The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Ministerial Task Force on City Sanitation has invaded the dreaded Gudu hard drugs colony, recovered some hard drugs and demolished their shanties.
Three persons who were suspected to be the leaders of the drug syndicate were arrested with various deadly substances, including several packs of India hemp, one knife , bottles of codeine and tablets of other contraband drugs amongst others.
Chairman of the Task Force, Comrade Ikharo Attah said that there was no going back on the aggressive cleaning exercise, on going in Abuja, especially places that pose as threat to security and safety of residents.
He added that 11 vehicles believed to have been abandoned by roadside mechanics, who operate an illegal workshops around the drugs colony, along the road corridors were impounded.
The Taskforce Chairman, therefore, warned that all the hideouts where criminal elements hide within the Apo road corridors and other places will be removed, he also called on residents to stop constructing shanties indiscriminately without approval of relevant authorities.
According to Attah, FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has vowed to spare no effort in restoring total sanitation to the nation’s capital, hence the resolve of the team to sustain the clean up.
He added that a surveillance team had been commissioned to monitor all the places where illegal occupants we’re dislodged, to ensure that all those constituting nuisance do not return.
Attah said, ” we resumed the operation today and were shocked to find out that at places we cleared completely on Monday those removed had started to return by Wednesday. What one observed is that these people believe its business as usual. Our returned today is sending a strong message to them that the FCT minister is determined to match words with action.”
” The removal of shanties is of immense benefit to the city. These areas have become very safe hideouts for criminal elements and notorious drugs dealers”.
Patients with no COVID-19 symptons may no longer be infectious after 14 days, even if PCR tests identify RNA evidence of virus in them, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has revealed.
He added that, global experience is that up to 45% of infected people may have no symptoms at all.
The Minister gave the revelation at the presidential Taskforce briefing on Covid-19 on Thursday in Abuja, saying, they are constantly reviewing Covid-19 activities and developments at home and abroad, to learn as much as we can about the novel coronavirus disease. We have learned, for example, that patients are most infectious during the asymptomatic stage, and spread the virus even if they do not look or feel ill, or before their symptoms appear.
According to him, “In Nigeria, the proportion of confirmed cases that are symptomatic compared to asymptomatic is 39% and 61% respectively, which means that if 10 persons are able to infect you with COVID-19, four of them will look very well indeed. Another three or four will have mild symptoms that can be trivialized, even by healthcare workers, which may explanin the initial relatively high rate of infection among them. The cheapest and easiest way to protect oneself is with a mask; in this case, a cloth mask will do. This is why the Federal Ministry of Health constantly urges citizens to adhere strictly to wearing a mask when outside their homes and observe other non-pharmaceutical measures, especially now that confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria continues to rise, which gradually raises the risk.
“Yesterday, we had 409 new confirmed cases of COVID19 which increased the total number of cases to 13,873. We have successfully treated and discharged 4,351 persons and unfortunately lost 382 Nigerians to the disease. Although numbers are only creeping up compared to other countries and case fatality rate hovers around 3%, we are concerned and at high alert. We have no room for complacency or over-confidence, and need to be ready for any sudden shift in fortune.
He continued;”The Federal Ministry of Health through NCDC has activated additional laboratories in Akwa Ibom, Jigawa and Oyo States bringing the total number of laboratories in the network to 33. More are being prepared as we work towards a target of at least one molecular laboratory per state. Optimization of laboratories is ongoing in other States”.
The minister added that, they have commenced planning for targeted community sensitization activities in 20 high burden Local Government Areas and workshop in Infection Prevention and Control on COVID-19 for healthcare workers of Public and Private Hospitals in the FCT.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment, Federal Ministry of Health and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have been engaging the National Association of Resident Doctors NARD to address issues raised by the young doctors. We also had conversation with Ministry of Finance Agencies and health related associations, which addressed issues of welfare and allowances to frontline health workers. Complaints on availability of PPE’s have been addressed with the supply of materials to States, and separately to Federal Medical Centers. The disengaged resident doctors at University of Jos Teaching hospital were recalled by the Board of Governors. I am confident that resident doctors will show understanding and reciprocate government’s efforts on the assurance that grievances shall be addressed. I wish to thank the Rt. Hon. Speaker for his intervention and the Hon. Minister of Labour for his committment to ensuring industrial harmony in the Health Sector.
