There are over 9,000 licensed filling stations across the country that are fit for the co-location of facilities that dispense autogas fuel, the Federal Government has said.
It disclosed this in a communique issued by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology at the end of the stakeholders’ engagement forum on the provision of technical manpower and facility for the development and promotion of autogas as transportation fuel in Nigeria.
The conference, with the theme, ‘Autogas as an alternative fuel for transportation in Nigeria’, showed that there was a need for alternative options for transportation fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Compressed Natural Gas known as autogas, which should become widely used and accepted as an alternative automotive fuel.
The communique stated that Nigeria gas reserves were about 209 trillion cubic feet, adding that gas production was between 8.15 – 8.35 billion standard cubic feet/day, which was more than enough for the nation.
Providing updates on the implementation status of the autogas programme, the NITT said, “There are over 9,000 licensed retail outlets classified fit-for-purpose for co-location of autogas fuel nationwide.
“There are 50 conversion centres currently upgrading for mass conversion and training of technicians in the country. Auto assemblers are already producing fit-for-purpose dual-fuel vehicles in the country.
“The Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive programme support and buy-in. The government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles.”
It said the government was supporting the optimal availability of all autogas fuel streams, and that the adoption of autogas technology was good for Nigeria in the short and long term.
The communique stated that the forum recommended that the Federal Ministry of Transportation should collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the private sector for research, development, and deployment of autogas fuel in Nigeria.
It said the Federal Government should provide incentives to motorists, especially in the public transport and road freights sub-sectors for the conversion kits acquisition as a way of cushioning fuel subsidy removal.
Wole Olanipekun, counsel to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, has asked the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to dismiss the petition of Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP).
Olanipekun in his final written address against the petition of Obi and LP, described the arguments and testimonies of their witnesses as “frivolous, bogus and based on hearsay”.
On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu secured a total of 8,794,726 votes.
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of LP was next with 6,101,533 votes.
On March 20, Obi and LP filed a petition before the court, seeking nullification of the poll on grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Olanipekun in his final written address dated July 14 asked the tribunal to bar Obi from contesting in another election if the court voids the February 25 poll.
He said Obi’s name was not in the Labour Party membership register when he contested the election, noting that Obi was still part of the PDP.
“Obi is constitutionally barred from participating in any election, in the very unlikely event that the election of 25th February 2023 is voided, as the only candidates constitutionally prescribed to contest any subsequent election shall be Tinubu and the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar who came second, by scoring the next majority of votes in the highest number of States (19 States), to the 1st petitioner’s 16 States, and also coming second by plurality of votes, having scored 6,984,520, far and above 1st petitioner’s 6,101,533 votes,” Olanipekun said.
In his conclusion, Olanipekun said the presentation of the petition itself and the evidence presented glaringly shows it is a crass abuse of the court process.
“Based on the arguments and submissions contained in this address, we urge this Honourable court to dismiss this petition as totally lacking in merit, substance and bona fide,” he said.
“It has been glaringly shown and demonstrated by the presentation of the petition itself and the evidence presented by the petitioners, including the evidence of PW12, that the petition itself is not only frivolous but also amounts to a crass abuse of the process of the court.”
The educational pursuit of a Nigerian undergraduate of a Cyprus university may have abruptly ended after illicit drug was found in his luggage.
The 19-year-old Benjamin Daberechi who hails from Enugu State had in his luggage 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine which he deceitfully
concealed in a crayfish embellished nylon.
The teenage suspect was intercepted on July 12, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
A statement by the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi noted that Daberechi was enroute to Europe before he was intercepted during an outward clearance of passengers.
In another development, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on July 11, also intercepted a 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis.
The package was concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicle parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.
Babafemi noted that based on intelligence, the agency had requested a 100 percent examination of the container which had arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on June 14.
“A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts,” the agency said in the statement.
Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialised in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra State.
The arrest followed an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.
While commending the officers and men of the agency, the Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa charged them to remain vigilant and execute their job thoroughly.
The Course 35 Intakes, Nigerian Defence Academy comprising about 216 officers of the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Airforce and a current Senator, on Saturday imotalized a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash in Kaduna, as well as the 21st Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Both were honoured at a grand reception in Abuja to mark the flying out/retirement of Amao from service following appointment of new service chiefs and CDS by President Bola Tinubu recently.
This is just as President of the Course, Air Commodore Festus Golit (Rtd) disclosed that under Air Marshal Amao and his fellow service chiefs, “certain issues like inter- service rivalry which hiltherto hampered harmonious operational collaboration and effectiveness were resolved in synergy became a thing of the past”
He added that “Resultantly, NAF Pilots engaged in fighting Counter-Terrorism operations and other security challenges, attended to ground forces at the press of a button..
While late Lt. General Atrahiru, represented by his wife, Mrs Fatty Attahiru recieved a post humus portrait from the 35 Regular Course Foundation, Amao was honoured with a similar portrait for taking the NAF to a new level and changing the tide in the war against terrorism and insurgency.
Speaking at the occasion, Air Marshal Amao thanked his course mates for their consistent support even while he was in office prosecuting the war against the myriads of security challenges plaguing the country.
Recalling that many of their course mates including late Lt. Gen Atrahiru and late Major Gen. Uzamere paid the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, Amao commended the course mates come standing firm in looking out for each other and on their welbeing.
“On behalf of my family and friends, I want to appreciate each and everyone of you, course mates for your support, prayers and standing with me during the tough times of the challenges we confronted in tackling challenges of insecurity.
He apologized to all those he could not pick their calls or reply their text messages owning to exigencies of duties and other assignments noting that he did his best to make them proud in every assignment he was given.
