The House of Representatives has called for the urgent provision of emergency Clinics along Federal Highways across the Nigeria.
The House also mandated the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission to ensure compliance.
While urging that the Federal Road Safety Commission to liaise with the Federal Ministry of works and Housing, and States Emergency Management Authorities to ensure that accident victims receive quick medical attention.
The House resolutions were passed sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Mallam Bukar Gana, (APC, Borno).
Gana noted that Road traffic accidents have become a global public health concern but not enough attention is given to it in terms of public health enlightenment and strategic policies by the government to achieve sustainable control.
He also noted that some accidents are inevitable, and a lot can be done to minimize fatalities through the establishment of functional road traffic clinics across the States of the federation.
He stated that the Federal Government is constitutionally bound to protect lives and properties of its citizens by providing security and essential amenities amongst others, and Section 10(3)(q) of the Federal Road Safety Commission Act empowers the Federal Road Safety Commission to provide roadside and mobile clinics for the free treatment of road accident victims within the nation.
“The Federal Road Safety Commission was established to, amongst other things, rescue road accident victims from the crash site, administer first aid treatment, and operate road accident clinics to treat minor accident cases and stabilize critical victims before transferring them to the nearest hospitals.
The Lawmaker cited a statistic of the clinics that are functioning and the one that are not, he said “there are only forty-seven traffic accident clinics across Nigeria, fifteen of which are furnished but non-functional, fourteen (14) are not furnished and non-functional, while only 18 are furnished and functional.
“According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 11,363 accidents were recorded in 2016 with a total number of 30,105 injured victims out of which 28,250 were adults, 1,855 were children, while 5,053 people lost their lives.
“We are worried that the deplorable state of major highways and reckless driving occasioned by over speeding, drunkenness, and total disregard of traffic rules by commuters have contributed to incessant road accidents, and the country require functional clinics to prevent needless deaths.
“The available roadside clinics are grossly insufficient to cater for the medical needs of commuters as the functional ones are poorly managed, and commuters will continue to die needlessly for lack of immediate medical attention,” he added.
….. Applauds Principal Officers House of Reps, Sen. Aduda, Sokodobo, Gbefwi , Jiba for their support, courage.
An advocacy group under the auspices of Abuja Grassroots Advocacy Projects (AGAP) has berated All Progressive Congress (APC) Senators at National Assembly over failure to support the plights of the vulnerable people of the Federal Capital Territory by voting against a bill for an act to alter the provision of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to provide for Office Of Mayor for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja and related matters.
The chief advocate of the group, Comrade Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, in a press briefing also threatened that, if the Senators at the National Assembly continue to ignore sensitive matters that have a direct bearing on the plight of FCT indigenes, the indigenous people of FCT might be pushed to the wall to boycott the 2023 general elections.
He commended the only Senator representing the FCT at the National Assembly for his courage and height standard of lobbying his colleagues to support the Mayoral bill in favour of FCT natives, that he has so far showcased his love and sacrifices for the FCT people,
He also commended the effort and doggedness of the principal officers House of Representatives, Hon Sokodobo, Hon Jiba, Hon Gbefwi for standing by the FCT people to ensure that the bill scaled through in favour of FCT indigenes at the lower Chambers
He further called on Nigerians to question the rationale behind the negative motives of the Senators attitude over the Mayoral status of the FCT, especially the Senators from the far Northern part of the country, while regretting the support the indigenous people of FCT gave to the APC to win two-third of the votes in 2016 and 2019 to clinch the sit of Presidency which he said may be difficult for the APC as a party in 2023.
Yusuf also reminded Nigerians of the July 4th, 1978 policy reversal made by former Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo to stop the evacuation of FCT natives as earlier recommended by Justice Akinola Aguda, that the decision affirmed that FCT has never been a “virgin land” or “no man’s land” as misconceived by some Nigerians.
According to him, the sacrifices of the FCT indigenous people should be seen by elites as an everlasting sacrifice that should be paid back by any policy that will favor and reduce the long-suffering of the Abuja Original inhabitant.