He hinted, that the much awaited reforms to guidelines to oprationalize the BHCPF is about ready and will be revealed after presentation to stakeholders. However, I can say that errors have been addressed and the new document vastly improves on the earlier version.
He, however, urged everyone to be their brother’s keeper and always wear their face mask in the public and observe hand and respiratory hygiene. Stay home unless you absolutely have to go out; this appeal is particularly directed at the vulnerable population and persons over 60 years of age.
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that Nigeria has potential reserves of 200 million ounces of gold and that the launch of the expansive project, Dukia Gold, would create new opportunities for Nigeria to mine her gold reserves properly, trade responsibly and refine locally.
Vice President made this know at a virtual commissioning of the Dukia Gold and Precious Metals Project project on Tuesday in Abuja.
He hinted that, “The Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refinery Project, championed by the High Commissions of Nigeria and Canada, has been seven years in the making and it is my pleasure to see that the project is ready to begin operations”.
According to him, “the Dukia Gold project would encourage the emergence of smaller-scale mining companies who, for the first time, would have a transparent and welcoming market for their mined gold and precious metals. This, he said would create jobs and unleash the economic potential of mining communities.
He stated that,“will create primary employment for local artisanal miners and mining cooperatives across the solid minerals value chain. Off-take agreements between Dukia Gold and local mining communities and owners of recyclable gold will be a useful provider of jobs in our post-covid economy.”
The Vice President also commissioned the nationwide Dukia-Heritage Bank Gold and Precious Metals Buying Centres which is part of a valuable private sector collaboration.
The buying centre is to provide a sustainable way for Nigerians to exchange their gold jewellery and other precious items for cash. “This system of exchange not only helps encourage a culture of recycling, but will also serve as a complementary source for the raw materials needed for the Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company”, he added.
Osinbajo , however, promised that the Federal Government would provide support and facilitate policies that would ensure successful deployment, implementation, and sustainable operations of the Dukia Gold Project as well as continuous support of the mining sector.
Earlier, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, in his remarks, said the launch of Dukia-Heritage Bank Gold and Precious Metals Buying Centres is a testament of the unwavering effort of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to serve as a business friendly regulator, providing the enabling environment for business to thrive.
Adegbite hinted that the Buying Centre Initiative (BCI) would bring about efficiency and transparency to physical trading and transactions of mineral commodities.
According to him, “buying centre with minimum guaranteed price thresholds also ensures that Artisanal miners receive the right pricing for their goods relative to illegal off takers” This, he believed, would break the status quo of illegal mining and increasing royalty revenue accrual to the federal government.
He further added that in line with President’s mandates to diversify the economy, create jobs and increase revenue generation, the Minister said his ministry has licensed two gold refineries and has equally been creating a conducive fiscal and regulatory enabling environment for them to thrive. “We expect that these two refineries will create ample employment opportunities in the downstream sector and in the gold value chain.
“Dukia is one of the two duly licensed gold refiners in Nigeria. They have developed an encompassing ecosystem, consisting of nationwide DukiaHB Buying Centres alongside the virtual Purchasing Platform, that together form an integral centre-piece.”
“This initiative by Dukia and Heritage bank is the beginning of a seamless integration between the mining and banking sectors, which needs to be encouraged and applauded,” he emphasized.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Minister of State, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, said Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral resources waiting to be harnessed for economic development.
He commended the partnership between Dukia Gold and Heritage Bank and hopeful that it would serve as a success model for building strong private business conglomerates that would transform not only the gold value chain, but entire mineral sector into a global competitive mining destination of repute.
Also, the Managing Director of Dukia Gold, Bose Owolabi said the company would work with its refining partners and stakeholders to ensure that the project was fully implemented and met international standards. She added that the Heritage Bank Raw Materials Buying Centres would be opened at designated branches of the bank across the country as from Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Company Limited which is located at the Abuja International Airport is set out to work with miners to ensure access to appropriate Plant, Machinery, Equipment, and support among others.
Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu. Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria.
TOYIN ADEBAYO ,ABUJA
Disturbed by the increasing cases rape in the nation’s capital especially of minors, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has called for a stiffer penalties for offenders.
The minister who made the call in Abuja shortly after the distribution of palliative items to the leadership of FCT National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT chapter and Nigeria Football Association of Coaches FCT chapter, however advocated that rapists should be castrated to serve as a deterrent to others.
Aliyu, also, revealed that the FCT Administration was working closely with security agencies and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) to push for serious institutional framework that would ensure justice is served, stressing that members of the community would be engaged in the battle against rape especially of minors.
She also described rape of minors as heinous crime , while stressing that death penalty was not the best of option for offenders, arguing that when a society choses to kill such offenders, they die and not remembering the crime they have committed against humanity.
She further stated that, “We will involve every member of the community in this battle against rape. Just recently, we are in search of one offender, and definitely we will nip it in the bud. And in conjunction with all the security outfits, NAPTIP, in the Federal Capital Territory, we are in the watch, and for any offender that we get, we will take it to any length to ensure that he is not fit to live.
“We are also pushing for serious institutional framework that will ensure that justice is done. It is not enough to just jail such person, definitely punishment like castration will do. When we kill them, they die and not remembering anything, therefore they should be castrated and roam the streets and remain inactive”.
Meanwhile, the FCT Administration has doled out palliative items to the leadership of FCT National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT chapter and Nigeria Football Association of Coaches, for onward distribution to identified vulnerables among them, as part of measures to cushion the effect of the lockdown.
The FCT State Minister used the occasion to appeal to the leaders to ensure that the palliative items get to the vulnerable, assuring that in no distance time Nigeria would be free from this COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have been going round and round in the distribution of palliative items in the Federal Capital Territory. But I know you must have wondering why we have not come to those who really laboured, those who really spare their time to ensure that we succeed.
“It is not because we did not appreciate your contributions, but because we have to take the battle to the poorest of the poor who domicile in the rural areas. We combed every part of the territory to ensure that the message of President Muhammad Buhari gets to them,” she stated.
Responding, the President of FCT Council of National Council of Women Societies, Hajia Hadiza Umar, thanked the FCT Administration for the kind gesture, just as she assured that the items would be distributed among widows in the society.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT Chapter received 1000 bags of 5kg rice and 1000 bags of condiments, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), FCT, 1000 bags of 5kg rice and 1000 bags of condiments, while Nigerian Football Coaches Association, FCT chaper, 80 bags of 5kg rice and 80 bags of condiments.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation has siezed 26 rams, 5 cattle from the popular Apo Cattle market, and also impounded 5 vehicles parked illegally by car dealers.
Chairman of the Taskforce, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said the operation as authorized by the FCT Minister , Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, is coming against the backdrop of the expiration of a 7-day ultimatum earlier given to enable the illegal occupants to vacate the places.
He stated that the Administration’s decision to carry out the exercise stems from the fact that some people were bent on constituting nuisance that could threaten the city’s security and jeopardize environmental safety.
He further stated that the issues of sanitation within the nation’s capital is a priority that cannot be sacrificed to personal or group interests, hence the attention that is being given to it , especially in the period of a deadly pandemic ravaging the country.
Attah, however, explained that the seized animals and the vehicles will be taken to the Mobile court, and a forfeiture order shall be sought, so that the rams and cattle can be distributed to the Prison and various orphanage homes.
He, therefore, stressed that the illegal motor park around the Apo round about and the cattle market, have not just the aesthetic beauty of the road corridors, but have been turned to hide outs for drug peddlers and other criminal elements.
He also warned all illegal occupants to vacate from the road corridors, he also vowed that the Taskforce would sustain the tempo of the clean up exercise, until sanity was restored to that road axis, as well as fast tracking the completion of the various infrastructural projects along the road that have been hampered by the activities of these illegal occupants.