In his remarks, President of 35 Regular Course foundation, Air Cdre Emmanuel Festus Golit, President 35 RC Foundation, said the immediate past Chief of the Air Staff, who is also the Patron of 35 RC Foundation was the last man standing of the course in the Service of our Fatherland in the Military.
“With Joy and gladness in our hearts, we wish to highlight that Air Marshal IO Amao, who once served as Air Component Commander, Operation Lafia Dole, was also AOC Tactical Air Command. He was also Chief of Training and Operations NAF Headquarters and Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre. These exposures and experience garnered in these appointments among others, no doubt contributed immensely to his outstanding performance as the 21st Chief of the Air Staff.
“Upon his assumption of office, the Operational, Logistics, Administrative and other key specialize areas of the Nigerian Air Force, witnessed improved consolidation of the previous visions of his predecessors.
Echoing the many successes recorded by Air Marshal Amao, some of which were the purchase and induction of new Aircraft types, Drones and other equipment for the Nigerian Air Force by the Federal Government, Golit said “The NAF under the focused and highly professional leadership of Air Marshal IO Amao witnessed renewed vigour from NAF personnel.
“Additionally, certain issues like inter- service rivalry which hiltherto hampered harmonious operational collaboration and effectiveness were resolved in synergy became a thing of the past. Resultantly, NAF Pilots engaged in fighting Counter-Terrorism operations and other security challenges attended to ground forces at the press of a button..
“Equally, there was improved mission focused intelligence gathering during his stewardship of the NAF, which many said helped in no small measure in targeting enclaves and strongholds of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements located in various parts of the country. One of his last operation as CAS was the attack on terrorists who were gathering somewhere at the Mambila area. Those were the kind of strikes recorded regularly by the NAF during his tenure as CAS.
“In terms of infrastructural development, he improved significantly on what his predecessors, earlier did, laying emphasis on Barrack renovations and establishment of Units to meet NAF operational gaps.
“It is therefore heartwarming to report that most NAF Personnel who spoke about Air Marshal Amao’s leadership of the NAF praised his welfare oriented and compassionate pedigree. This essential attribute boosted the morale of all NAF personnel. A similar report is shared by many NAF veterans across board whose medical bills and welfare issues were attended to with utmost compassion and empathy.
“Accordingly, we the members of 35 RC Foundation and our spouses are very pleased to celebrate Air Marshal IO Amao (Rtd) for a highly successful tour of duty in the Nigerian Air Force spanning 40 years and as the 21st Chief of the Air Staff.
Dignitaries at the occasion include Retired AVM, Senator Bali representing Plstesu South Senatorial Zone, Lt. Gen Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), former Chief of Army Staff, Major General JS Malu (Rtd) who is Chairman, Board of Trustees.
[Vanguard]
- SERAP calls for the cancellation of the plan to spend N40 billion on luxury cars for members and N70 billion as “palliatives” for new members of the National Assembly.
- SERAP criticizes the increase in the National Assembly budget, arguing that it violates fiduciary duties and neglects the welfare of over 137 million poor Nigerians affected by the removal of fuel subsidies.
- SERAP threatens legal action if the requested measures are not taken within seven days, stating that the proposed spending is a breach of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas “to drop the scandalous plan to spend N40 billion on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials, and N70 billion as ‘palliatives’ for new members.”
The advocacy group has urged the National Assembly leaders to repeal the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act to reduce the budget for the National Assembly by N110 billion, reflect the current economic realities in the country, and address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on the over 137 million poor Nigerians.
SERAP also urged them to “request President Bola Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, to redirect the N110 billion to address the situation of the over 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, for the approval of the National Assembly.”
This disclosure is contained in a letter dated July 15, 2023, and signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, where he noted that this travesty and apparent conflicts of interest and self-dealing by members of the National Assembly must stop.
According to reports;
- “While N70 billion ‘support allowance’ is budgeted for 306 new lawmakers, only N500 billion worth of palliatives is budgeted for 12 million poor Nigerians.
- N40 billion is also allocated to buy 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials.”
SEARP to sue NASS within 7 days if.
SERAP said it was a fundamental breach of their fiduciary duties for members of the National Assembly to arbitrarily increase their budget and to use the budget as a tool to satisfy the lifestyle of lawmakers.
The letter from SERAP partly reads,
- “It is a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office for members of the National Assembly to unjustifiably increase their budget at a time when over 137 million poor Nigerians are living in extreme poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidy.
- “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of this letter’s receipt and/or publication. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest.
- “Rather than exercising their constitutional and oversight functions to pursue the public interest by considering bills to improve the conditions of the over 137 million poor Nigerians who are facing the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy, the lawmakers seem to be looking after themselves.
- “According to reports, no fewer than 107 units of the 2023 model of the Toyota Landcruiser and 358 units of the 2023 model of Toyota Prado would be bought for the use of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives respectively.
- “The planned purchase is different from the official bulletproof vehicles expected to be purchased for the four presiding officers of the National Assembly.”
N110 billion different from already provided N281 billion
It said;
- “The proposed spending of N110 billion by members of the National Assembly is apparently on top of the N281 billion already provided for the lawmakers in the 2023 National Assembly budget. The proposed spending is also different from the N30.17 billion budgeted for the ‘inauguration expenses’ for new members.
- “SERAP is concerned that the budget for the National Assembly may further be increased as members are reportedly demanding an upward review of their salaries and allowances purportedly to offset the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.
- “Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
- “Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), the National Assembly has the obligations to ‘harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy’, and to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen.
- “Section 18 of the Constitution of Nigeria provides among others that: ‘Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.
- Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end, Government shall provide (a) free, compulsory, and universal primary education.
- “The proposed spending of N110 billion by members of the National Assembly is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.
- “Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry.
- “Cutting the N110 billion from the budget of the National Assembly would be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office, and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution, as it would promote efficient, honest, and legal spending of public money.
