NEWS
Stakeholders Affirms Commitment for Welfare of PWDs
By Aondowase Kajo, Abuja
In spite of the various challenges and myths confronting persons with disabilities, stakeholders responsible for safeguarding of human rights have reaffirmed commitment in defending the rights of every human including those with disabilities.
Welcoming participants at a two-day workshop for persons with disabilities in Abuja, the executive secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Tony Ojukwu said the plight of disabilities was not in doubt but the Commission and other stakeholders have taken deliberate steps to ameliorate the tide around disabilities.
Represented by NHRC’s Director, Legal Services Hajiya Rabi Hauwa, the Executive Secretary points out that the Disabilities Right Act signed a decade ago after years of struggle, the implementation remained a huge challenge up to the expiration of the transitory period.
However, the NHRC boss was of the view that the signing and ratification of the African Disability Protocol by Nigeria last year is a positive development and an additional milestone for the disability Community.
“We are all aware of the numerous myths around disability which consequently, amount to various human rights abuses and violations, against persons with disabilities, ranging from discrimination, exclusion and other harmful traditional practices due to lack of awareness on disability rights” states Dr Ojukwu.
Reaffirming the NHRC’s commitment in promoting disability inclusion through the full instrumentality of the Commission, Dr Ojukwu maintained that disability issues are human right issues and are placed at the front burner like any other issues within the purview of the Commission.
In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Dr Ayuba Gufwan lamented the discriminatory nature persons with disabilities are being subjected to, which in most instances lead to their brokenness.
Expressing his determination to empower disabilities, he called on stakeholders to advocate for a change of attitude towards disabled persons, motivating them to maximize their potential.
In his goodwill message, the Deputy National Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dipo Olayoku disclosed that IPAC has resolved that every political party in Nigeria must have at least one disabled person in their party executives.
The Federal Road Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Olamide Mogaji, as it’s Sector Commander in Plateau.Mr Peter Longsan, the Public Education Officer of th corps in the state, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Jos.According Longsan, Mogaji replaced Mr Maxwell Lede, who has been posted to Katsina State as sector commander.
“Following the recent redeployment of some senior officers across some commands in the country, Mr Olamide Mogaji is the new sector commander in Plateau“Until his redeployment to Plateau, he was the Zonal Head of Administration in FRSC Zone 8, Kwara. “Mogaji is a seasoned administratorwho worked in various capacities and has held many sensitive positions in the corps,”Longsan said.The public education officer urged Plateau residents to support and cooperate with the new sector commander towards ensuring a safe motoring environment in the state.(NAN)
Air Peace on Saturday said it had no regret cancelling or delaying flights to ensure safety of human lives in adherence to air safety standards.This is contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, Dr Ejike Ndiulo, in Lagos.While empathising with passengers who experienced inconveniences from its flight cancellations and delays, Air Peace said the disruptions were due to safety considerations.
According to the airline, if weather conditions, technical parameters or operational standards fall short of safety standards, flights will not be operated. “It is not our policy to delay or cancel flights without due cause, and when we do, we are often the greater loser financially.“We will never sacrifice safety for convenience, comfort, speed or profit,” it said. It thanked the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for requesting improvement in its domestic operations.The airline praised the authority’s efforts in ensuring airline operators’ adherence to global safety standards.Air Peace, however, said that it was also important to clarify that it had more aircraft than were being rostered for daily operations.“Therefore, any delays or cancellations we have experienced have absolutely nothing to do with fleet shortage.“For instance, on Friday, one of our aircraft experienced a bird strike, which damaged the engine while landing in Enugu.“The aircraft was immediately grounded and withdrawn from operation in accordance with safety protocol,” it said.Air Peace said that the aircraft was scheduled to service multiple routes, noting that its unavailability had had a ripple effect on flight operations for the routes.“This kind of situation is completely beyond the control of any airline, but again, our priority is the safety of our passengers.“It is to be stated that every decision Air Peace has taken since the inception of this airline, whether resulting in delay, cancellation or suspension of a flight, has been taken in the best interest of safety.“If such situations occur again, we will do the same because we are not ready to compromise safety. We do not cancel any flight for the fun of it.”Report says that the NCAA had on Friday held a meeting with the management of the airline on the number of complaints it received on its flight disruptions. (NAN)
The Federal Government (FG) says it has disbursed the sum of N1.48 billion in loans to 29,000 small business owners in Imo.The Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi said this at a town hall meeting on the FG’s loan scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Owerri, on Friday.
Olusi, represented by the bank’s Divisional Head, MSME South, said that the loan scheme was intended to address challenges facing businesses in the state, such as access to finance and cost of doing business. He said that business owners could access up to N5million each at an interest rate of 9 per cent per annum with a three months moratorium and a tenure of up to three years.He added that the disbursed funds were part of FG’s N200 billion Special Intervention Fund in line with President Bola Tinubu’s prosperity agenda. He, therefore, urged business owners to take advantage of the opportunity to grow their businesses.He also urged stakeholders such as the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to mobilise their members to be able to access the loan. “ Application is open to the public and the Bank of Industry facilitates the verification of applicants’ data to facilitate disbursement. “ We, therefore, call on all stakeholders – MSME owners, community leaders, youth groups, women associations, and Local Government authorities to be active advocates of the scheme. “ It is our shared prosperity and we need to empower our young people to be architects of their own future “, he said.Speaking, the Secretary of NASME in Imo, Mr Ugochukwu Ohaegbu, called on owners of registered businesses to identify with the association for optimal benefits.One of the beneficiaries, Chief Nduka Norbert, a pig farmer, thanked the bank for a grant of N50,000 which he had earlier received, adding that it provided a major boost to his business at a time when some of his animals were dying.Report says that a highlight of the meeting was the visual display of a documentary about the success stories of beneficiaries of the FG’s grants and loans. (NAN)
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