According to him; ” The exercise is carried out on the orders of the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, through a special committee he set up to clear up the Outern Sourthern Expressway, we have cleared several illegalities on the road stretch and corridors.
” These include the Gudu popular Ram market, Scrap market, otherwise known as pantaker and the illegal motor park around the Apo roundabout.
He added ; ” We took twenty six rams, 5 cattle and 4 vehicles, we are taken them to the Mobile Court and shall be seeking for a forfeiture order from the court, so that the things can be given to the Prison or the orphanage homes within the FCT, because we have warned them several times.
” We cannot continue to look away from all the illegality and contravention of the city’s master plan. We have also going to be ensuring that this operation is sustained. We have surveillance team that will he checking these places on a daily basis to ensure that the illegal occupants do not return”.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commended the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other church leaders across the Territory for ensuring compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines for religious organisations.
The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task-team on the Enforcement of COVID-19 Restrictions, Comrade Ikharo Attah gave the commendation when he led his team on inspection of some churches to monitor the level of compliance.
At the First Baptist Church, Gimbiya street in Area 11 where the team met the Northern Central Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria Reverend Israel Akanji , the chairman commended the church for its strict adherence to the guidelines.
His observation; “entering the church through the gate, we met some personnel who checked our temperature and gave us sanitizers to apply on our hands. As we entered, we saw several hand washing points. This is what the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha want to see”.
Responding Reverend Akanji said the Church had given its word to government to abide by the guidelines, and commended the FCT minister and the Taskteam “for monitoring to ensure compliance”.
Similarly, at the ECWA Church, Maitama, the team met with the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Samson Jonah.
The FCT CAN Chairman noted that ,” for the Church, compliance with government rules, particularly one like this that bothers on the health and safety of Christians is a must. We would continue to do our best to sustain it. We met with the pastors in FCT and directed that the guidelines be strictly adhered to”
The Task-team Chairman said, “the church had truly proved itself to be the light and salt of the world as christ commanded in Mathew Chapter 5 verse 13 to 17.”
The team was also at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja where it met with Bishop Anselm Umoren.
Attah commended the Catholic Church, Maitama for opening a registry of members as parts of efforts to ensure contact tracing should anyone come down with Covid-19.
On his part, the Bishop said, “the Catholic Church across the Federation would always abide by what is good for its members and citizens of the country”.
The MInister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has hinted that the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria have evaluated only four of the antibody-based test kits in Nigeria
and all four failed the validation tests.
While adding that, no antigen test kits has yet been evaluated. This means that results obtained from these tests are not tenable for diagnostics, being deficient in sensitivity and specificity and are likely to give false results and mislead people.
He further stated that, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) certified laboratories in Nigeria uses WHO recognized PCR testing methods which give reliable result. Though expensive, this option is right and we have 30 laboratories deployed, with the aim of establishing at least one laboratory in every state.
Ehanire gave this hint on Thursday at the Presidential Taskforce briefing on Covid-19, saying, Nigeria currently has a total of 11,166 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 35 States and FCT, of which 3,329 have been treated successfully and discharged, while we have sadly recorded 315 deaths.
He further stated that , the daily epidemic curve of confirmed cases shows a consistently rising trajectory with corresponding increase in fatalities, but nothing comparable with what is observed in some foreign countries. To rest on our oars for that reason, would be a serious mistake.
According to him;” Covid is real and we have explained that the increase in cases is due to improving testing capacity and of activities of other response pillars, such as surveillance, community mobilization, coordination, contact tracing improved awareness, the demographics and other factors.
“The team deployed to Lagos and Ogun States, led by the ED of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal, has returned, with optimism about having gained a better insight into state-specific challenges and gaps. They had audience with the Executive Governors,visited the State EOCs and exchanged ideas with the State Health teams. A full report of findings will be ready next week.
“The Federal Ministry of Health team to Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa Bornu, Katsina, Gombe will submit their final report tomorrow. Preliminary reports show that the goals of the intervention were met”, explained.