- “Under international law, states are required to progressively implement socio-economic rights including the right to quality education commensurate with the level of resources available.
- Gross misallocation of resources to the detriment of the enjoyment of the right to quality education can constitute a human rights violation.”
[Nairametrics]
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergence over the sit-at-home order in the Southeast.
Ohanaeze said declaring a state of emergency would send a strong signal to the Southeast governors, who would now be compelled to find a lasting solution to the order.
DAILY POST recalls that a Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, had severally declared sit-at-homes in the Southeast.
The order by Ekpa had aggravated the crisis in the Southeast, a situation that had led to an attempt to cripple the economic activities of the region.
Reacting, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the body would not allow Ekpa to destroy the economic activities of the Southeast.
Speaking with DAILY POST, Isiguzoro said: “A desperate moment needs desperate action. We want to warn again that Ohanaeze will not fold its arms and allow miscreants to destroy economic activities in the Southeast.
“If possible, where this sit-at-home is happening should be declared a state of emergency. This is what Tinubu would do that will make the Southeast governors sit up and find a lasting solution to the problem.
“Ekpa has declared a second Biafra War, which Igbos are not ready to fight. Igbos are supporting Tinubu and would assist in ensuring that this rebellion is squashed.
“Ekpa’s action is an attempt to divide Igbos, and we wonder why Peter Obi and the rest are not talking. We hope this is not a conspiracy against the president.”
[DailyPost]
The Ogun State Government has joined its counterparts across the world to commemorate the International Day of Cooperatives, applauding the immense contributions of Cooperative Societies to the socio-economic development and prosperity of the State.
The Governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the theme of this year’s celebration “Cooperative: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development” spoke to the need for all hands to be on deck to fast track the process of reversing the negative effects of fuel subsidy removal on the economy and people’s livelihoods.
The governor stated this at Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, while addressing members of the Cooperative societies in commemorating of their International Day of Cooperative.
He said, “In recognition of the active roles played by Cooperative Societies in our economy, particularly in the area of promoting brotherhood, good neighbourliness, economic freedom and self-realisation, our government has facilitated series of programmes aimed at encouraging more people to imbibe the spirit of cooperation and be active participants in both formal and informal sectors of our economy”.
Abiodun, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo stated that to ease the pains of fuel subsidy removal, the present administration would soon roll out a series of measures to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and palliative to cushion the effect.
He enjoined individuals and societies in the State to embrace best practices in the management of their affairs and deepen collaboration with the State government to take full advantage of opportunities to be provided in the critical sectors, including agriculture.
In his address, the President, Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited (OGSCOFED), Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye said that the State's Cooperative societies provided credits facilities for more than twenty six percent (26%) of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State.
He said that International Cooperative Day was aimed at strengthening and improving the cordial relationship between cooperative and other key players in the country, noting that this year's event celebrated branch by branch to create awareness at local base, in oder to send signal to the local administrator for postive contribution.
He said "Cooperative are businesses owned and run by people who share a common goal, and have a global impact and a human touch, they support sustainable development by giving people the opportunity to access financial services and earn a decent income".
In his goodwill message, the President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Head of Cooperative Movement in Nigeria, High Chief Tajudeen Adeola said that this day was to appreciate and celebrate the achievement of Cooperatives in Nigeria, saying that it was imperative to advocate for more funds for the cooperators in the country.
He implore the state government to disburse funds for the cooperatives in the state, so as to make them more active in the comity of Cooperative society in the country.
"Ogun state Cooperative society is second in Nigeria after Lagos, especially in terms of contributions, disbursement and active participation, we are imploring the state government to disburse more funds for the Cooperative societies in Ogun, so as to remain active and encourage more contributors and societies to be involved", Ayeola said.
Also, South-West Cooperative Leader, President Odua Cooperative Conglomerate, Elder Felix Ajibode, appreciated the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his moral and financial support towards the Cooperative society in the state.
He noted that the State's Cooperative societies was always known for the good and best in term of contributions, noting that they should sustain the temple for the growth and development of the entire cooperative societies in the country.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative, Alhaji Kolawole Ogunlana, noted that the Cooperative society contributed immensly, meaningfully to the growth and development of the socio-economic of the country.
He said that the state government would continue to contribute its quota to the growth and development of the Cooperative in order to remain active, noting that Cooperative was engine room to both micro and medium-scale enterprises of any society.
The decision by the Federal Government to pay N8,000 to about 12 million households in a bid to mitigate the effect of the fuel subsidy removal is generating mixed reactions.
DAILY POST recalls that the president, on Thursday, while seeking the approval of the National Assembly to borrow $800million from the World Bank, revealed the plan of his administration to transfer N8,000 monthly to 12 million low-income households for six months.
In a letter read at the upper chamber by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, Tinubu noted that the money would be transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ accounts.
According to the president, the monies are expected to “stimulate economic activities in the informal sector” and improve the living in the beneficiaries’ households.
“In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets.
“It is expected that the programme will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector and improve nutrition, health, education, and human capital development of beneficiaries’ households,” the letter read in part.
The move was sequel to the astronomical rise in prices of essential goods and services, including food items, transportation fare, and others, occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
Recall that the president had during his inaugural speech on May 29, declared that the government can no longer sustain the payment of subsidy.
Following the announcement, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, approved an upward review in the pump price of the petroleum product nationwide.
The adjustment, which moved the pump price from N194 to as high as N557 in the states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, led to the increase in the price of other products in the market, particularly food items.
A market survey conducted by DAILY POST on Saturday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, revealed that Nigerians are presently frustrated due to the increase in prices of staple food items.
It was observed that a bag of Garri which was hitherto sold for N8,000, is now selling for N22,000. Some of the sellers attributed the increase in food prices to the cost of transportation, which according to them, affected their purchasing power.
