NGO Tasks Nigeria On Policy To Empower Widows

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June 25, 2022

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, has called on the Nigerian government to ensure the rights of widows are enshrined in international law.

The President of the Foundation based in Abuja, Dr Jumai Ahmadu made this known in her message to 370 widows undergoing numerous skills acquisition programmes to commemorate the International Widows’ Day in Abuja.

Dr Ahmadu called on relevant authorities to take the plight of Widows seriously as they may be passing through hardships of different kinds.

She also urged relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Dr Ahmadu said “part of her contribution to the lives of the widows is to empower 370 of them in other to enhance their livelihoods and improve their confidence to face the future with their children.”

The Programme Coordinator, Mr Onoja Arome, urged widows to remain calm and law abiding, saying a careful approach should be maintained when clamouring for their rights with late husband’s properties as laws are available to women in such circumstances.

Earlier, the Cluster group Coordinator, Miss Cecilia Kadiri, enjoined the women to make judicious use of the opportunity to fend for themselves and their children.

Governor Makinde Gets Approval For N2bn Loan Request

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 25, 2022

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The Oyo State House of Assembly has approved the request of the state government to access additional N2billion loan facility from Fidelity Bank Plc at a concessional interest rate of 12 percent per annum and a repayment period of 12months.

The facility is required to provide and finance counterpart fund for donor assisted projects across the state.

The Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, had, sequel to the approval, read a letter from the Executive Council requesting the nod of the state lawmakers to access the additional N2bn loan facility.

Ogundoyin noted that it was imperative and expedient for the state government to fulfil its own part of the project agreement, so as to ensure speedy completion of the projects.

The letter reads in part: “In a bid to further compliment the state government’s efforts on the provision of critical and iconic infrastructure and very laudable projects across Oyo State, the Executive Council is seeking the approval of the State House of Assembly to access additional N2bn facility to provide counterpart funding to complete donor assisted projects.

“The facility is to be accessed from Fidelity Bank Plc at a concessional interest rate of 12 percent per annum with a repayment period of 12months and management fees of 0.25 percent one-off. “

The projects include: Accelerating Nutrition Results Project in Nigeria, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Better Education Service Delivery For All and the UBEC/SUBEB 2021 Matching Grant.

In their contributions, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, said the purpose for which the loan facility was being sought was laudable and commendable, adding that it was in line with the vision of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration to ensure all round development of Oyo State.

LAWMA Urges Lagosians To For Waste Containerisation

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 25, 2022

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Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reassured residents of its firm commitment to a clean environment despite the challenge of diesel scarcity, while also appealing to them to bag and containerise their waste.

The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who gave this indication while monitoring the environment, stated that efforts were being intensified to clear any backlog of refuse, and to stop acts of indiscriminate waste disposal.

Odumboni explained that the agency has redoubled its efforts and is working round the clock to ensure the evacuation of wastes anywhere around the city.

He said, “Although the scarcity and high cost of diesel has been a major challenge, with all service providers’ trucks running on diesel, nonetheless, we are doing the needful and leaving no stone unturned, to maintain a clean environment and prevent health hazards to the people”.

He appealed to residents to properly bag and containerise their waste to allow more storage periods and prevent littering.

According to him, “The resurgence of waste observed in some areas of the metropolis is borne out of the unforeseen diesel challenges the service providers are experiencing, and since tenements cannot keep waste in their houses, have resorted to bringing it to the highways, which isn’t proper.”

“While we strongly reiterate the importance of waste containers at home, we passionately appeal and canvass for public cooperation, to combat a resurgence of waste on road medians, canals and other illegal spots.”

“We are assuring Lagosians of our total commitment to rid the environment of dirt. As we work day and night to make this happen, we urge you to support our efforts because the cleanliness of the state is a collective responsibility”, he stressed.

LAWMA Boss further stressed that despite the serious logistics challenges faced by Private operators, as a result of the increase in the price of diesel, they had continued to provide services to tenements, adding that the Authority, in order to ensure effective turnaround time of waste collection trucks, had also ensured that landfills in the state are in proper shape.

