Tuesday, November 19, 2024
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2023: I am loyal to President Buhari and the APC – Amaechi

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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Presidential Aspirant on the Platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has expressed his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in his bid to run for the office of the President of Nigeria.

Amaechi spoke during a consultative meeting with executives, delegates and other party faithfuls at the Rivers State APC Secretariat, indicating that in his bid to become the President of Nigeria which he is thoroughly qualified for, he is neither desperate nor disloyal.

He explained that it is sad that many politicians do not understand the concept of loyalty. “Loyalty is not when you are not chosen, you become disloyal, loyalty means you follow the man that leads you, that you have surrendered to his leadership. If you don’t follow, it means you are not loyal, you are only benefitting from the man politically and economically. The day he’s not able to give you that economic reality, is the day you become disloyal.

“Let me tell you something about loyalty. In 2007, we were in a meeting and somebody asked me if Dr. Peter Odili (former Governor of Rivers State) says you will not run for the office of governor, what will you do? I said I will surrender and support whoever he brings. We fought the battle for me to be Governor because Dr. Odili called me and said ‘go to court,’ if not we had met as a group and said we would stand by his choice. But he called me and said ‘…go to court.’

“I am a very loyal person, and those who are disloyal, I wish them well, those who want to do whatever they want to do, I wish them well. The opportunity will be given to everybody, we will run this presidential election, we will run, and I am loyal to the President and I am loyal to the Party. If the party says it is me, thank God. If the party says it is not me, whoever the party chooses, I will support. If the Party and President choose anybody, I will support the person, if the party chooses me, I will be glad and say thank God,” Amaechi said.

On his part, Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Emeka Beke, assured Amaechi of the party’s support and votes in the presidential primaries.

“Sir, go home and sleep, Rivers delegates will vote for you, and I know my brothers who are statutory delegates will vote for you, because all of us seated here today from Rivers State have benefitted from you, from your leadership and this is the time to pay you back. We will stand with you.”

“Let me use this opportunity to thank our brothers from other States, who have stood by our leader Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, I thank all of you. God Almighty will stand with you as you have chosen to stand by him.

“But one thing I will tell you is that our leader is a man of one word. When he says yes, his yes is yes, when he says no, his no is no, and I know that he’s a man that will not forget all of you that stood by him. By the grace of God you will be the presidential flag bearer, I will be the chairman that will produce Mr President, I will be the Chairman that will produce Governor of Rivers State,” he said.

Amaechi also visited the Paramount ruler of Rebisi Kingdom in Port Harcourt, Eze Victor Woluchem, who expressed delight over the Minister of Transportation’s decision to run for the office of President in 2023.

Eze Woluchem said, “You are our son in whom we are well pleased. On behalf of the traditional rulers here present, we welcome you to your home. This is not only your home, but it is also your pride and joy, because you once served here as a governor who looked out for Rivers people, your people.”

“Your excellency, Rivers State loves you for a reason. Your developmental projects have impacted and continues to impact our people and are all over the State for people to see.”

“I might not be able to enumerate all that you have done for this country. Nationally, as Minister of Transportation, you have put Nigeria on the map as a country with modern railway system, with modern Seaport and facilities to enhance our waterways and the industrialisation that comes with it.

“Indeed the history of this State will be incomplete without the mention of your name. Nigerians are excited over the likely possibility of a Rotimi Amaechi presidency. You are indeed a champion among equals, therefore there is no doubt that you are the right person to takeover the mantle of the leadership of this great nation come 2023”, the Monarch said.

ASUU: NLC Threatens to Embark on three days warning strike

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0
Ayuba wabba

In a bid to express its grievances over the lingering ASSU strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened to embark on a three -day nationwide warning strike if the Federal Government continues to ignore the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
NLC added that, it would hold a national protest within the 21 day ultimatum issued to the federal government.
The President NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba stated this in Abuja at a pre – May Day rally.

The 21 – day ultimatum for the federal government to meet the demands of ASUU and the three – universities based unions: Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), will end on May 4th, 2022.
ASUU had on Monday, February 14,2022 announced a four week warning strike following the inability of the union and the Federal Government to reach a common ground on the demands of university lecturers.
Following the expiration of the initial four weeks of the warning strike, ASUU had gone ahead to declare another eight weeks strike, saying that it was giving the government more time to meet its demands.