Similarly, a bag of Nigerian rice previously sold for between N15,000 and N20,000 is presently sold for N35,000, while a bag of foreign rice that was sold for N30,000 now goes for N44,000 and above.
In a move to lessen the frustration, President Tinubu on Thursday, got the approval of the National Assembly to borrow $800 million from the World Bank
From the $800 million, 12 million vulnerable Nigerians, according to the president, would be placed on a monthly stipend of N8,000 per month for six consecutive months as a way of cushioning the effects of subsidy removal on them.
The development has continued to generate controversies as stakeholders expressed pessimism that the proposed N8,000 to 12 million households would only amount to efforts in futility, citing the general economic crisis bedevilling Nigerians.
While some are sceptical on the effectiveness of the program, others are concerned about the value of the N8,000, citing the inflation rocking the country’s economy.
The Head, Media and Communications of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, while reacting to Tinubu’s move, told DAILY POST on Saturday that the decision was a “quick means of settling their election expenses at public expense”.
Onifade also condemned the approval given to President Tinubu by the National Assembly to borrow $800 million, describing the palliative as a ‘scam’ which Nigerians may not benefit from.
According to him, the plan is “coming from the same party that ‘spent’ billions of Naira on school feeding while children were home during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“It is just a quick means of settling their election expenses. Given that poor Nigerians may end up not benefitting from the scam, we need not incur further debt for that sinister purpose”.
Similarly, the President General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem said it is impossible for N8,000 to mitigate the hardship imposed on Nigerians by the subsidy removal.
According to Ibem, N8,000 is not enough to make a pot of soup for a family of three, citing the sudden rise in the price of food items since the subsidy was removed.
In a chat with DAILY POST on Saturday, Ibem said the proposed palliative is not different from what the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management did when Sadiya Umar Farouq was the Minister under President Muhammadu Buhari.
He alleged that the “Minister was collecting N500 billion every month from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the same purpose but no household was seen benefiting from the said programme”.
Ibem added that “Nigerians are tired of hearing such programmes. It is a programme that brings hardship and suffering to Nigerians instead of the better life we are being told it is meant for.
“We want programmes that will have direct bearing on the people and not what will lead Nigerians into more suffering and abject poverty as being experienced today.
“Nigerians are not finding it easy to feed, pay transport fares and take care of other necessities as the prices of goods and services have skyrocketed because of the increased cost of fuel, diesel and other petroleum products. Nigerians are sick and tired of being deceived by those in power”.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, also kicked against the plan, describing the proposed N8,000 as a “drop of water in an ocean.”
The spokesperson of the union, Benson Upah told DAILY POST on Saturday that the N8,000 is not enough, citing the level of inflation that has relatively crippled the country’s economy.
He said, “The hardship being experienced in the country right now is so much that when you single out just 12 million people, it will be like a drop of water in the ocean. It is obviously not enough.
“Looking at the inflation that has jumped from 16.9 to 22 per cent all within the period of one month, what will N8,000 do for the people?
“Even before the fuel subsidy was removed, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics had said that one hundred and thirty-six million Nigerians were dimensionally poor.
“After the removal of the subsidy, the World Bank said an additional one hundred million Nigerians are going to be brought into poverty. The only people that are going to be comfortable, you can count them on your finger tips.”
Asked to give an update on the negotiation between the Federal Government and the union over the fuel subsidy removal, the NLC spokesperson said, “Some meetings have been held and the process is on.
“You are aware that we have been fighting for Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, which may crash down the cost of transportation.
“We have also proposed a number of interventions, we have said they should allow the Nigerian refineries to work. The government should fix them and allow it to function.
“We have also talked about several needs the government should meet to cushion the effect of this subsidy removal. To us, what the government is doing or planning to do are parts of what we have demanded”.
However, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Mr Thomas Terlumun appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, stressing that the president will roll out other palliatives that would cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
He said, “Nigerians are just too quick to react to issues. All these controversies are coming from the opposition. The president didn’t say the palliative would stop at that N8,000; obviously, there are others coming.
“I learnt that the Innoson vehicle has been contracted to produce buses that may reduce the cost of transportation for civil servants. Is that not palliative?
“All I know is that President Tinubu means well for Nigerians and we need to be patient. Already, the economy is bad and we can’t blame him for it, he also met it like that.
“You can destroy a building in a few hours but it will take you several months to repair it. We just need to be patient and wait for what the administration has to offer.”
[DailyPost]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been taken to a local hospital after feeling dizzy, his office said, adding that it appeared he was suffering from dehydration as the Middle East country experiences a heat wave.
"Yesterday, I spent the day with my wife in the Sea of Galilee, in the sun, without a hat, with no water," a smiling Netanyahu shared from the hospital Saturday. "It's not a good idea."
The Prime Minister said that he had taken a holiday Friday with his family and temperatures were hitting 38 Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit).
The prime minister's office said in a press release that the 73-year-old prime minister complained of mild dizziness and was admitted to the Sheba Medical Center emergency room on the recommendation of his personal doctor, Dr. Zvi Berkowitz.
The prime minister's office said that Netanyahu's wife Sara and his son, Avner, are with him.
The office said that initial tests came out as "normal, and no findings were found," adding that the initial assessment was dehydration.
"On the recommendation of the doctors, the prime minister continues to undergo additional routine tests," the prime minister's office said in a statement
His office later said Netanyahu would stay at the hospital overnight for observation.
Israel is currently in the midst of a fierce heat wave, with temperatures in the mid-30s degrees Celsius, mid-90s in Fahrenheit.
"I have only one request for you - we're in the midst of a heat wave here in Israel; spend less time in the sun, drink more water, and may we all have a good week," the Prime Minister recommended.
Israel's longest-serving leader thanked the "fantastic" medical team caring for him as he recovers, assuring his constituents that he feels "very good."