“The Senators should review its decision to vote out the mayoral status of the FCT, saying that the FCT mayoral status would foster National Development and enhance adequate representation in governance.
”Section 297 to 307 to be replaced by the establishment for FCT with an elected mayor and Mayoral Assembly which will now replace the president by designating FCT as the Governor of FCT and National Assembly as the FCT Legislators respectively as against the status of executive and legislative functions vested on the president and the National Assembly.
“If we have original inhabitants of the FCT well captured within the constitution of our country we are on our way to working out a better Nigeria where every Nigerian has a right,” he said.
Off takers in the nation’s capital (FCT) on Wednesday tasked to do due diligence investigation before investing in real estate sector.
A Brand Ambassador of KSI Construction and Estate Developer, Oni Lukeman, popularly known as Ambassador Wahala gave the tasks when he was unveiled as Brand Ambassador for KSI Construction and Estate Developer in Abuja.
He said that, one of the biggest problem faced by residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is accommodation and will not be proper to painfully gather money and the money end up with fraudulent estate developers.
His words, ” There are many fraudulent estate developers around and before you do business with them you should do your due diligence to know if the property has all the land title documents from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Department of Lands and Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS)”.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director, KSI Construction and Estate Developer, Mr Koleola Emmanuel said they are out to change the narrative in the real estate sector, saying, there are still good people in the business.
He added that, they don’t make life miserable for those who patronizes them, while adding that there are developers who have been morally upright since they started real estate business in the nintees and this are the kind of people we emulate.
The Deputy Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has hinted that the defeat suffered by the constitutional amendment Bill seeking to create special parliamentary seats for women, was due to gender bias by the male folks in the House.
It would be recalled that the bill which sought to create 111 additional seats for women in both the National and State Assemblies was sponsored by the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and over 100 other members, but primarily championed by the deputy Whip. However, members including some of the co-sponsors voted against it on Tuesday during the Clause-by-Clause consideration which was done via electronic voting.
Briefing newsmen in her office on Wednesday, Onyejeocha lamented the situation, saying that it has set Nigeria back many years and kept her in an unpopular position in world ranking of countries with the least level of women inclusiveness in governance.
According to her, “Everybody saw what transpired on the floor of the House, even the Senate yesterday. To say the least, I am very disappointed. Disappointed not because people shut down the bills but because the bills that were shut down have taken this country backwards. Taken it from the basics. Number one. God Himself created Adam and removed a rib and made Eve and said this is your help mate. Nigeria as we speak is boasting with their women who are doing wonderfully well. And of course, you saw that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala contested with world powers and she made it. That’s our blood. Look at Amina Mohammed, to mention but a few.
“We boast of being the giant of Africa, yet we are the least as far as women representation is concerned. I am also worried because we are losing a lot in terms of resources because a lot of nations do not give us the grants that are meant for us because of low level of women representation. You can get those fact from the UNDP. They have the records.
“And as we speak, with a ranking of 184 out of 187 countries, our men should be ashamed of what they did yesterday. That’s the truth, 184 out of 187, Nigeria should not raise their heads high with this kind of outcome. We have pushed for 35 affirmative action. It started in the 6th Assembly. I came here in 2007 and I was chairman of women in parliament and we tried to increase our number and yet, it didn’t work and the reason it was failing was because the men are asking this particular question: which seat do you want to take? I said that this is an issue of preservation which is not supposed to be at all because if you do not come to the House of Reps, you can be anything, governor. They are the people becoming governors in several States, appointed ministers. As we speak, how many Minister’s do we have? Wherever you go, you still find men and they will still find their feet,” she said.
She explained that the quest to avoid competition with the men led to the efforts at creating the additional seats which were to be contested only by women, just as it would help improve Nigeria’s global ranking of women inclusiveness in governance.