The NLC president said: “Within the span of the subsisting 21-days ultimatum given by Congress, the NLC will hold national protests against the current strike action affecting students of Nigeria’s public universities and occasioned by government’s failure to honour agreement reached with trade unions in our universities.

“The protest is to draw the attention of government to the inherent catastrophe in the emerging culture of Social Apartheid in our society especially as marked by prolonged lockout of students from working class and poor homes from our public universities while the children of the rich continue their academic pursuits uninterrupted.

“If at the end of the national protest and the 21-days ultimatum, the Federal Government still fails to resolve the industrial crises in Nigeria’s universities, the Congress would be left with no other option than to embark on a 3-days nationwide warning strike action in solidarity with our affiliates in the universities and with Nigerian students whose future and wellbeing are being robbed.”

Some of ASUU’s demands include the release of revitalisation funds for universities, implementation of the re-negotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement and the release of earned allowances for university lecturers.
Others are deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.

2023: My Decision to Run Is About Nigeria- Amaechi

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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The Minister of Transportation and Frontline Presidential Aspirant, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi says his decision to run for the Presidency of Nigeria is borne out of the need to serve and provide selfless leadership to Nigerians.

He added that, considering his wealth of experience, he would be a President that would protect the interest of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion.

Amaechi spoke when he paid a consultative visit to the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos State.

He also visited the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu 1.

According to him, “I come with a national interest. I am 56 years old, I am energetic, I am strong and if you work with me you will know that it’s a bit difficult to get me tired. So, because I come with that energy, it separates me from the rest of the candidates who are running with me. I have come to talk to your conscience because it is about Nigeria. It’s not about my father, it’s not about my brother, It’s about the nation.

“We are at the point where our decisions will make the difference in moving the country forward. We are at the point where we can appeal to our conscience that our votes should count in making sure that we would not regret after the election. So, put your votes for me. What separates me from the rest of the candidates in the party is that I am young and if you look at all of us, I come with experience.”

“I was a Speaker for eight years. So, I come with experience. I have served as Governor in a State where people were being kidnapped, people were being killed, robbery was on the increase, people couldn’t go out in Port Harcourt, parties weren’t going on, health sector was bad. But, in six months I chased away the criminals, got people to go back to work and restored sanity in the State. So, I am the only aspirant that does not only come with experience but has served in a State where there was insecurity.

“I have also served at the national level. I have served seven years as Minister for Transport. And If you were in Lagos when we were constructing the Lagos-Ibadan railway, you will know that I am not a big-man-minister, because I was coming to Lagos every month and I will sleep here, I will trek for 17 kilometers, screaming at contractors because we gave them timeline and we delivered the Lagos-Ibadan railway. So, I actually come with experience. I am applying to be employed as your President. I am not one asking for solutions, If you employ me I will come with those solutions. So, if you honestly want to look at somebody who is detribalized and you keep away sentiments, you would vote for me.

“What should come into play is capacity to make a difference and I have that capacity to make that difference. I have been in public office, so I know what it means to administer good governance, I know what it means to run a country,” Amaechi stated.

Amaechi who also listed some of his achievements as a Minister, explained that it takes one with a national posture and outlook to cite the numerous projects recorded in Lagos outside the South-South where he hails from.

“Check what the Ministry of Transportation is doing. In the whole of the country there’s never been a seaport in Nigeria. The first government to build a seaport is the Buhari government. Don’t forget, I could have moved it to Port Harcourt because I’m the minister for transport. I could have easily moved the Lagos-Ibadan railway to Port Harcourt, but I realized that what determines a man is not tribal or sectional interest, it’s the economic interest of the country. I know that the Lagos-Kano railway should be the most viable railway in Nigeria but I could have been political and choose Port Harcourt -Maiduguri railway, but I put national interest first, because it would create employment, reduce the crisis we have in Nigeria and I sited the Lagos-Ibadan railway.