"Praise the Lord, I feel very good," Netanyahu added in his video message.
Israel's head of the opposition and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid wished Netanyahu a "complete recovery" in a translated Twitter post.
[FoxNews]
Ben Wallace has confirmed he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and will not seek re-election as an MP after four years as Defence Secretary.
He told The Sunday Times he will stand down but ruled out leaving "prematurely" and triggering another by-election for the Conservatives to battle.
Mr Wallace, who survived three prime ministers as Defence Secretary, played a key role in the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson.
His Wyre and Preston North constituency will disappear at the next election after boundary changes and he said he would not seek a new seat.
"I went into politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
"That’s 24 years. I’ve spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed," he told the paper.
Mr Wallace had expressed an interest in standing for the role of Nato secretary-general before it was announced the current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, had been given another year in charge.
The minister told The Economist there were a "lot of unresolved issues" in the military alliance and "it’s not going to happen," and he later downplayed the prospect of a future bid to run the organisation.
Last week, the Prime Minister shut down comments from Mr Wallace in which he suggested Ukraine should show "gratitude" for the military support it has been given.
Mr Wallace had made the remark after the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, branded it "absurd" for Nato to insist there were still conditions for his nation to meet before it can gain membership once the war with Russia is over.
Mr Zelensky later said: "I believe that we were always grateful to the United Kingdom.
"I don’t know what he meant and how else we should be grateful."
He took over from Penny Mordaunt as Defence Secretary in 2019, his former military career making him well-liked with many serving personnel.
Mr Wallace attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army's Scots Guards at the age of 20.
During the 1990s, served in Northern Ireland, Germany, Cyprus and Central America.
In 1992, he was mentioned in dispatches.
Having entered politics as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, he was elected to the UK Houses of Parliament in 2005.
[Forces.net]
More...
President Bola Tinubu has admonished African leaders to respect democracy, rule of law, and ensure political stability.
He also urged African military institutions and states to recognize and respect the need for democratic renewal.
He made the assertions on Saturday in his statement at a high-level event organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the margins of the Fifth Mid-Year African Union (AU) Coordination Meeting, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Tinubu, who is also the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said coups d’état should be discouraged in the continent, especially in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity, and climate change.
In the statement, presented on his behalf by Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tinubu said it was regrettable that West Africa, despite its numerous instruments and mechanisms for promoting democracy and good governance, is leading other regions in the use of unconstitutional means to change governments.
He warned that the ugly trend of the military straying into the political arena is causing threats to peace, security, and stability, and engendering poverty, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
A statement issued by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President (Special Duties, Communications and Strategy) quoted the President as saying: ”This ugly trend has only succeeded in threatening the peace, security and stability of the sub-region and by extension the African continent, leaving in its trail poverty, internally-displaced persons and humanitarian crisis. In the same vein, this ugly trend has also led to food shortages and escalated health challenges.
“We therefore must take deliberate steps to address the root causes of unconstitutional changes and coups d’état in Africa. As a continent, we cannot make progress toward achieving the goals and targets of the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, as well as those of the AU Agenda 2063 for the ‘Africa We Want.’
“Between 2020 and now, Africa has witnessed six successful coups d’état and three unsuccessful attempts. This rise in military takeovers and unconstitutional changes in government disrupts our democratic processes and undermines stability on the continent.
”It is for this reason that I call on all African leaders at all levels to make concerted efforts in respecting the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, in order to ensure political stability on the continent.”
Reiterating that Africa has no intention of regressing on its democratic gains and credentials, as well as its maturing democratic political culture, President Tinubu said: “I call on all Afro-centric supranational organisations, especially the African Union, the various Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, to individually and collectively adopt Protocols on democracy and good governance, and ensure their effective implementation.”
While acknowledging that democracy may present challenges in terms of management and dynamics, President Tinubu reiterated that it is the best form of government for 21st-century Africa.
Drawing a comparison between military rule and democratic regimes, he noted that democracy ensures good governance, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.
Emphasising the need to disincentivize coups d’état, the ECOWAS Chairperson urged the United Nations to take a firm stance against military coups.
“It is my view that while grappling with the challenges caused by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other geostrategic tragedies, including insecurity and climate change amongst others, African leaders must disincentivize coups d’état.
“The United Nations must also stand firm and unyielding in its opposition to military coups,” he said.
He also acknowledged that democracy and development are interconnected in achieving sustainable goals and the African vision, adding that commitment to democratic principles and governance is crucial for long-term peace, security, and economic growth.
As Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President expressed his readiness to work with the UNDP and other development partners to advance the course of democracy on the African continent.
The Nigerian leader thanked UNDP for inviting him to deliver a goodwill message at the event and assured the organization of his commitment to confronting the issue of military coups and promoting democratic renewal in Africa.
“The issue of Military Coups and the need for democratic renewal in Africa is one that I am passionate about and indeed committed, along with my colleagues, to confront and we are prepared to change the narratives,” he said.
He commended the UNDP for launching its flagship report ‘Soldiers and Citizens: Military Coups and the Need for Democratic Renewal in Africa’, stating that the military has no place in the governance of the 21st Century Africa.
Jide Okeke, UNDP Regional Programme Coordinator (Africa), said his organization invited the Nigerian leader after his inspiring message, denouncing military coups, during his inauguration as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on July 9.
He expressed delight that President Tinubu’s presence and participation in the UN high-level event demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to democratic values and stability, reasserting Nigeria’s leadership in Africa and the global community.
He described the President’s message as sending a positive signal to the international community about Nigeria’s commitment to democratic values and stability.
On the UNDP flagship report, the African Regional Coordinator said it is timely in advancing Nigeria’s vision of stability for West Africa and the continent as a whole.
