. He expressed regret over the irreparable harm that “interlopers” working as citizen journalists had done to the media sector.

He said that in order to reverse the current downward trend in journalism, trained professionals must step up.

He also urged all stakeholders to participate. He also called on all stakeholders in the industry to give adequate attention to in-the-job training, as a measure to keep professionals abreast with global trends, as well as put them in position where they can easily dictate and avoid fake news. 

According to him, fake news being traded arbitrarily by the ” interlopers ” with the help of social media need to be addressed, because it is capable of destroying not just the media industry, but the society. 

” The Internet has provided the convergence between the traditional and the new  media. Citizens journalism is in place, and some people will just use their phones, without the sensibility of knowing if what they are dishing out to the public is right or wrong.

” Some of the things they dish out are fake, because in most cases, they do not verify, and verification is an important thing in journalism. 

” Journalism is at crossroads because of the Citizens journalism that has come on stream, where people who are interlopers and not trained in the profession encroach our territory and cause havoc. 

” There is nothing as good as on the job training for practitioners”.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the FCT Press Corps, Malam Hudu Yakubu commended the mentorship which the Managing Director has over the years provided to the young journalists.

Yakubu also noted that Aso Radio and Television have experienced tremendous transformation, following the unparalleled commitment which the management team of the corporation have shown.

2023: Don’t Vote For APC, PDP , Says They Turned Citizens To Paupers -Dumebi Kachikwu

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, has urged Nigerians not to support the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections of 2023.

According to a statement from Kachikwu’s campaign office that was made available to newsmen in Abuja, the two parties have seriously impoverished Nigerians over the past two decades under their leadership and have earned the title of “Poverty Capital of the World.”

He said that the two parties are synonymous with greed, avarice, corruption and cluelessness and therefore should no longer be entrusted with the task of managing the rich human and material resources of a potentially great country like Nigeria.

He, however , lamented that the country has continued to lag behind in all indices of development since 1999 when PDP assumed power which it handed over to APC in 2015.

He accused both parties of ruining the economy and impoverishing Nigerians with living conditions becoming unbearable and nosediving negatively on a daily basis.

He insisted that it is shameful, inhuman, ungodly, wicked and anti-people for both PDP and APC to be jostling to renew their hold on power during the 2023 general elections in spite of the fact that all indices of good governance anchored on the rule of law have remained negative since 1999 till date.

The statement reads: “Today, inflation rate has rallied to a 17-year high of 20.5 per cent up from 8.06 per cent in 2014 before the APC took over the reins of power at the centre in 2015, notwithstanding the humongous debt the party has amassed for the country through reckless borrowing.

“This rate of inflation simply means that the average Nigerian cannot afford their basic daily necessities like three square meals due to skyrocketing food prices and other essential services like healthcare and education for their children.

“While the cost of diesel and petrol are at all time high, thus leading to phenomenal increases in transportation cost with its concomitant negative effect on rising prices of goods and services, yet the minimum wage remains a paltry N30,000 per month, a far cry when compared with the jumbo pay of present political office holders.

“The APC administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari like its predecessor, has shown great incompetence and cluelessness in prosecuting its three-pronged agenda, namely: Security, Economy, Anti-Corruption.

“On the economic front, Nigerians have never had it this bad. Life has become a nightmare despite unprecedented budgetary allocations to defence and security agencies by the administration in the last seven years.

“Corruption has continued to grow and fester rather than abate, despite Buhari being awarded a medal as Africa’s anti corruption champion by the African Union (AU).

“On the other hand, the anti-corruption war is being waged hypocritically as recently alluded to by the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, in his speech during a workshop organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption, with the theme; ‘Corruption As Threat Security In Nigeria.’

“The recent revelation by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s claim of that Nigerians consume 60million litres of petrol daily with over N6trillion in subsidy payments was a ruse shows that corruption yet dwells in a ministry where Buhari is minister.

“It is heartrending to note that between 2010 and 2023, the national grid collapsed 216 times, 94 of which occurred in the last seven years under Buhari.

“This unacceptable situation has not only killed once thriving small scale businesses in the country but has regrettably led to major industries relocating to neigbouring countries that has created a growing army of unemployed Nigerians.