“Today, we have created a lot of employment, logistics for those who are going to Abeokuta. People now live in Abeokuta and come to work in Lagos, and we need to put more coaches and locomotive because we hear the demand is high. The water you have in Lagos is the same water that goes to Bonny. I could have moved the Lekki Deep Seaport to Port Harcourt. And you know, by September President Buhari will commission the Lekki Deep Seaport and it will create employment in Lagos. That’s the difference I come with. I come with a nationalist scale that makes me take the right decisions for the benefit of the country. So, judge me by what I have done, judge me by capacity, don’t judge me by where I come from. In this respect, I don’t come from Ikwerre, I come from Nigeria, that’s the difference between me and other aspirants. I love Nigeria,” Amaechi said.

He added that, if given the opportunity, he would tackle Insecurity, unite Nigerians and improve on the overall welfare of the masses.

In his response, State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi noted that there was need to collectively protect the sanctity of the party. He also commended Amaechi for his courage and sagacity during the party’s formation stage.

“We want to thank you for coming to tell us your aspirations, to solicit for our support, we appreciate you. In Lagos State we have a way of doing our things and that is why we have been able to sustain and maintain Lagos State for APC since 1999 till date.

“Honourable Minister, I just want to appeal to you, this is your party, I want you to remember how you started this mission at the formation of APC. You had that courage that this thing is doable and you did it, you put everything at your disposal into it, you put your resources, integrity and you put your life. We need to come together, that is the direction we want to go.”

“Today, APC is at a crossroad, we want to transit from one President to another. Those of you that are foundation members of the party, you are one of them, along with some other leaders. Those of you that laboured, that faced that monster of PDP, I want you to assemble yourselves again and critically assess the situation we have found ourselves today.

“My appeal is, let us manage this period critically. I am going to convey your visit to the leadership of our party, but I can assure you, this is your party, this is my party and APC is our party and collectively, we will continue to defend the sanctity of APC,” Ojelabi said.

At the Governor’s Office in Marina, Governor Sanwo-Olu welcomed the Minister of Transportation, stating that in spite of his respect and high regard for the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaji Bola Tinubu, it is evident that Amaechi is also eminently qualified for the presidency.

He said, “As a person, i have shear regard and respect for our leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I have been a direct beneficiary of his leadership, I have been part of his cabinet, and personally I continue to toe that line of leadership Asiwaju stands for. But because we are not God, God himself will help the cause of this country.

“I want to say to you that you are eminently qualified and there is no doubt about that. You are very experienced in this journey, but for a whole lot of us in Lagos state Asiwaju continues to be our rallying point. I certainly know what your pedigree are and what you have done. I will be unfair if I don’t say that. I wish you all the very best,” Sanwo-Olu said.

On his part, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Akiolu said, “ I tell everybody, the future belongs to God. If it is efficiency, knowledge, activity, you are qualified. I pray to God Almighty to give you good health and long life. I tell people that the question of security of this country is not for Buhari alone, it is the responsibility of all of us. God will give us the best man who will address all our problems.

“You are very agile and honest to a fault. Remember, politicians don’t quarrel, they only disagree to agree later. God Almighty will guide you and bless you,” Oba Akiolu said.

Abuja Film Festival Will Boost Tourism , Aliyu

By
Toyin Adebayo
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Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said the upcoming Zuma film festival would boost tourism and boost the economy’s investment potential.

She said the FCT Administration will use windows of cooperation with the Nigerian Film Corporation to harness the opportunities created by the festival to develop abundant local talents in the city, speaking to journalists on Thursday ahead of the festival’s 12th edition, which is set to take place next month in Abuja.

According to the minister, Abuja is swiftly establishing a reputation as a pleasant tourist destination due to its rich cultural mix, beautiful views, and growing entertainment industry.

Aliyu who was represented by Samuel Atang, Director Operation and Strategy office of the Permanent Secretary FCTA, disclosed that the administration intend to use the programme to further ensure sustainable development of the indigenous film industry.

According to her: “We intend to sustain using the Zuma Film Festival as a springboard. We use the programme to develop our indigenous film industry with the ultimate aim of making Abuja, the film and creative hub for Africa using the festival as a catalyst.

“The collaboration between the FCTA and the NFC will not only ensure a bigger and better Zuma Film Festival but will also provide residents of Abuja investment opportunities in the nation’s creative economy” she said.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe said the collaboration between NFC and FCTA will bring about total transformation of the film, cinema and tourism activities of the nation especially within Abuja.