He explained that the report combines empirical data, literature, and personal stories from citizens who have lived through coups, contrasting their experiences with those in countries transitioning to democracy.
The statement also informed that the Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambian Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara, Hanna Tetteh, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, Amb. Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, African Union Commission, delivered their respective remarks at the event.
[Tribune]
From this interview, we learn that Wole Soyinka once enlisted in the army with the aim of going to fight for the freedom of South Africans and Nelson Mandela. However, he deserted on learning he was going to be drafted to defend the Suez Canal…
The life and times of Prof. Wole Soyinka, especially in a piece that attempts to chronicle his acts of bravery, will be incomplete without the familiar story of how he broke into the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation studio in Ibadan during the Western Region’s political crisis in 1965.
Soyinka tersely dismisses the question on that with this:
“I had matured into a period of a people on the rise, on the move – people of dignity who refused that their voices should be stolen, arrogantly and contemptuously. There have been quite a few moments of my existence among people like that… I was one of them, my voice was being stolen. I could not sit down and accept that somebody should steal my voice. I felt at one with the majority of the people.”
Wole Soyinka’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War for which he was sent to prison is even a bigger event in his life without which his life history will be incomplete. Hear him:
“We were more or less a family of artistes at Independence. There was a creative family and that family was being scattered. I was in Stockholm in 1967 for the Scandinavian-African Writers conference. And one of the saddest moments for me was that so many faces were missing from Nigeria – expected but not there: Christopher Okigbo, Chinua Achebe, Gabriel Okara – the Biafrans were missing even in safe Stockholm. The drums of war were no longer muted.
It was the last chance for us to meet and talk about what was now inevitable but could still, just maybe, be averted at the last moment. I returned to Nigeria very sad and I was feeling as if I lost a limb – several limbs in fact. It was like – was this going to be it? We would become enemies confronting each other across the line of fire? There were people who were ready to take up arms – like Christopher Okigbo.
At the time I had already run into Christopher Okigbo – it took place in Brussels – I even recall the name of the hotel – Hotel Koenisburg – purely by accident, and I knew he had come to purchase arms for Biafra. I challenged him and he admitted it. All these fortuitous encounters impressed on me a sense of urgency. Later I had a meeting earlier in London – I mention that in my IBADAN – where we talked about the possibility of going to Biafra on a last-minute mission of intervention. Again, as I disclosed in my memoirs, Aminu Abdullahi who is now dead, actually volunteered to go – this was at the meeting in London.
We hooked up around a place called the Transcription Centre. We didn’t even know which way some of us would go. Would JP consider himself an Easterner or westerner? It was the breakup of a robust circle of creativity. We decided that Aminu should not go because he looked so clearly a northerner. We said, “Look, you won’t even get past the first roadblock.”
Because at that time, there was such bitterness, murderous paranoia, and it was understandable… on account of the pogrom which had taken place earlier…. I went to the conference, my colleagues were not present and when I returned to Nigeria, the first skirmishes had taken place – on the northern border, and I realised that soon, it would be impossible to travel to Biafra. I was restless.
I knew I couldn’t function until I had crossed the lines in search of them. I said, ‘When I get there, I will find Christopher (Okigbo) somewhere’ and then get to Ojukwu. That was the reason why I went, a chance at that last moment that something could be done. Some people continue to narrate that I went across to persuade Ojukwu to renounce the secession. No, I didn’t go to persuade Ojukwu to renounce anything – it was far more complicated.
Some of us still felt that it was still possible to avoid an all-out shooting war. Let me state this clearly that I totally disagree with the philosophy of unity at any cost, a simplistic rendition of that pietistic mantra: United we stand, divided we fall. What infantile nonsense! It has no basis in logic or rationality whatever. Sometimes, not only is it that “small is beautiful” but also “small is perfectible”.
There is nothing – I want to stress this – absolutely nothing morally wrong or pernicious in a people saying – we want our own autonomous unit. It’s a childish notion, something which has been implanted in our brain, to chant or be conditioned by the gospel of: “What white man has put together, let no black man put asunder.”
What kind of nonsense is that? True, I do prefer that we stay together, if only because I don’t like to keep spending time obtaining visas when I want to go see a former next-door neighbour and collaborators. Also, I am partial to existence within a plurality of cultures. It offers a richness of resources, a dynamic of infinite sensibilities. But to say that you must go to war over “unity”? No! Go the civilised way – plebiscite.
Instead we wasted an estimated two million lives through bullets, sickness and starvation – to preserve a European myth? It’s a lack of maturity.
In the interview, Soyinka has a piece of advice for the Abachas. He also appealed to the then President Jonathan Goodluck to delete the name of Abacha from the list of recipients of national honours for the planned centenary celebration:
My advice to young Abacha is “Don’t take on your betters, you are a neophyte. Don’t try to intervene in what you don’t understand. Go and learn from my attitude towards your sister whom I met without any rancour and learn to deal with history in the same way. Above all, don’t promote calumny”.… We must speak candidly.
It is also a symptom of where we are, that the son of a thief, an international thief, so attested, documented, whose crimes are being unveiled every day, should feel entitled to defend the name of his father at the expense of truth. And that is where I wish to end this theme – I repeat my call on President Jonathan to have the moral courage to rescind – I know he won’t do it, but we shall keep saying it at every opportunity – he must find a way to rescind that Centenary Honours List because that it is a disgrace and a shame on this nation.
It makes me embarrassed to call myself a Nigerian; that a sitting president should compile the names of a hundred supposedly worthy people and include that of a loathsome dictator among them. It should have been sufficient, if he wanted to honour the military, he should just have picked one representative of the breed – maybe somebody like Murtala Muhammed.