He said that the agency had carried out massive rehabilitation work across various landfills, to improve the turnaround time of trucks servicing tenements and commercial facilities in the state and this according to him has improved the condition of the sites, paving way for seamless waste collection activities.

NDLEA Tasks Religious Leaders To Heighten Advocacy Against Drug Abuse In Sermons

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 25, 2022

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Religious leaders in Nigeria have been called upon to heighten the advocacy on the war against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in their sermons in order to achieve a better society.

The Executive Chairman Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency NDLEA, Retired Brigadier general Mohammed Buba Marwa made plea in Abuja.

Marwa urged religious leaders to constantly admonish youths in their sermons to stay away from drugs, and desist from trafficking the illicit substances for a better Nigeria.

The NDLEA boss noted that, the agency in the last sixteen months, have cleaned the streets of Nigeria of nearly four million kilograms of illicit substances.

Armed Forces Command and Staff College Graduates 280 Junior Course Candidates

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 25, 2022

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The Chief of Army Staff, COAS Lt. General Farouk Yahaya has tasked 280 Armed Forces Command and Staff College’s graduands of junior course 93 to uphold the Armed Forces Acts.

He charged them to uphold the standard operating procedures and rules of engagement in discharging their constitutional duties.

Addressing the graduands in Jaji, Kaduna state, the COAS said upholding the tenets is of utmost importance especially in the current electioneering season which is often characterized by controversies and must be avoided at all costs.

He said the junior course was structured to lay solid foundation and prepare the officers for tactical level field and staff work.

He explained that the course curriculum is constantly being reviewed to enable mid-career officers cope with the ever changing nature of warfare which has recently witnessed manifestation such as insurgency, terrorism, militancy and banditry amongst others.

Yahaya further stated that the cyber space has become a formidable operational domain in which the Armed Forces must dominate to avert cyber terrorism and invasion of our national data bases.

Yahaya urged them to apply the skills and knowledge acquired from packages such as estimate process, counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations, peace support operations, media awareness and disaster management for efficient service delivery.

He advised them to apply the skills obtained from practices in planning and execution of joint as well as combined operations at the tactical level which culminated in all their exercises in all operational tasks.

Earlier, the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Olurotimi Tuwase said the course was characterised with intense field training and academic activities designed to develop the Command, analytical and communication skills of junior officers.

He mentioned that the essence was to equip them to efficiently operate during single service, joint, multi-agency and combined operations towards the accomplishment of their constitutional roles.

He tasked them on building on the knowledge they gained, through practice, self-development, perseverance, tact and intuition to further reposition themselves for the tasks ahead.

The officers who were from the rank of Captains and equivalent comprised of the Nigerian Armed Forces, armed forces of African nations as well as officers from paramilitary organizations, ministries, department and agencies.

They comprised 129 from the Nigerian Army, 59 from the Navy, 75 from the Nigerian Air Force and eight international students from African countries which includes Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Togo, Liberia, Ruwanda, Sierra Leone and Cote d’ Ivoire.

Nigeria To Host African Research Forum In October

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 25, 2022

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The Local organizing committee Technology for the hosting of the African Researchers and Innovation fair holding from 17th to 21st October in Abuja the nation’s capital have been inaugurated.

The permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Mrs Monilola Udoh, while inaugurating the Committee said that the hosting of the forum was due to the out – come of the meeting of the Honourable Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mamadou Jao and the then Minister of Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

She said the both Ministers earlier agreed that Nigeria will host the maiden edition of the fair as the forum will be a rallying point for Scientists, Technologist, Researchers and innovators in Africa.

To this end, she charged the Committee to ensure adequate planning and execution of the assignment in order to maintain Nigeria’s leadership role in carrying out her responsibilities in Africa.

She added that the development and progress of Africa depends on its citizen’s collective dedication and commitment to the socio-economic emancipation of the continent.