He hinted that: “At the NFC, we are resolved to deepen and develop the Nigerian Film industry. Within the broad and specific mandate of developing the Nigeria film industry, NFC remains committed to engaging its key partners at all levels”.

The MD said adequate security measures have been put in place for the safety of visitors within and outside the country, for the seven days festival.

FCTA Demolishes Over 600 Illegal Structures, Causing Consternation In Zamani

By
Toyin Adebayo
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Over 600 unlawful constructions have been dismantled by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in Zamani village, Abuja.

Repeating that local chiefs do not have the authority to sell land, people should refrain from purchasing land from them in order to avoid demolition.

Comrade Ikahro Attah, the Minister of FCT’s Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, made this known shortly after the demolition exercise on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him: “For me I don’t think I can quantify the house, there are Development Control workers who are taking note but I can say over 600 illegal structures were pulled down.

“The Minister has issued warning times without number, that when paying a Kobo you must do your due diligence, this people have gone against the urban and regional planning acts . They have violated the law. It cost the administration money, hours and manpower to clear them.

“We are not paying any compensation because they violated the law binding illegal structures. We are not done with Zamani community, we have a city to protect. Someone came to offer bribe and the man spoke a language close to my own I refused, later the indigenous people came and claim the house is theirs but I said no because someone already came to offer me bribe and I refused.

“They showed us some houses that were not their own.

“No chief has right to sell land. Even the ones Area councils allocated. Always go back to FCDA for recertification.
All the Chiefs even denied selling lands, they said they never sold land,we met them about three weeks ago and said the land that were sold by people who are farming and the people farming said the land they sold were their farm land. And they turned their farmland into house that has no building plans” .

Attah further hinted that: “What is really painful is that we suspended work on Monday in order to allow people to pack but most of them did not do what they should have done. Some persons are thinking Government is not serious but they should have known that FCT Minister is really committed to restoring the Abuja Master plan , especially to rid Abuja of illegal structures”.

Speaking on complaints from the non indigenes, he said “I understand with them really bitter, I understand how painful it is but the sad thing is that they were not suppose to have been in that state at all.
The Minister has warned severally that the locals should stop selling land and the non indigiens should also stop buying land from them. What most of them do not know is that the indiegens have rights and they are due for resettlement and compensation” .

Meanwhile, the Director, Department of Development Control , Murkhtar Galadima, who was physically present to supervise the work warned his staff against taking any bribe from any person, that he will not hesitate to use the civil service rule.

“Today, we have worked more than two days ago obviously and today we have over 615 illegal structures that were removed.

“I have been hearing from some people that they allegedly contributed N100,000 to stop their houses being demolished but the work still went on. Anyone who gives or collect money is at his own risk because we will still do our jobs,

Apart from the fact that we are going to apply the civil service rule, the person if caught might lose his job”.

One of the victims , Bamidele Taiwo said about 7 years ago , he bought a land from the Chief, “My house was affected even now all my family are outside with all our luggages.

“We later heard that it is people that didn’t settle them that they are demolishing their houses.

“It is the indiegens that are pointing to houses for demolition. Some of the houses that were not demolished are not for indigens”.

Bolaji Ganiyu, who is also a resident of Zamani said, “I bought land from the Chief of Zamani for N100,000 and didn’t tell us about indigien or non indigen. Now they removed our houses and all our properties are outside. When the house was marked we went to meet the Chief the Chief told us to meet Chief of Jiwa and we went to meet him and we even went to Humanright Radio for them to plead on our behalf to give us at least 6 month notice but they refused”.

On leaving the indigenous houses, “I am not happy that they didn’t demolish the indigenous houses, after all they sold the land to us and we are all Nigerians. Where I come from in Oyo State, whatever they do to indigiens that is where they will do to non indigens. It was my friend that bought the land for N100,000. And they didn’t tell us that it was an illegal land. Some people bribe the indigiens, they left some houses. We are fast, at least in the spirit of Ramadan, they could have left it till after fasting. Now during election they will say we are one, which is a lie”.