So that the military don’t complain that they were passed over. But to put Sani Abacha on that list side by side with Chinua Achebe, Emeka Anyaoku, Mike Adenuga etc. etc., is an abomination. That Honours event was an abomination. Jonathan’s act was a symbolic negation, a desecration of everything a number of us have stood for in all our lives. Let that list be discarded and consigned to oblivion to make way for a truly sustainable one. And no amount of trickle-down or newly inventive calumny will stop that call, as long as I choose to carry a document of Nigerian citizenship.”
For those who criticise Soyinka’s writing as being too Eurocentric, too modernist, and of Soyinka himself suffering from Hopkins Disease, Kongi has these for them:
“I write as the Muse dictates, not the critic. I distinguish between censorship and criticism. Censorship is telling a writer you must use this sole ideological prism to view and transmit reality or your art is engaged in social treachery. For me, that is pernicious, intolerably arrogant and fascistic.”
From this interview, we learn that Wole Soyinka once enlisted in the army with the aim of going to fight for the freedom of South Africans and Nelson Mandela. However, he deserted on learning he was going to be drafted to defend the Suez Canal:
“I have been obsessed with South Africa since I was politically conscious. I told you, that was why I entered the military as a student joining the officer corps for a short while. I fled when they were going to pack me to the Suez instead of where I wanted to go – which was South Africa. I packed up my kit, saying “No, I wanted to train for South Africa, not for the Suez. You go and capture a canal on someone’s land, then declare war when he resists, and then you call me up to serve. Remember the Anglo-French invasion? I was called up and I said “No, that was not it”. That was why I left the officer corps.”
On the granting of pardon to Mohammed Abacha by Goodluck Jonathan on the N446 billion issue, Soyinka says it’s obscene:
“It is obscene. Whether we are talking about Alamieyeseigha or we are going backwards to take in Obasanjo’s pardon to Salisu Buhari when a precedent was set. And it’s sad that Jonathan has continued in that line of cavalier pardon and especially in Mohammed Abacha who has been proven to be a torturer in addition to an incontinent receiver of national loot. Please, all of you bear in mind, it’s not as if these crimes are not in the public domain.”
[OpinionNigeria]
Human Right Lawyers, Finance Expert Slam FG, Say Two-Count Charge Against Emefiele After One Month Detention ‘Extremely Ridiculous’
AdminThe two-count charge levelled against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele by the Department of State Service have been described as a political witch-hunt targeted at him for his implementation of the naira redesign policy that almost frustrated the campaign of the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu during the last election.
Many senior government officials including President Tinubu, and some governors in the All Progressives Congress, have in the build up to the last general election faulted some of the monetary policies of the CBN under Emefiele particularly the naira redesign policy.
Tinubu had, shortly after taking over as President, suspended Emefiele from office. He had stated that it was sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.
The suspended CBN Governor became a guest of the Department of State Services following his arrest in Lagos by operatives of the secret State Service and airlifted to Abuja.
Emefiele was detained for over a month before the DSS was last Thursday ordered to either release him or charge him to court.
Following the order of the court, a two-count charge was quickly instituted against him by the DSS.
The DSS in the charge sheet, accused Emefiele of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence.
The government maintained that the offences are contrary to section 4 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act.
In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.
But reacting to the two count charge by the DSS, some Human Rights Lawyers and Finance Experts said the offence allegedly committed by the suspended CBN governor does not justify his incarceration for over one month.
Those that spoke on the matter in separate telephone interviews are a Lagos-based human rights lawyer
Inibehe Effiong; a Human Rights Activist, Barrister Jones Akpan; and
the Chief Executive Officer, Dairy Hills Limited, Kelvin Emmanuel
Effiong described the charges by the DSS as “extremely ridiculous” adding that the alleged offence that Emefiele was being sued over by the DSD falls under the purview of the Nigerian police.
He said, “This (two-count charge)is ridiculous, extremely ridiculous. If you are keeping somebody in custody for over 30 days and the reason for detaining the person is possession of firearms, it shows that the agency is not serious, it shows that the government is not serious, it shows that they have taken Nigerians for a fool.
“What they said was on the insinuation that Emefiele was being detained for alleged terrorism financing, now, if you are now charging him for illegal possession of firearms and this was a charge that came about after his house was invaded, then it means that they are telling us that before his house was searched, they had no reason to have arrested him.
“Why is it the DSS that is now the one investigating the case of physical possession of firearms.
“That is supposed to be within the jurisdiction of the police because it does not necessarily affect the internal security of the country, which is what the DSS is statutorily empowered by the National Security Agencies Act to do.
“So, if it this is what led to the detention of Emefiele, then it only gave credence to the position some of us took ab-initio that this case is political and that while Emefiele may have committed some infractions, the intention of the government is not necessarily to punish him for that infractions but to prosecute him and to punish him for standing against the candidacy of Tinubu and APC in the last election. That is what this looks to be about.
He added, “If the charge is not about getting back at him for being against Tinubu, why would you keep him for one month to arrest for illegal possession of firearms. You have found the firearms and if the person does not have license, then such offence should have been charged within 24 hours.
“This is what we have been saying about this agency that it is now a political tool in the hand of occupants of Aso Rock and it makes nonsense of the entire case.
“We have said that you cannot prosecute Emefiele for the naira redesign policy which Tinubu was vehemently against because it is a policy of government approved by government and so, whether that policy is successfully implemented or not is not a crime.
“I think time has come for Nigerians to be told what is actually the mandate of the DSS. Illegal possession of firearms is a matter that the police should handle and not DSS.”
Also reacting to the issue, Akpan said the charges by the government after the court had ordered for the release of the suspended CBN governor appears to be an after-thought.
He said, “The DSS cannot be seen to be prevaricating and blowing hot and cold. Are they just waking up to the realization that Emefiele is in possession of firearms just only when the Courts have ordered his release or he be charged to Court? Is it within their statutory powers to charge for illegal possession of firearm.