“So, I said since the issue is that nobody wants to lose his seat for a woman, let’s create additional seats to accommodate and break the jinx and fill the gap because it is so wide. 184 out of 187, are we a country? How do you explain it? What do you tell the world? Would you tell the world that your coming 184th. And then we are shouting that if we give these women a chance, they will overrun us. How are they going to over run you? We do not over run you in your homes when we are taking care of your children, nurturing you, providing for you, giving you comfort, campaigning for you to win election? I know most men that will not be on this floor if the women don’t gather to support and vote them in? Then you are saying we are not fit, that we will remain on this 184 out of 187 countries? It’s laughable to say the least,” she said.
The 4-time member of the green chamber expressed disappointment at her male colleagues for rejecting the provision, especially those who co-sponsored the bill with herself and the Speaker.
“So, what happened yesterday, for me, was unimaginable. I couldn’t think about it because I was not expecting it because having known how bills are killed on the floor, I decided to let everybody to co-sponsor this bill. And the number sponsor of this bill is our Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and I know in several fora, we have accorded him this he-for-she number one in this parliament even outside Nigeria.
“It is more worrisome that people who signed their signatures to a bill will come on the day of voting to say no. I explained to you that your seat is secured but let us create additional seats that will enable us bring more women so that they will remove us from 184 out of 187 because the whole world was watching us yesterday. At least 187 countries including Nigeria were watching to see how we will break this jinx.
“I came here with other female colleagues, twenty something women, it declined. Today we are 13. So, what’s the guarantee that in the 10th assembly, it will not decline further with this type of gang up, conspiracy and gender bias for inclusion because that’s how I see it. The words may be strong but that is what it is. If it not about bias, I don’t know how to put it.
“…I don’t know how you will explain to me that you sponsored a bill and you are part of the people that killed the bill. What it simply means is that the 88 that we got, remove the 13 women, where are the others? If it is not bias, what will it be? They are bias about women issues. That’s why it played out that even party administration, is there any member going to be a Women leader, a secretary of a party, treasury and yet it was killed. 35 percent representation on party matters, in political party structure, so, what’s wrong in giving them some percentage to help build the party?”, the lawmaker queried.
New strategies adopted by Niger state government to end siege by the many terrorist groups operating in about eight Local Government Areas in the state has yielded desired results with the killing of over 200 of the criminals between Sunday and Wednesday.
The feat was however not without supreme prize paid by security personnel as the joint security forces combating the dare devil criminals lost two of their men while several others were left with various degrees of injuries are responding to treatment.
Niger state Commissioner of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal security, Mr. Emmanuel Umar disclosed this while briefing journalists on the cheering news about the decimation of about four terror groups operating in parts of the state.
Umar gave the names of the terror groups hibernating in; Shiroro, Lavun, Mariga, Wushishi, Kontagora, Paikoro, Munya and Rafi Local Government Area to include Ali kawake, Yello jambros, Kachalla Halilu and Bello Turji.
While efforts have been intensified to rid the state of all forms of criminal elements, terrorist groups in particular, the commissioner attributed the successes so far to the new strategies which saw to the killing of the over 200 of them between Sunday and Wednesday.
“Between Sunday and today the joint security forces were able to neutralise over 200 terrorists representing about four groups namely, Kachalla Halilu, Ali Kawaje, Yello Jambros and Bello Turji, including some of their Commanders”.
The Commissioners commended the courage and collaborative efforts of traditional rulers in the state and communities for their resilience, they stood their grounds to protect and defend their land against the terrorists.
“Our gallant joint security forces proved their worth by the recent feat. Many motorcycles and rustled cattle were also recovered during the invasion and we recorded very minimal casualty on the side of security forces, we lost only two security men”, adding that the government took the battle to the criminal’s den.
While expressing sympathy to the families of the security personnel and communities who lost their loved ones, the commissioner is calling on transporters to be conscious of some fleeing terrorists along the highways seeking to be transported to certain locations and report to security agencies.