Governor Lalong Inaugurates NASCO Production Plant

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 25, 2022

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The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has inaugurated a new production plant for NASCO Foods Company in Jos.

Governor Lalong appreciated the company for its consistent contribution to the economic development of the State and Nigeria at large.

He commended the Executive Chairman, Management and Staff of NASCO for sustaining the virtues of its founding father, the Late Dr. Ahmed Idris Nasreddin who laid a solid foundation 57 years ago, nurtured the company to growth and prosperity before his demise.

Governor Lalong said “before Government started to promote self-sufficiency in food production – a policy which encouraged Nigerians to produce what they eat, NASCO’s adoption of the policy of back-ward integration in sourcing maize as its chief input for the production of cornflakes which empowered thousands of farmers on the Plateau and across many locations in central Nigeria. This had directly impacted on the volume and quality of the maize that its suppliers were cultivating. Cumulatively, this process now integrates into the Buhari administration’s drive to develop the agriculture commodity supply chain, for which maize has been recognised as one of the most important commodities. The overall goal of this initiative, of course, is the creation of jobs and wealth for Nigerians”.

Lalong stated that the State has also attracted more investors who have started businesses particularly within the Small and Medium Enterprises category.

He said it brought more jobs to Plateau citizens and also boosted the State’s Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.

Executive Chairman of NASCO Dr. Attia Nasreddin while appreciating the Plateau State and Nigerian Governments said the company has received tremendous support and encouragement to overcome the challenges over the years that lead to the growth of the company.

He said the new plant which boasts of state-of-the-art technology would double it production capacity, enhance the working conditions for its staff and also improve environmental sustainability

Ghana’s Fertiliser Shortage Favours Locally Produced Compost

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faith Jegede

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June 25, 2022

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After being hit by the results of the Russia –Ukraine crisis, Ghana has seen a shortage in fertilizer which has impacted the country’s production.

To reduce the impact on crop yields in the country, Ghana’s minister of food and agriculture has suggested that farmers adopt locally produced organic compost from recycling and composting plants

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has proposed that farmers in Ghana adopt Zoomlion’s Integrated Recycling and Compost Plants’ (IRECOP) locally-produced organic compost for their farms to boost crop yields.

He said this while touring the company’s facilities in Goaso, which is about 80 per cent complete, to abreast himself with the seriousness of local fertiliser manufacturers, Rice Fields and farmer groups, ginger-grower women groups and the Duayaw Nkwanta Medium Prisons Farms, among others.

He expressed worry over the acute shortage of fertilizer in the sub-region due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

As chairman of the ECOWAS Agricultural Ministers Committee and having chaired two meetings so far, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said there’s a widespread shortage of fertilizer in the sub-region and there is a need for action to be taken to reverse the trend.

Dr. Owusu Akoto said that based on this shortage, government was quick to adopt the organic fertilizer manufactured and supplied by indigenous Ghanaian companies to solve the fertilizer shortage problem.

According to the minister, his proposal is not peculiar to Ghana but the entire sub-region since the African market is not doing bad in the production and supply of organic fertilizer made in the form of compost.

He urged ECOWAS governments to consider subsidizing organic fertilizer for farmers to increase organic food growth against the inorganic food supplies in Africa.

He advised regional, municipal and district agriculture directors and staff to intensify farmer education to focus on the locally manufactured organic fertilizer to increase their produce for more harvest and incomes.

The Food and Agriculture Minister said in furtherance of government’s desire to encourage local fertilizer usage by the farmers in Ghana, 18 local organic fertilizer producers and suppliers who have applied have been identified. The government is currently working on approving them to produce and supply more organic fertilizer to farmers under a subsidized pricing scheme.

Dr. Akoto was interacting with farmers and heads of departments at the Regional Coordinating Council in Goaso during his tour of farms and farmer groups in the Ahafo Region on Monday.