Ehanire stressed that, “On Tuesday June 2nd, I had the privilege of chairing a virtual meeting of the Ecowas covid-19 Ministerial Coordination Committee on Health, hosted by the West African Health Organization WAHO and attended by 15 Ecowas Ministers of Health or their representatives. This is one of three Committees, the others being on Finance and Transport, set up to facilitate the work of the Ecowas covid-19 response champion, H.E President Muhamadu Buhari, who was elected into this role on April 23, 2020, at a virtual meeting of Ecowas Heads of State and Governments. The meeting compared notes, discussed matters of regional cooperation and collaboration around the covid-19 strategy and response, border-related challenges on movement of people and goods when borders are reopened. WAHO & Nigeria are presently working together on a cost-sharing plan for a common air transport plane to convey covid-19 supplies of WAHO and Nigeria from Beijing to Abuja.
He continued: ” I also had the honour of presenting the statement of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari at a virtual Global Vaccine Summit this afternoon, hosted by UK Prime Minister Mr. Boris Johnson, the purpose of which, was to mark 20 years since GAVI was founded, and also to raise funds to support its activities.
“Just as we continue to engage States, we shall continue to engage community, religious and traditional leaders for sustained messaging to citizens, on the importance of adhering to health advisories, to combat community spread. I again emphasize that much at this stage depends on a trust-based partnership between government and the people, to faithfully obey the rules on covid-19 laid down for our own good”, the minister buttresed.
Ehanire hinted that, support to States will be tailored to challenges and strengths of State health systems. The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency is discussing options and guidelines of supervised out-of-hospital isolation and care with some States, which is either home-based care or based in communal space, like school dormitories, since schools are presently closed down.
As we continue to engage states on scaling up sample collection and testing capacity all over Nigeria, we also continue to urge healthcare workers to ensure they are properly protected with the appropriate PPE’s and have a high index of suspicion when treating patients.
He, however, urged Nigerians to wear your face mask at all times in the public, or even inside your house, if you are not sure of the COVID-19 status of people you live with. Observe respiratory hygiene, wash hands regularly, use sanitizers and observe physical distancing.
The MInister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire hinted that the Federal Government is working with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) to finalize plans on engagement of existing community volunteers and agents to conduct house to house sensitization on COVID-19.
This, he said will be at community level, especially in high burden Local Government areas of Nigeria, since about 20 LGAs contribute nearly 60% of our COVID-19 positive cases.
He made this known at the Presidential Taskforce briefing on Covid-19 o. Tuesday in Abuja.
He further stated that, the expanding laboratory and testing capacity all over Nigeria and growing community transmission rate both contribute to the increase in the number of covid-19 positives we are observing in recent days.
According to him, “We have nevertheless not reached our testing targets as yet and therefore ask all persons who fit the case definition of fever, cough sore throat, loss of sense of smell or taste to first use a mask or face covering and find the nearest testing Center.Those testing positive should report to the nearest treatment facility in the interest of self preservation. We shall include it in our social mobilization and community engagement messaging.
“Nigeria currently has a total of 10,578 confirmed CCOVID-19 cases in 35 States and FCT, of which 3,122 have been treated successfully and released, while we have sadly recorded 299 deaths. The COVID-19 burden is, as we know not evenly distributed within the country, with Kano and Lagos bearing the highest burden. A team from the FMoH, led by the ED of NPHCDA and comprising doctors from Departments of Family Health, Hospital Services and Public Health and NCDC, is in Lagos on an appraisal visit, during which a situation analysis will be conducted. The team will also visit the contiguous Ogun State on the same mission. The visits are in continuation of similar useful initiatives in the past to Kano, Katsina Sokoto, Jigawa, Gombe, and Borno, to share experience and ideas, align strategy and support each other.