“Notwithstanding the APC administration’s avowed target to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, the reverse has been the case as no fewer than 95.1 million persons in the country would slide into extreme poverty at the end of 2022, according to the World Bank in its recent report titled: ‘A Better Future for All Nigerians: 2022 Nigeria Poverty Assessment.”

He urged Nigerians to reinvent the progress of the country by voting in competent parties like the ADC that has the vision and candidates with the know-how to turn the fortunes of the country around for the better.

He said a situation where Nigerians are daily confronted with unmitigated hunger, poverty, poor access to healthcare and education due to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities are all symptomatic of an uncaring and failed governance being foisted on the nation by APC and PDP.

He, therefore , called on Nigerians to reverse the trend in 2023 by voting to terminate the strangle hold on the destiny of Nigeria and Nigerians by the APC and PDP.

Lagdo Dam: Agency Requests FCT Citizens To Pay Attention To Flood Warnings

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Residents of Abuja have been cautioned by the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) not to disregard early flood warnings from weather forecasting organizations.

At the 2022 FEMA Annual Review and Preparedness Meeting, which was attended by over 250 local divers, community vanguards, flood rescue teams, and 50 town criers, FEMA Director-General Alhaji Abba Idriss issued the warning.

He noted that the meeting was taking place at a time when serious flood warnings were being issued almost daily by weather forecasting organizations, particularly the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

Idriss cited escalating threats as well as rising water levels in the nation’s major rivers, particularly the Niger and Benue couple with the threats coming from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon are issues of great concern.

Idriss emphasised the need for residents to abide and obey the early warning and would be issued out to them from time to time through the conventional and social media.

According to him, as soon as the agency get flood early warning it will disseminate the information so that people will take advantage of that.

He, therefore, urged residents to ensure that they get information about the way they will pass through before leaving their homes, offices and markets.

“The reason why we call for this meeting is first to alert our local divers, volunteers, vanguards and town criers on the likelihood of flooding.

“Secondly, is to call on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to be on their alert as well that all is not well yet. We have to be watchful, we have to keep observing those environmental laws and we also have to abide by the building code.

“FCT residents must also ensure that they don’t block drainages, avoid building on the waterways and also avoid driving on a running water. People shouldn’t undermine water they see on the road to think that they have high capacity vehicle that move on running water.”

Earlier, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the Director, Forecasting Response Mitigation of FEMA, hinted that the event was organised to review with stakeholders especially the local divers, volunteers, vanguards, local emergency committee and town criers.

Wenegieme expressed optimism that the meeting would help the agency to save lives and properties in the nation’s capital.

“We call them three or four times annually to review all the activities; to reactivate them, to know that they should always be on standby because we want all hands to be on deck to mitigate flood and other disasters in the territory.

“We have almost 600 volunteers, local divers, town criers. We are doing the meeting by representation, we call over 200 today and next meeting we will call another set of 200 persons again to make sure that we create the needed awareness in them.

“We are training them on how to use use modern rescue equipment when somebody get drown in the river or in the wall,” she said.

Also, the Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, reiterated the resolve of the agency to deepen partnership with FEMA in coordinating issues around water and flooding.

“I will say that we are aware of most of the activities of State Emergency Management Agency and out of all of them FEMA is on top in terms of being relevant on community development

“We are delighted to associate ourselves with FEMA based on what we see on ground being done by the DG.

“I want to urge the divers and vanguards, local emergency committee, town criers and flood rescue team to see their role as very important in tackling flood in FCT.”

Similarly, the Director-General, NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu, also expressed willingness of the agency to deepen partnership with FEMA, adding that the agency has been very cooperative in emergency management.

Represented by Mr Kamorudeen Alao, the Assistant General Manager, Hydro, Matazu said the partnership which was beyond the issue of downscaling would continue to grow stronger.

Meanwhile, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said the meeting was very critical to mitigating flood and other disasters in the FCT.

Represented by Mr Agbor Etim, NEMA’s Principal Search and Rescue Officer, Ahmed said disaster management was all encompassing, adding that everybody need to be on board to help ensure effective disaster management.

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