FG, Int’l Community, Others Pledge To End FGM

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Federal Government , international community, key players, and non-governmental organizations have all pledged to put an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The pledge was made in Abuja at the “Launch of the Movement for Good to End Female Genital Mutilation.”

Mrs Paullen Tallen, the Minister of Women Affairs, said female genital mutilation is terrible and must be eradicated.

She opined that with the pledges and dedication of traditional rulers, FGM may be abolished in Nigeria, adding that, the launch of the movement is a defining moment towards ending the menace.

According to her: “There is no way that Female Genital Mutilation can ever be properly done. It is condemnable. It is a crime against humanity and I pray that all of gathered here should leave this hall as ambassadors towards zero tolerance of FGM”.

“FGM is a traditional practice inflicted on girls and women worldwide and it is widely recognised as a violation of human rights, which is deeply rooted in cultural belief and perceptions over decades and generations. The procedure involves the total removal of the partial or total external female genital causing injuries to the female genital organ. In places where it is practiced, it is seen as a right of passage of the girl child to womanhood. And this is encouraged by family members in the fear and belief of social societal sanctions”.

“Science has proven that FGM jas no health benefit you the girl child.

” Statistics has shown that Nigeria has the highest number of cases of FGN in the world accounting for about one hundred and fifteen million out of one hundred and thirty million circumcised women worldwide. That south south zone with 77% amongst adult women has the highest prevalence practice in Nigeria. This is followed by the south east zone with 68% and the south west zone with 65%. The northern part of Nigeria also is not totally free this practice but is very very limited”, She stated.

She also stated that, out that eliminating FGM is crucial to realising many of the SDGs.

She , however, called for intensified advocacy to all the books and crannies of Nigeria.

Tallen added that the present administration knowing the dangers associated with FGM to women and girls is committed to ending it.

Also, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, said that at least two hundred women worldwide have undergone genital mutilation and more might be affected in the coming years.

She said that FGN contravenes the rights of women.

“Indeed to promote the elimination of this scourge, coordinated and systematic efforts involving everyone are needed”. Blatmann said.

She noted that France has made the fight against FGN a priority of it’s feminist deplomacy.

In her remarks, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard stated that FGM harms women and girls across the continent and the US is working with its partners around the world to eliminate all forms of gender based violence including FGM.

She said that the US has been steadfast in its partnership with Nigeria.

Roadside Trading: FCTA, Stakeholders Meets to Find Lasting solution

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

… Review Market Closing Time To 7pm

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has engaged stakeholders on the Maitama Ultra Modern Market popularly known as Kubwa Village market to find a lasting solution to the lingering roadside trading and traffic gridlock.

The stakeholders which comprises of officials from the FCTA, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement , Comrade Ikharo Attah, Sepcial Assistant to the Minister on Community Relations, Hon. Musa Diko, the Head of Monitoring and Inspection of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Development Control, Har kimi of Kubwa Maitama, Chief Bulus Yerima, Katanpe Community Head, Chief Danjuma Awodo, the Developer H&I Construction ltd, Rabiu Said, representative of community youths, Dr. Jatau Joseph among many others sat for hours deliberating on the possible solutions.

The meeting was called at the instance of the SA to FCT Minister on Community Relations, Hon. Musa Diko to brainstorm and pull forces together to put an end to road corridors trading and traffic gridlock in Maitama Kubwa.

The Sepcial Assistant to the Minister on Community Relations, Hon. Musa Diko said, the indigines should have a small place in the market has signed in the MoU that brought the market into place.

He added that, it cost government hundreds of thousands to real out bulldozers to demolish and other logistics, while urging the youths , while adding that, fatalities of the unfortunate fire incident that happened at the market last year wouldn’t have been much if only the traders abide by the extant rules.

Har kimi of Kubwa Maitama, Chief Bulus Yerima said the committee set up should help address the issue of those selling in the road side and forced them inside.

On the issue of expansion, he said they have written to the Minister and hoping that the Malam Muhammad Musa Bello will look into the matter .

Also, Katanpe Community Head, Chief Danjuma Awodo said if care is not taking , the indigines might completely go into extinction in Abuja and urges government to set up a committee to look into the issue of the road side trading.