He continued: “We continue to advocate for states to strengthen their response activities and have begun a program to strengthen the capacity of all Federal Health Institutions in Nigeria to deal with COVID-19 challenges in their States by additional training, supplies and equipment. Federal Medical Center Lokoja and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital will be prioritized for deployment of Gene Xpert machines as soon as the test kits are validated by the Medical Laboratory Science Council, so that citizens in Kogi and Cross River State, among others, will no longer have shortage of opportunity to be tested. Our observation is that states are at varying levels of readiness and it is important to re-strategize to meet all citizens at their points of need. COVID-19 is long since a global phenomenon affecting nearly all parts of the world. All nations are working together and I urge all State authorities in Nigeria to accept the reality and also work with each other and Federal Government, and play their part in the strategy to keep the people safe. This includes the decentralization that requires making a minimum of 300 Isolation beds ready, so that the national health system does not run out of COVID-19 bed spaces. As the President has advised, it is best to be fully prepared even if you didn’t have to use it. In this regard, the Federal Ministry of Health stands ready to support all States in their efforts to build resilient and responsive systems for citizens in their States. The FCT, for example, is no longer under bed space pressure, having been well supported with assets to meet all levels of care, security and needs”, he explained.
Ehanire added that there will therefore be no reason for a COVID-19 positive person to be outside a designated Isolation and Treatment centre, especially with the ThisDay Dome Isolation centre ready to take cases. It will be headed in the introductory phase by the Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, one of the most experienced virus disease hospitals in Nigeria. The FCT managed Idu covid treatment centre with 500 beds is also ready.
They have conducted an analysis of Health Care Worker Infections and identified critical areas for targeted intervention, to include continuous updates and retraining. More than 13,000 health workers have been trained, which will result in reduced rate of infection, especially in the line of duty. We are collaborating with States to cascade the training to lower cadre workers, he stated.
His words: “A few weeks ago, I announced that Nigeria will participate in COVID-19 drug trial, which the WHO was leading but partly suspended. After consultation with top Nigerian scientists of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee, I am advised that Nigeria has something to add to the body of knowledge around these trials. I have therefore approved continuation of the trial, as recommended, under strong precautionary conditions to be built into it. The Leadership of the Ministry also had the first briefing with the Ministerial Advisory Panel of Experts yesterday, led by foremost virologist, Prof. Tomori, and received a series of very useful advisories that will be discussed and shared with Heads of Agencies and Departments of the Ministry”
He, however, advised that, as we move into the next phase of easing of the lockdown, I urgently call on all, to take responsibility for ensuring that we actively play our role in ensuring that COVID-19 does not spike or bounce up, as has been observed in many countries where lockdown was relaxed. It is important to bear in mind that this phase, more than the lockdown itself, is in the hands of the people, more than in the hand of government. We must fight the spread of the disease by adhering more strictly than ever, to the various social guidelines which have been announced, published and publicized.
He also urged Nigerians to wear their face mask in the public, once you leave your house, or even inside your house, if you are not sure of the COVID-19 status of people you live with. Wear your mask on your face, not under your chin; it has no value under your chin. Be very sensitive about respiratory hygiene, wash hands regularly, use sanitizers and observe physical distancing. Open your windows to let in fresh air when
Muktar Galadima, Director of Development Control, FCTA.
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA ) has vowed to prosecute all city developers who have continued to fell purpose trees illegally, this is as the United Nations ( UN ) mark this year’s Environment Day, with symbolic tree planting campaign.
This was as a joint team of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and Department of Development Control, on Friday arrested a developer at Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, for destroying six trees around its project site.
The Director, Department of Development Control, Murktar Galadima, said the arrested developer used night periods to illegally fell purpose trees, also deviated from the approved plan for the project.
Galadima stated that the developer and others who destroy trees planted on Abuja streets to protect the city shall be prosecuted in accordance with extant laws.
He also hinted that the Architect handling the building project, who encouraged the destruction of the trees, has been reported to the Architect Registration Council for appropriate disciplinary actions for unprofessional conducts.
According to him, ” We have just been told that some people are cutting trees in the night, the owners of this building obviously are cutting the trees, because they want more visibility for their commercial building. Evidently, we have seen six tree stumps not yet removed.
” We are going to use FCT Tree Presevation Order, and going by the Environmental Act to prosecute them. We have also marked the building under construction, because they have converted the parking lots to shops, despite our repeated service of ” stop work ” notice.
He continued: ” We have also sent a complaint letter to the Architect Registration Council, to take actions against the Architect who is handling the project, for deviating from the approved plan”.
