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CSOs Call for Ban on GMOs in Nigeria

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A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led by Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) has called on the Nigerian government to completely ban the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).The group staged a walk around Calabar on Tuesday and presented a petition to the Cross River State House of Assembly, highlighting concerns about GMOs’ impact on human health, the environment, and food sovereignty.

GMOs are plants, animals, or microorganisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering.
The long-term health impacts of GMOs remain subjects of ongoing scientific research and debate.Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh, Executive Director of PPDF, spoke on behalf of the coalition, demanding immediate action from both the federal government and Cross River State to ban GMOs for planting and food production.
Isua-Ikoh further called for the removal of bioengineered food products from Nigerian and Cross River markets.He also urged the annulment of all GMO permits granted without adequate risk assessments.He also advocated for increased investment in sustainable farming practices like agroecology and organic farming to ensure food sovereignty.Mr Augustine Ukukong, Assistant Director of Legislative Matters, received the petition on behalf of Mr Agbor Ovat, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment and Sanitation.Ukukong assured the group that their petition would be delivered to the House, and if necessary, the committee would address the issue, including introducing a bill for consideration.He reiterated the 10th Assembly’s commitment to collaborating with CSOs on issues related to environmental protection and public health.Report says that the petition is part of a nationwide campaign led by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) to protect Nigeria’s food system from the perceived risks of GMOs. (NAN)

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Firm Prays Court to Bar FCT Minister, Others from Abuja Disputed Land

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A firm, Nextdora Nigeria Limited, has urged an Abuja High Court to restrain the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and others from selling its landed property.The property is located at Plot No. 4411, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District, Abuja.Nextdora Ltd, in a fresh suit marked: CV/5517/24 and filed by its lawyer, Reuben Atabo, SAN, also prayed the court to award the sum of N500 million against the 1st and 2nd defendants in the suit as damages for trespassing into the plot.

In the writ of summons filed on Dec. 16, the company, listed as the claimant, sued Mr Eric Anyamene Nnamdi, Hajiya Bilikisu Mallam, FCT Minister and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
It sought seven reliefs, including a declaration that the claimant is the title holder of the property lying and situate at Plot No. 4411, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District, Abuja.It said the land measures about 2.46 hectares which is covered by a Right of Occupancy with File No. MISC128232.The company also sought, “a declaration that the claimant is entitled to the lawful use, occupation and quiet enjoyment of the property.“A declaration that the claimant reserves the exclusive title to the piece of land lying and situate at Plot No. 4411, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District in Abuja.“A declaration that the grant of the parcel of land measuring 2.46 hectares covered by Right of Occupancy with File No: MISC 128232 to the claimant is still subsisting.“A declaration that the entry of the 1st and 2nd defendants (Nnamdi and Hajiya Bilikisu) into the claimant’s property amounts to trespass and therefore wrongful, illegal and unlawful,” among others.Nextdora Nigeria Ltd, a property development company, in its statement of claim, averred that it applied to the minister for allocation of parcel of land within the FCT, Abuja and paid the prescribed fees as stipulated by the authority.It further averred that after a careful consideration of its application, a plot of land lying and situated at Plot No. 4411, Cadastral Zone A09, Guzape District, Abuja, measuring about 2.46 hectares was allocated to it.The company said upon the allocation of the plot to the claimant, it applied to the Department of Development Control (DDC) of the FCDA for the development of the said plot of land.It said the application was granted upon payment of the prescribed fees on Jan. 9, 2023, with approval file number FCDA/DC BP RSD PHS 1/22046.The claimant said in order to get the approval. the minister and the FCDA gave a bill of N3, 729, 766.10 as settlement of building land fees to it via their letter dated Dec.15, 2022, and it paid the said sum.According to the company, in order for it to carry out development of the property within the time frame prescribed by the Department of Development Control, it commenced the fencing of the said property, whereupon it constructed an access road to the said plot of land.Nextdora, however, alleged that on Dec. 10, Nnamdi and Hajiya Bilikisu, who were purportedly claiming ownership of the property, accompanied by armed men of the NPF, forcefully entered into the said property and obstructed the ongoing construction works.It said upon realising the antics of Nnamdi and Bilikisu, it wrote a letter to the Director, Lands, Abuja Geographic Information System requesting it to place a caveat in its file in respect of the land.It alleged that the duo had continued to use men of the police to harass and intimidate its workers who are on the site.“Further to paragraph 22 above, the claimant avers that she is into property investment and third parties have already invested into her project.“The claimant states that her investors are beginning to lose confidence in her project due to the activities of the 1st & 2nd defendants.”The matter is yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of filing the report.(NAN)