During a visit to the Duayaw Nkwanta Medium Prison, the minister pointed out that the reasons for high food cost are transportation and world economic indicators – including the high cost of fertilizer.

Supreme Court Dismisses Buhari’s Suit Against New Electoral Act

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faith Jegede

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June 25, 2022

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In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has struck out the suit filed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) to void section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The seven-man panel led by Justice Muhammad Dattijo held that President Buhari was not a proper person to approach the apex court with such suit, owing to the nature of reliefs that were sought.

Yesterday, the apex court held that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, which it said amounted to an abuse of the judicial process.

Buhari and Malami had in the suit contended that section 84 (12) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2022 was inconsistent with the provisions of sections 42, 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The plaintiffs, among other things, sought “a declaration that by the joint and or combined reading of Section 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the constitution, the provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 which also ignores Section 84(3) of the same Act, is an additional qualifying and/or disqualifying factors for the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Gubernatorial and Presidential elections as enshrined in the said constitution, hence unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void”.

They also sought “a declaration that having regard to the clear provision of section 1(3) of the constitution read together with section 4 of the same constitution, the legislative powers vested in the defendant do not permit or empower it to make any other law prescribing additional qualifying/disqualifying grounds for election to the national assembly, house of assembly, gubernatorial and presidential election outside the express constitutional qualification and disqualification provisions as already provided in each or all of sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).” The President and minister contended that without amendment to any of those sections, the action of the defendant in prescribing new qualification and disqualification provision is unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

Futhermore, Buhari and Malami prayed the apex court for “an order nullifying the provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 by application of the blue-pencil rule, for being unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and having been made in excess of the legislative powers of the defendant as enshrined in section 4 of the constitution (as amended).”

Although the National Assembly was originally cited as the sole respondent in the matter, Rivers State, through the Speaker of its House of Assembly and its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, subsequently applied and were joined as interested parties in the matter.

While opposing the suit, Rivers State, in its preliminary objection filed before the apex court, argued that section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 was “neither a detraction from the provisions of section 84(3) of the same Act nor from the provision of sections 42(1), 65, 66, 107, 131, 137, 177, 182 and 192 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and there is no any abuse of the Constitution by the defendant in enacting the provisions of section 84(12) of the Act”.

It argued that President Buhari, having assented to the Electoral Bill,, “has conclusively discharged his duty under the Constitution”.

Exploring The Floating Bridge, Queen Emma Bridge, Curacao

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Angel Gimalo

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June 24, 2022

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The Queen Emma Bridge is a floating bridge, sometimes referred to as a pontoon bridge, that crosses Sint Annabaai, better known as Saint Anna Bay, connecting the Punda and Otrobanda districts in the capital and also largest city of the Country of Curaçao, Willemstad.

Considered to be a great landmark of the island nation, this pontoon bridge was built in 1888 by the American entrepreneur and U.S. Consul, Leonard Burlington Smith, who wanted to name it Alliance as it connects two parts of the capital, nonetheless, it was named Queen Emma in honor of the then reigning Queen Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont.

This pedestrian bridge is also called by the locals as the “Swinging Old Lady”, and since there are 16 pontoon boats, the bridge opens laterally in order to allow ships to enter and leave the bay.

With total length of 167 meters (548 feet) and 10 meters (32 feet) width, it creates an interesting photo opportunity with the colorful houses that can be seen around the bay.

Throughout the history, the bridge was an important link in the Curaçao’s capital, and even between 1901 and 1934 those that wanted to cross the bridge had to pay 2 cents, unless the pedestrians were crossing barefoot, in which case the crossing would be free of charge.

In addition, there were several restorations, one in 1939, 1961, one longer one from 1983 until 1986 and another one in 2006, where today Queen Emma Bridge is considered to be safe and excellent way of crossing Saint Anna Bay.

All in all, this unique piece of historic bridge is definitely one of the more interesting features from Willemstad, where everyone that crosses it, whether with or without shoes, will certainly feel the long history that is still behind it.