“It is pertinent to ascertain who is empowered under the extant laws to issue license for firearms? The authorized agency to issue approval for gun license should be in the position to sanction those who have not been issued license.
“But come to think of it, do you think that Emefiele would not have been issued a license? There is more to this? Connect the dots. The currency issue before election. Also look at the EFCC Chairman. So this is a serious challenge to the rule of law.
“In saner climes, before arraignment, the agencies would have concluded their investigation. But here, the Agency arrested and went shopping for evidence. Initially it was terrorism charge, but now illegal possession of firearms. Even though Emefiele may have breached extant laws, let him have his day in the court. That is the essence of rule of law.”
For Emmanuel, who is the CEO of Dairy Hills Limited, he described as worrisome the culture of impunity with which law enforcement and security agencies use the instrumentality of the state to administer criminal cases.
He said the rule of law is one of the most important metric foreign investors use as a tool to measure the ease of doing business, and grounds for which to deploy capital into a country.
He said, “The culture of impunity with which law enforcement and security agencies use the instrumentality of state to administer cases in which there are allegations of breaking the law is worrisome.
“Regardless of the alleged offences of the suspended CBN Governor, Sections 35 says ‘Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed within twenty-four hours of the facts and grounds for such arrest or detention’
“Section 36 also says ‘A person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by the court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.’
“It is therefore unconstitutional that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank has been kept in detention for nearly a month against the provisions of the fundamental rights act as stipulated in the 1999 constitution,
“The rule of law is one of the most important metric foreign investors use as a tool to measure the ease of doing business, and grounds for which to deploy capital into a country.
“The government needs to understand that every single thing it does is a signal to international investors on how issues on fair hearing, fundamental human rights, quality before the law and independence of the judiciary is situated.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria has come out to disclose that 80 out of the girls rescued from armed conflict areas in the country are now in tertiary institutions of learning and undergoing their studies.
The Federal Government via its Ministry of Women Affairs also stated that the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari Ratified the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) in December 2019, which is a global commitment to students, teachers and educational personnel as well as the validation of the Minimum Standard on Safe Schools in July 2021.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Monilola Udoh disclosed this during the meeting with UN Security Council Working Group on Children encountered in the course of Armed Conflict, led by UNICEF’s Christian Monduate, who came around with Daniel Ohlstein, Kaitlin Brush, Christian Monduate, Ariane Lignier, Nicolas Martin-AchardAndreg Sarushein, for a fact-finding on how Nigeria is protecting children caught up in situations of armed conflict or during military operations.
The UN Security Council Working Group led by UNICEF’s Christian Monduate, which came around with Daniel Ohlstein, Kaitlin Brush, Christian Monduate, Ariane Lignier, Nicolas Martin-AchardAndreg Sarushein.
She said: “It would be recalled that the Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, earlier on the 25th of March, 2017, fruitfully engaged with International Partners, precisely the Country Representatives of UN agencies, including the UNICEF, UNFPA, UNHCR, UN WOMEN, and the UN OCHA in support of the completion of the education of the ‘recused Special Girls’ (Chibok Girls).
“In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and the Presidential Committee on Victims’ Support Fund, the Ministry succeeded in re-enrolling the rescued “Special Girls” and retaining them in School, including supporting them to tertiary education in the country.
“At present, eighty (80) of the “rescued Special Girls” are in various tertiary institutions undergoing their studies.”
According to Udoh: “The Federal Government of Nigeria in her efforts in ensuring the security of children in Nigeria, ratified the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD). The Child Right’s act has also been domesticated in 35 States of the Federation.
“The attacks on schools during armed conflict started globally in 2009. In Nigeria, the major attacks began 2014-2015 in the North-East as the result of the activities of terrorist groups, which left so many children out of school.
“Consequently, the former President Muhammadu Buhari Ratified the Safe Schools Declaration(SSD) in December, 2019, which is a global commitment to students, teachers and educational personnel as well as the validation of the Minimum Standard on Safe Schools in July, 2021, which signals the Federal Government’s commitment towards ensuring the general well-being of children.
“All these to ensure that our schools are Safe and in pursuant to section 15 of the Child Right’s Act, which gives the Child the right to free, compulsory and universal primary education. The Federal Government of Nigeria, through inter-agency collaboration has taken the following necessary actions:
“Developed Training Manuals on Safe School’s Declaration (SSD), which was launched for Security Agencies and Human Rights Organizations on the 14th of October, 2021. Hosted the 1st International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Africa with the theme “Ensuring Safe Education for All, from commitment to practices”.
She listed some key interventions of the Ministry towards children who are survivors of terror and violent extremism, especially in the humanitarian emergency. Amongst them are:
“Some school children affected by crisis of terror and violent extremism in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, were provided with a number of psycho-social support services ranging from medical treatment, school feeding, school bags, books and other educational materials, in collaboration with States Ministries of Women Affairs, the UNICEF, Street Child International, Save the Children among others, in order to support their rapid emotional recovery, school re-enrollment and retention.
“The Ministry has had fruitful partnership working with the North-East States’ Ministries of Women Affairs, Plan International; and the UNFPA to provide anti-Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGVB) trainings for learners and teachers in conflicts, insurgency and humanitarian emergency host communities; as well as provision of sanitary kits for girls in IDP Camp schools.”
She further added that the Ministry has sustained collaboration with Implementing Partners in supporting access to education and reducing the precarious incidences of Child & Forced Marriage (CFM) escalated by the insurgency and terrorists activities in the North-East, as well as via Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), provide help low income women and mothers to come out of extreme poverty through access to soft and cooperative loans facilities, in order to strengthen families’ capacity for children development opportunities; thus enhancing the children’s resilience to incentives and antics used by terrorists and violent extremist groups.