He added that, expansion has not reached the community 38 year after, saying thay he was fortunate to be among those resettled but youths who where teanagers as at that time were not captured and this has been a lingering problem.

The representative of community youths, Dr. Jatau Joseph said some indigines were tempted to sell part of their land sue to hardship.

He lamented that this is the third time, they are demolishing the community, saying, after the one they went to Development Control for structural plans.

More so, the Developer H&I Construction ltd, Rabiu Said said they have fulfill almost all the terms in the signed MoU, we have completed the shops , Chief Palace and the multi purpose center is 98 per cent completed.

He admitted that, the only area they lagging behind is the Gwari market and they will start that as soon as possible to relocate the locals from the road side.

However, the Development Control representative , Tlp Solomon said they are commencing marking of the illegal structures in earnest.

Meanwhile, the he Head of Monitoring and Inspection of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello said the road meant for motorists and pedestrians have been converted to road side shops, this has made life difficult for motorists as a distance of to to three minutes will take hours .

He also stated that, conversation of residential buildings for commercial use is not proper, some will not even leave it at that they will still extend to the road.

Responding, the SSA to FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah said , “We are not going to leave any stone on turned as the FCT Minister has given directives that market should be moved from all roads corridors in the market.

“This is why we are synergising with relevant stakeholders to nip the menace on the bud. Unfortunately, indiginous traders were pushed to the road side shops allocated to non indigenes. We will not allow anybody to sell on the road.

According to him, “No doubt, the indigines need an identity, I have my own in my village and I believe that the youths should have their own. But if government give them a land in Maitama 2 now, surprisingly , people from other states will buy them off almost immediately and they will return to status quo. For instance , Apo Resettlement, all the layouts have been sold to non indigenes, we are not saying that indigines should not get what is due them.

” We will embark on a 3 day through cleanup around Maitama Kubwa market, NYSC junction and the committee set up will take it up from where we stopped”.

He advised committee members not to collect bribe from the rich road side traders as they are always in the business of doing that, this, according to him, will help them to assert their authority with compromise.

” Henseforth, the market should extend their closing hours to 7pm to dissuade road side traders from shading.

“The points of the community youths are well noted and the administration will swing into action to do the needful. The youth have raised concerned long before the fire incident happens”, he said.

2023: Amaechi Meets Uzodimma, APC South-East Chairmen, Delegates in Owerri

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

The Minister of Transportation and Presidential Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has met with party delegates from the five South Eastern States, to seek their support and votes in the party’s upcoming primaries.

The consultation visit, hosted by Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma at the APC Secretariat in Owerri, had Party Chairmen, State Executives, Local Government Executives and delegates from Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States.

Amaechi pledged that if given the opportunity, his experience in dealing with insecurity as Governor of Rivers State, will count in tackling same in the country.

“If you ask ‘why will they support us?’ I’m a young man, a bridge between the young and the old, a son of the soil, and I am approachable.”

“I may be one of the youngest, but I’m the most experienced. As Governor of Rivers State, what you’re currently facing here now, I faced in Port Harcourt, and I dealt with it and overcame it. Be rest assured that if we are given this power, we will overcome this crisis by God’s grace.”

Reiterating that he is not a sectional candidate, but a Nigerian candidate, Amaechi recounted his recommendations for appointments as being spread out to different parts of the country. “And when I was giving those recommendations, I never thought I would go for presidential consultations, I just felt there was need for balancing, because we are Nigerians, and if you see my team, it’s made of nearly every zone in the country.

“Give me this opportunity and you will see the difference. Trust me. Once you give me this opportunity, I will be sincere to you and to everybody. We will do our best to make sure that the Igbos are protected, the Yourubas will be protected, the Hausa/Fulani would be protected, everybody will be protected,” Amaechi said.

Amaechi also assured the people that the ongoing reconstruction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern rail line would have been completed up to Enugu before the end of the year, adding that he included Owerri to the plan, which was not part of the old line.

He further thanked Governor Uzodinma for his support and for bringing the South East delegates together.

“No presidential aspirant will win the primary election or the general elections without the support of the governors, so we are not taking your (Uzodimma) support for granted. This is introduction, we will come back again to see you, to plead with you, to plead with the party in the whole of South East, the chairmen, the National officers and Zonal officers to support us, Amaechi said.