Niger state government is more than prepared to make the state very uncomfortable for armed bandits, the commissioner further explained and therefore called on the general public to reports any stranger lurking within their domain to security agencies for prompt action.
The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the audit of security agencies in Rivers State, in order to fish out those behind the Soot problem in the State.
They also raised alarm over the impending environmental danger caused by theft of crude oil in parts of the State.
This is as it directed the Navy, Police, Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Army to conduct a holistic investigation into the involvement of its men in illegal oil refining in River State.
The call followed a motion sponsored by Senator Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East) on the dangerous dimension that incomplete crude refining has taken in the South-South State.
According to Senator Sekibo, the situation which is caused by the activities of multinational companies operating in the area causes drops of strange soot substances on residents who dares to stay outdoor.
“It has become more worrisome that they are seen on bedspreads in bedrooms, worktops in kitchens, chairs and other materials in houses, meaning that they are entering every available crevice into inner spaces of buildings as the wind carries them,” he added.
Insisting that the land, air and water has been polluted, the lawmaker lamented that for over 60 years, “an environmental audit due to the degradation of the environment has never been carried out since the commencement of the exploration and exploitation activities in the area.”
The motion also attributed recent deaths in the area to the situation, lamenting that if not curbed, the sooty particulates could spread to other neighbouring states and the entire country.
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in a bid to avoid situations where public buildings collapse indiscriminately.
This is to ensure that projects approved by the commission are executed according to specification.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, who spoke while signing the MoU in Abuja on Wednesday, said the idea is to provide conducive learning environment for learning in the country.
Bobboyi said COREN will engage in monitoring of the Commission’s projects at least twice a month once the project started.
According to him, “We have been giving money in the form of matching grants instincts, and much of these monies that have been given to states have been used for infrastructure.
“There are times we have real challenges in the quality of infrastructure but it is our hope that the journey we began with COREN will help us deliver the quality projects that we all yearn for and that can serve Nigeria’s energy,” he said.
On his part, the Registrar of COREN, Professor Joseph Odigure said resident engineers will be in charge of monitoring projects in the respective states.
Odigure noted that the MoU is to ensure COREN perfectly monitor UBEC projects for proper and quality delivery.
The Group Managing Director, NNPC Limited, Engr. Mele kyari, on Wednesday insisted that Africa must develop at its own pace and not be stampeded into transitioning to cleaner energy.
This is as pressure continues to mount for the descalation of concentration on fossil fuels.
Kyari stated this during his keynote address at the commencement of a session tagged: “Changing Strategies for the Future of NNPC” at the ongoing fifth edition Nigeria International Energy Summit (NEIS 2022), in Abuja.
He said that the engine of the growth would be local companies with strong governance, technical, commercial capacity, and capability to transform resources to energy, adding that the country has have come to the consensus that energy turns the wheel of prosperity forward.
According to him, “I am delighted to back here again. Over the past few days, we have dissected the industry, the challenges, both current and emerging ones and discussed extensively the place of Africa in the energy transition debate.
“To my mind, the pathway is clear; Africa must develop at its own pace. The engine of this growth would be local companies with strong governance, technical, commercial capacity, and capability to transform resources to energy and we have come to the consensus that energy turns the wheel of prosperity forward.
He said, Nigeria is demanding solutions for more energy which must be delivered in new and better ways for a low carbon future.
Kyari said: “To achieve this, I would quickly highlight the framework or premise of the strategy. Let me reiterate that our strategy is crafted to keep us resilient and competitive in a fast-changing world despite the increase in market volatility.
“The growth of the gas business and Low carbon intensive oil remains the focus. we would invest in more oil and gas, however with increased efficiency in production.
“The investment in gas infrastructure to harness the gas resources both for domestic and export market is already underway. We are building gas super-highways to connect gas sources to both existing and new markets. My vision is to see NNPC emerge as one of the Top 5 Gas companies within the next decade.