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Gov Sule Urges Corps Members to be Ambassadors of Hope

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Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has urged corps members posted to the state to be ambassadors of hope in their places of primary assignments across the state.He gave the admonition at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch C Stream I orientation course at the Magaji Dan Yamusa National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation camp in Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

Represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the governor urged the corps members to be catalysts for progress and advocates for a better tomorrow in their host communities.
“Carry with you the sense of duty, the commitment to community and the passion for positive change that you have cultivated during this orientation course.
“Whether you find yourself in bustling cities, serene villages or remote hamlets, let the principles of unity, understanding and empathy guide your interactions,” he said.Sule also charged the corps members, irrespective of their postings, to embrace the communities they were called to serve in order find the true essence of their purpose.He also urged the corps members to contribute wholeheartedly to the progress of their host communities.The governor congratulated the 1, 600 corps members comprised of 731 males and 869 females, and camp officials for achieving a hitch-free orientation exercise.“Together you have navigated challenges, celebrated victories and forged bonds that will linger as cherished memories.“As you prepare to spread your wings and embrace the diverse landscape of our great state, remember the values instilled in you during this orientation.“Carry with you the sense of duty, the commitment to community and the passion for positive change that you have cultivated,” he said.The governor assured the corps members of his administration’s statutory responsibility to their welfare, security and general well-being.“Nasarawa state is peaceful and the people are truly accommodating,” he added.He encouraged the corps members to accept their postings in good faith and appealed to corps employers not to reject corps members posted to their establishments.“Rejecting corps members puts a snag on their zeal to serve,” he said.Sule then directed the Nasarawa state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Ja’afaru Ango to keep a record of establishments in the state who reject corps members for appropriate sanction.In her remarks, Mrs Salamatu Muhammad, Coordinator of the scheme in the state congratulated the corps members for conducting themselves properly during the orientation course.She said the corps members were immersed in the ideals of the scheme during the orientation course, engaging in a wide array of training activities including drills, lectures, value reorientation, sports, social events, skills acquisition among others.“They have been introduced to the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, a cornerstone initiative of the scheme that has nurtured countless entrepreneurs and job creators over time,” she said.She urged the corps members to approach the one year national service with humility and a spirit of selflessness.“Focus on making positive contributions in your host communities, serving as exemplary ambassadors of your families, the NYSC and our nation at your places of primary assignment,” she said.Muhammad appreciated Gov. Sule for his unwavering support for the scheme at all times. (NAN)

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Inflation: LCCI Advises Govt to Sustain Reforms to Return Economy to Growth

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The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said that the Federal Government’s reforms, if sustained, have the potentials to pull through critical deliverables for the economy to return to a growth path.This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by the Director General, LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona, in reaction to the November inflation rate figure of 34.

60 per cent The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) pegged November core inflation at 28.
75 per cent, food inflation at 39.93 per cent as against the October figures of 28.37 per cent and 39.16 per cent respectively.Almona said that while the country witnessed weak impact of interest rates curbing inflation, a better performance of the reform measures implemented was expected to boost production.
She, however, noted that the persistent rise in inflation, reaching a 28 year record high of 34.60 per cent, fuelled a tense business environment as elevated prices constrained various business operations.The D-G said that the LCCI was concerned because with the persistent and unabated rise in inflation, businesses should prepare to experience more stress from the burden of higher interest rates in the new year.“With the raging inflation rate, the unsuccessful attempt of the Central Bank to reduce the currency in circulation, and approaching a high-spending festive period, we are set to contend with even higher interest rates.“The high inflation rate has far-reaching implications; one of its primary effects is reduced consumer spending.“High food and core inflation erode disposable income, reducing demand for non-essential goods and services and businesses also face increased business costs and shrinking profit margins.“While we are all confronted with a weak impact of interest rates on curbing inflation, we see a better performance of the reform measures implemented to boost production,” Almona said.The LCCI D-G said that there was hope that the country would witness more impact of the reforms on fundamental indicators like inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates.She also said that a coordinated effort was required to drive oil production to earn more foreign exchange needed to defend naira in the short term.Almona further advised that the new investments recently entering the oil fields should be well supported with sound regulatory environment to sustain and attract more.“The renewed fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and all other vices that make our farms unsafe must be sustained with more funding.“Nigeria must engage the use of intelligence and surveillance technology, and the constitutional amendment to enable multi-level policing,” she said.(NAN)

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