On his part, Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope assured assured the presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, that the South East stands united to ensure that the APC wins the 2023 presidential election.

He said, “You will come again by the grace of God, either as an aspirant or as a candidate. One strong message I want to give, is that there is a new spirit in the South East for our great party, we have done all the necessary political engineering. APC in South East is united. APC South East is one.”

“We have two Governors of APC in South East. You must have also heard that our second Governor (David Umahi of Ebonyi State) has also declared interest to be president. But this is a contest between a brother and a brother, and when we enter the bedroom we will resolve it.

“We are determined to win, the message we are giving to Nigerians both members of our party, both those who are not of our party, is that the most important thing for our dear party APC is winnability. We want to win. Why? Because we are already doing well.

“So we cannot afford not to win. Today, APC South East will continue to show Nigerians that we are united. The Governor of Ebonyi would have been here, but because he’s expecting the President in a few days time for a State visit, he is not able to come. However, all the delegates from Ebonyi are here. We don’t have any problem with our brother (Amaechi) who is contesting election, we believe in the unity and the leadership of our party, and God knows that all the indications around, are pointing that we will win.

“Our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari who is the leader of the party, will not disappoint Ndigbo, he will not disappoint South East, he will not disappoint South South, he will not disappoint South West if there are Ndigbo there. So we are confident that we are on the right track,” he said.

Renowned Lecturer Laments Nigeria Poor Data Towards Achieving SDGs Target

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

A renowned lecturer at Enugu State University of Science and Technology , Department of Mass Communication, Mr Anthony Ezinwa has lamented Nigeria poor data for many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets.

He made this known in his paper presentation titled : “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as Child Rights,” at a two-day Media Dialogue with media practitioners in Enugu on how the SDGs is linked to Child Rights, which showed Nigeria moving at a slow pace toward achieving the goals, which are set to expire in 2030.

The workshop was called at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in partnership with UNICEF which is aimed to study how fulfilling the SDGs will improve child rights, such as access to school, healthcare, reduced malnutrition, and safe water, among many other.

The 17 SDGs are focused on a wide variety of topics such as: No Poverty; No Hunger; Good Health and Well-Being; Quality Education; Gender Equality;
Clean Water and Sanitation;
Affordable and Clean Energy
; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; and Reduced Inequalities.

More so, Sustainable Cities and Communities; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; Life On Land; Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and Partnerships for the Goals

Ezinwa hinted that, “Nigeria was ranked 160th on the 2020 world’s SDG index 2020 from 159th in 2019.

“83 million Nigerians, representing 40% of the country’s population, live in poverty. 70.3% of children live in poverty, while 23.3% live in extreme poverty. The statistics dent the country’s drive to achieve the SDG goal one, seeking ‘no poverty.’

“70% of 10-year-olds in Nigerian schools could not understand simple sentences or perform basic numeracy tasks. 

” Estimated 170 million people living in the country, 75 million did not have basic literacy skills. At the same time, 10.5 million children were out-of-school, the highest number of out-of-school children globally. 

“One-third of children in the country were out-of-school, and one in five out-of-school children in the world was a Nigerian”, he explained. 

His presentation, however, doubted the country’s readiness to achieve SDG 4 – Quality Education.

In Nigeria, Ezinwa, further stated that, one in every five women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 reportedly experiencing physical or sexual assault by an intimate partner over the past 12 months.

Women, who make up slightly less than half of the population but account for more than 70% of those living in extreme poverty, cast doubt on the country’s commitment to achieving the SDG’s goal 5 – Gender Equality.

He noted that one-third of the country’s children do not have access to clean water and sanitation, which is goal number six.
    

According to him, “25.5 million Nigerian children are experiencing high or extremely high-water vulnerability, while 209 million Nigerians use water contaminated at the point of collection.

“In addition to 46 million people who defecate in the open – the highest rate in the world.

” SDGs goal 7 – affordable and clean energy – he said 789 million people globally lacked access to electricity, with 548 million of the number living in sub-Saharan Africa. 

“Power supply has been a challenge in Nigeria, with the national grid collapsing multiple times yearly, leaving the nation without a power supply, thereby grounding economic activities. 

