NEWS
Bayelsa Calls for EU Support against Environmental Terrorism in Niger Delta
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has solicited the support of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) in the fight against environmental terrorism and degradation impoverishing Bayelsa and other states in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.Governor Douye Diri made the appeal at Otuan community in the Southern Ijaw LGA of the state on Wednesday when he, accompanied by some foreign envoys, embarked on an assessment visit of facilities donated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the riverine community.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor stressed that the challenge of environmental injustice confronting the Niger Delta, particularly Bayelsa State, requires urgent and sustained effort for redress.Highlighting the sufferings of the people of the state, including the prevalence of strange diseases and high mortality rate occasioned by pollution from reckless oil exploration, he lamented that life expectancy in the region ranks among the lowest in the world.Governor Diri informed the visiting envoys of the state government’s efforts in seeking redress, including making a case in the United Kingdom’s parliament through a Report on Oil Pollution in Bayelsa by the ArchBishop John Sentamu-led Committee empanelled by his predecessor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.He called on the EU, development partners and environmental rights organizations to support the Niger Delta in engaging the Federal Government and the international oil companies to address environmentally unwholesome practices like gas flaring and incessant oil spills occurring unchecked for decades in the region.His words: “An area we really want your support, especially the European Union, is to lead a sustenance of redress for the environmental injustice, terrorism and oppression that the Niger Delta people, and Bayelsa State in particular, have suffered over the years.”We really want your collaboration in this area. There is already a commission report on this before the United Kingdom.”We still want to really request you, so that you can join us to see how we can get environmental justice in our state and in the whole of the Niger Delta.”This ceremony we have here today is the product of the fusion of our development goals and efforts as a state and those of the UNODC. This project will create more room for greater collaboration; it has been very rewarding and fruitful.”We believe this singular act of the European Union, funded by Germany, and now supported by Denmark, will give us a ladder for engaging our youths in creative ventures.”The Governor equally appealed for cooperation from the EU in the area of youth development to foster peace, development as well as curb drug abuse and its attendant crimes in the rural communities.On requests made by the Otuan community for the construction of a civic centre, women development centre, and a skills acquisition centre for the youths, Governor Diri promised to look into their demands.Earlier in his welcome address, the Amananaowei of Otuan Community, His Royal Highness Christopher Nana Okoto, expressed gratitude to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) for selecting Otuan as one of the pilot communities for its rural development and security project.He, however, appealed for the expansion of the existing youth development centre, and the building of a bigger and more mechanized cassava processing factory to complement the existing one donated by the UNODC with funding from the German embassy in Nigeria.It would be recalled that the UNODC and its donors built a police post, youth development centre and refurbished the mechanized cassava processing factory in Otuan Community.The highpoint of the assessment visit was the guided tour of the Otuan police post, the mechanized cassava processing facility, as well as an interactive session between the leadership of Otuan community and visiting ambassadors, including the country representative of the UNODC in Nigeria, Dr Oliver Stolpe.Other envoys who accompanied the Deputy Governor to Otuan included the Deputy Consul General of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Gerald Wolf; the EU Ambassador, Ms Samula Isopi; the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Ms Leena Pylvanainen, as well as the Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Mr Sune Krogstub.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals to provide free treatment to the people that sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.Wike gave the directive in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja on Saturday.
No fewer than 10 people including children lost their lives while 10 others sustained injuries to the stampede, during the distribution of food items to less privileged and the elderly by the church. The sad incident occurred around 6:30 a.m on Saturday.Wike said that the FCT Administration would ensure that the injured received adequate medical attention.The minister, who commiserated with the victims, also directed that henceforth, police permission should be obtained by individuals or organizations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash.Describing the incident as “painful”, Wike prayed for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss.He commended the Police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention, saying, “the promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable.”In a related development, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), equally commiserated with the victims of the stampede.The acting Director General of the department, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, in a statement said that nine out of the 10 injured persons earlier taken to Maitama District Hospital, have been treated and discharged.Mohammed also appealed to organisations that intended to give out food items to the less privileged to involve security agencies or FEMD for adequate planning to ensure safety of beneficiaries.He also advised the use of coupons and segregation of the beneficiaries into groups to avoid crowd and rowdiness that could lead to stampedes.Similarly, the Police Command in the FCT has ordered organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals to notify the police when planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the territory.In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said that the notification was to enable the police to deploy adequate security measures for public safety.According to her, failure to comply with the directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from negligenceMeanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against the unorganised distribution of palliatives and funfairs, which have led to stampedes and fatalities among vulnerable citizens.The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a media briefing on Saturday in Abuja.Adejobi explained that the warning came in response to the increasing number of stampedes resulting in injuries and deaths, particularly during palliative distributions. (NAN)
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.
The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka on Friday in Kaduna.
Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.
He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.
Also of significance, Ochai said, NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.
Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.
He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.
“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.
”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.
Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.
Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .
“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”
He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.
Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “
He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.
Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.
report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)
A Corps member serving in Katsina State, Blessing Ene-Ameh, has distributed free delivery kits to 50 pregnant women in Mani town, Mani Local Government Area of the state
The corps member distributed the delivery kits to the expectant mothers in Mani on Friday as part of her personal Community Development Service (CDS)project.
Eneh-Ameh said that she visited a hospital in the area during one of her group CDS programmes and observed that the hygiene of women in the antenatal and children’s wards was not too good.
The corps member also stated that she had noticed that the turn up of pregnant women for antenatal care was very low.
She said, ”This attracted my attention to the need to educate pregnant women on its importance.
“There is also the need for them to keep themselves and their surroundings very neat to avoid infections for themselves and their babies.
“The aim was also to educate them on the importance of planning for the future of the baby.
”They also need to be staying clean to reduce the risk of contracting infections and other diseases by both the mothers and children, as well as the community in general.
“The training will empower the women to be able to handle and bring up children for the family,” Eneh-Ameh explained.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended the corps member for her ingenuity and magnanimity to carry out the project.
Represented by the Local Government Inspector, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ismail-Tsiga, the coordinator urged the corps members serving in the state and other parts of the country to emulate her. (NAN)
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