Also speaking, the Director AEPB, Baba Lawal, stated the Administration was pained by the destruction of the trees, because they were planted with public funds and nurtured over a ten year period, for the purpose of protecting the environment.
Adding that ” this developer who is constructing this monumental building on this junction, has deliberately cut these trees planted more than 10 years ago.
” These felled trees where planted with public funds and nurtured to help protect the environment, but the developers here decided to cut down street trees planted to cool the city”.
So far, I have been blessed with three awesome daughters. As a young father whose means of livelihood is hinged on knowing of or writing on activities of humans including rape and abuse of women and female children in different ways, you should be able to feel the weight of my fears each time I hear of rape cases. But even before I was a father, I have been an eldest brother to five beautiful girls, some of them are mothers now.
Since the reports of recent cases of rape and murder of rape victims broke, a lot of people have been weighing in according to how their understanding and in most cases, emotions direct. There are those who have tried to explain the “why” of rape. The reasons go from reasonable to damn stupid! But hey, it’s okay. There are those, especially women, who in their attempt to make a case, have taken steps far away from sense by saying things like ‘All men are rapists’. For I don’t know how else they mean when they say no man should dispute the earlier assertion with ‘not all men’. Well, the error in that needs no pointing out and any attempt to argue that would amount to needless distraction from the main issue. So if it helps them sleep at night, by all means, they can have it so.
Again, there are the census officers who have been monitoring walls of their male friends who haven’t said anything concerning the trending rape issues. These group have gone ahead to imply that silence (on social media) from such male friends is tacit support or apparent guilt! Really? I’ll say no more on this. Then of course, there are the ‘trendsters’ who have been very vocal with the “Say No To Rape” campaign. I respect the genuine concern of this group. They, like any other normal human being want an end to this irrational, dehumanising behaviour of rape in our homes. I mean who in his right senses wouldn’t say “No” to rape? But here is my reservation with the campaign and the people it is targeted at. It is not clearly known who the campaign is addressing and so it sounds vague and hollow.
Are we asking a determined rapist, a serial rapist and or a potential rapist to say no to the act? Doest it make sense? A rapist, even one with the faintest inclination towards rape has lost or closed the faculties that makes him see the wrong in the act. So it amounts to sheer waste of valuable time singing “Say No To Rape” to such wastes. In my opinion, we should promote the campaign that will say NO to Rapists! So “Say No To Rapists”.
In our communities there are people who have been caught in the act. Some have made it to prison and are out while many more are yet to be reported even though they are known to and are very close to their victims. Many women and young girls are bearers of scars of abuse and molestation. To some, they’d rather just let it pass than speak out. Others are constrained by fear of consequences of speaking out. Either way, many rapists get away because of the prevailing atmosphere of shame or fear of being known as victims of rape or abuse.
What our campaigns should aim at is lifting the burden of shame and fear off the victim and dumping all of it and more on the perpetrator. This is where “Say No To Rapists” will be effective. As pointed out earlier, once a rapist is identified, he should be rejected by all and all. Religious houses must stop them from coming near, all employers must reject them. They should be barred from all possible appointments or election for life! All families must severe ties with them- even if they were married to their daughter such marriage should end without further argument. The society within which they lived and committed the heinous crime must visit the books of old but effective custom of ostracism – banish them from amongst you.
All these should be backed by law. In this direction, efforts should be made to get our elected representatives to make sure such a law comes into effect as a matter of public urgency. I am aware that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP with the push of some NGOs now have in place a “Sex Offenders Register” dedicated to naming and shaming all shades of sex offenders. This can serve as a foundation to build on.
Let’s make that register more accessible to the public. Make it an App that people can have easily. Like I can just for the fun of it say let me check out the maggots among us and with a couple clicks, I am treated to Ward by ward, Local government by LG and State by State clear faces and details of them all. With this, there will be more fear on the part of the perpetrator than would be on the victim.
We can’t have a society that is structured to easily and flimsily blame the victim of rape and expect “Say No To Rape” to work. No, we must say No to rapists in the most NO of ways to such an extent that even if we say ‘Yes to Rape’ there would be no rapist in sight.