“The United States Government estimates that Nigeria, estimated at 200 million people, depends on about 4,000 megawatts of power, despite having the capacity to generate 12,522 MW of electric power from its existing plants.

“As of 2019, Nigeria’s population was 195.87 million, and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at $397.27 billion, according to the US”, he added.

Ezinwa, however, supplied global data for other SDGs, but not for Nigeria specifically. Climate change, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, justice, and strong institutions are all concerns that the country is grappling with.

Recalled that, all 193 member states of the United Nation have adopted 17 global goals to be achieved by 2030, known as the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. The SDGs offer a framework and blueprint for achieving sustainable global prosperity and commit participating countries to individual and joint action for the good of all on the planet. The SDGs are a successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ran from 2000 to 2015.

Each of the overarching 17 goals is underpinned by several targets that add specificity and measurability. For example, SDG6 on water features specific targets for water quality, access to drinking, access to sanitation, water use efficiency, and more. 

Each country adopting the SDGs is responsible for establishing a national policy that offers a concrete plan for achieving SDGs in their country. Organizations and institutions are also encouraged to frame their own strategic objectives around the SDGs, creating a global task force of cooperation and joint interest.

World Malaria Day: Malaria Remains Significant Public Health, Development Challenge , WHO

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0
Moeti
WHO Regional Director for Africa

… Calls on Countries To Work Towards Eliminating It, Achieving SDGs

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has hinted that malaria remains a significant public health and development challenge with about 95% of the estimated 228 million cases occurred in the WHO/AFRO Region, along with 602 020 reported deaths last year.

She further stated that, Six of our countries, the worst-impacted by malaria in the Region, are reported to have accounted for up to 55% of cases globally, and for 50% of these deaths.

She, however, called on countries and communities affected by malaria to work closely with development partners to advance our countries along the road to elimination, while contributing to the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals.

Moeti gave this hint in her message to commemorate 2022 World Malaria Day with this year’s theme, “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives”, aligns with my call to urgently scale up innovation and the deployment of new tools in the fight against malaria, while advocating for equitable access to malaria prevention and treatment, within the context of building health system resilience

She said; “World Malaria Day is marked annually on 25 April to focus global attention on malaria, and its devastating impact on families, communities, and societal development, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Despite some slowing of progress to reduce malaria cases and deaths, and the disruptions to health services caused by COVID-19, we are still much further ahead than we were in 2000. We need to reignite that momentum, and build on the recent advances.

“For example, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns were implemented as planned in 2021, ensuring protection for an additional 11.8 million children. Indoor residual spraying was also carried out, and long-lasting insecticidal nets distributed, largely as planned.

“Other notable achievements include the scaled implementation of RTS,S vaccine pilots in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, which reached up to 900 000 children.

“The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of people catching and dying from malaria. This requires a focus on research and on leveraging available evidence to ensure that our targeted interventions are an efficient use of resources, which produce measurable results.

“We also need to work on drug and insecticide resistance, as well as focus on new strains of malaria arising in the Region, which are more difficult to detect, and treat”, she explained.

Moeti further stated that, Malaria is, however, about much than medical and technological interventions. Malaria affects households and communities, and these communities need to be empowered to play an active role in the fight against this disease. As WHO in Africa, we recognize that a whole-of-society approach requires us to listen to, and learn from, those who are worst impacted.

World Malaria Day today is an occasion to renew political commitment and encourage continued investment in malaria prevention and control.
The past year has seen significant breakthroughs in malaria prevention and control, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Landmark recommendations on the use of the first vaccine against malaria – RTS,S – were released by the World Health Organization late last year. This vaccine will be used to prevent malaria among children aged six months to five years, who live in moderate- to high-transmission settings.

While this is a groundbreaking advance in the development of new tools to fight this disease, with the potential to save millions of lives, supplies are currently limited. As such, it is important to ensure that the doses that are available are utilized for maximum impact, while ensuring continued availability of other preventive measures to those most at risk.

Saying, I personally, and the WHO Regional Office in Africa, remain fully committed to the fight against malaria. I believe we can overcome the challenge if we collaborate closely with governments, partners and communities.

Together, we can accelerate our efforts to achieve a malaria-free Africa.

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