“The new NNPC is focused on market-led growth in the midstream and downstream business. By taking forward looking and integrated investment approach, we would convert oil and gas to useful products (Petchem, refining, fertilizer, and chemicals). Our partnerships will be designed to Innovate with advanced products, increase retail market footprints through strategic retail partnerships. NNPC will be a part of Every home, workplace, and industry .
“More importantly, NNPC limited is a modernized organisation. The simplification of our processes, deployment of new thinking paradigm through the organisation and digitization takes the center stage. We are expanding the role of research and innovation, dedicating a fixed share of our revenues to enable us to contribute to the energy transition debate from a pragmatic and business solution perspective” he added.
A coalition of women groups stormed the National Assembly to protest the resolutions of lawmakers at the just concluded consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
This is to register their dissatisfaction at the refusal of Senators to give nod to the Bill seeking to create special seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.
The report recommended the creating of one special seat in each state of the Federation and the FCT for women without prejudice to their eligibility to contest in the existing senatorial seats in each state and the FCT.
Speaking to newsmen at the entrance of the National Assembly, the President Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu stated that the rejection of the bills by the lawmakers was “against development.
“If there is no inclusivity, how can we develop. There is no level playing field.
“What we are asking for is 35 per cent of women in party executive. Surprisingly, they voted against it.”
On her part, the National President of Business and Professional Women in Nigeria, Mrs Yinka Ajibola pointed out that “we are not asking for favour; we are asking for our rights.
“The non passage of the bill was a disappointment and we have come to show our displeasure. We are dissatisfied.
“Incidentally, women are more than 50 per cent. Why should we be treated as second class citizens.It is so shocking that Nigeria in 2022 will be taking such a stance.”
To assuage the protesters, the leadership of the Senate led by Deputy Senate Leader Sen. Ajayi Boroffice said “we are here on behalf of the Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
“He has delegated us to represent him. Seeing us you have seen the Senate; you have seen the Senate president.
“We are going to listen to you. Even though we know what you are about to say. We are in agreement with your strategy, we are sympathetic with your intention but in a democracy, you cannot always have it your own ways,”Boroffice said.
Also speaking, Mrs Abiola Afolabi, Leader of the Women Group noted with displeasure that “last week, the wife of the President accompanied by the Minister of Women Affairs, came to the national assembly on behalf women to make our issues known.
“There were some commitments made by the Senate President about the gender sensitivity of the national assembly.
“We want to see them to explain to us what really happened and what can be done to address this wrong. We are demanding to see them.
“It is better they dignify us by coming to speak with us as we will not speak with the delegation.”
The House of Representatives has set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the duplication of functions by agencies of federal government.
The committee is also to ascertain the root cause of the incessant bickering among some established Agencies, Departments, Boards, Parastatals and Corporations in the Nigeria.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Tahir Mohammed Monguno on the “Need to Investigate the Duplication of Functions of Agencies of the Federal Government”.
Monguno said that Section 153(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) established certain Federal Executive Bodies and Section 4(2) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the National Assembly to repeal obsolete laws and enact new ones for the good governance of the Federation.
He added that Nigeria has been gaining on the world index of Ease of Doing Business (EDB) rising from the 145th position in 2019 to 131st in 2020, hence there is a need to consolidate on this improvement.
Monguno while presenting his motion in the floor of the green chamber said that, with the existence of about 1,484 Agencies, Departments, Boards, Parastatals and Corporations in the country with the attendant duplication of functions and clash of interests, the lawmakers are worried that there is a likelihood of the latest World Bank annual ratings to slide considerably hence the need for an Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Duplications of these MDAs.
“The House therefore mandated its ad-hoc committee to investigate duplication of duties, overlapping functions and counter-productivity of established Agencies, Departments, Boards, Parastatals and Corporations in the country.
The panel is also expected to establish areas of mergers, synergies and justification of the existence of some established Agencies, Departments, Boards, Parastatals and Corporations, which are no longer needed in the country.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase who presided over Wednesday’s plenary put the motion to voice vote which was unanimously adopted and mandated the Committee to report back within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.
