Metro
Tinubu Committed to Improving Lives of Vulnerable Communities – Shettima
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has restated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to improve the socio-economic conditions of Nigerians living in the most vulnerable communities.
Shettima stated this on Tuesday when the Presidential Committee on Flood Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness and Response submitted a comprehensive report to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Reports says that the committee’s report outlined a roadmap for improving the country’s flood response and preparedness.
The report is based on the findings of three previous and ongoing assignments, including the National Economic Council Ad-hoc Committee Report on Flood (ongoing) and the National Flood Emergency, Preparedness and Response Plan (2022).
Others are the report of the Presidential Committee on Development of Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disasters in Nigeria (2022).
Shettima, who gave a definite position to speculations about the reality or otherwise of the impact of climate change said, “Climate change is real and the existential threat it poses is glaring at us every day.
” From the extreme events being witnessed across the globe to the devastating climate facing Africa. Africa is disproportionately impacted and bringing it home to Nigeria, we have been witnessing drought, flood.
” The saying on the climate crisis is that it is either too much (floods), too little (drought) or too polluted. We are all gathered to find a solution for the too much scenario that is flooding.
” Flood events have, in the past, affected communities with devastating impacts on livelihoods, people and the environment with loss of lives witnessed in some cases such as the last flood witnessed in 2022.”
He described the report as a testament to Tinubu’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shettima said that in drafting the report, the committee was guided by science and forecasts from agencies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
The vice-president explained that the report identified vulnerable communities prone to flooding and presents a roadmap with recommendations to address the issue.
Shettima commended the committee for its hard work and dedication.
” I will like to start by thanking this committee for the hard work, commitment and dedication put in to develop the report.
” I particularly thank everyone for the time put in to deliver this assignment within the seven days that I directed when we first met at this very chamber, which meant you all had to work through the weekend.
” The mandate was clear and it was delivered,” Shettima said.
He directed the committee to present the report to the National Economic Council (NEC) for further deliberations and possible ascension by the council.
Earlier in his presentation, Prof. Emmanuel Adanu, a member of the presidential committee and Chairman of the Technical Working Group, identified the major causes of flooding in Nigeria and the strategies for mitigating its impact.
Adamu, who is the Director-General, National Water Resources Institute, said the ultimate objective of the committee was to protect the nation from the devastating impacts of floods, safeguard human lives and property.
He also said that committee was expected to promote the sustainable conservation and enhancement of water-related ecosystems.
According to him, beyond the efforts of stakeholders in the public and private sectors, individuals and communities are required to pay attention to issues relating to drainage maintenance and healthy environmental practices.
Adamu said, ” We had lots of problems with flooding in Nigeria and we have lots of misconception too with the flooding outlook and certain incidences that had happened in Nigeria were blamed on certain things.
” One particularly is that most of the flooding we had in Nigeria used to come from Cameron which is totally false and we tried to explain it very well that it is not so.
” Because the water that come from outside Nigeria into Nigeria is just about 25 or less percent of the total rain or every water in Nigeria.
“So,most of the flooding that we see originate from within Nigeria due to high rainfall and the mobility of the water around drainage patterns, so we try to look at that.” (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
The National Boundary Commission (NBC), says it has concluded plans to provide infrastructure in flash locations along interstate boundaries to encourage integration and cooperation.
The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adaji said that the commission would look at flash point areas and provide infrastructures that would encourage cooperation and integration among border communities.
He said that the goal was to see how the commission could bring people in border communities together to share from a common facility.
This, according to him, will douse tension and bring some kind of understanding among border communities.
“The bounder communities will share the facilities, which in the long run will bring the people together and eventually reduce tension and boundary conflicts.
“This is a way of encouraging integration and cooperation by encouraging people to come together, relate with one another and engage in beneficial commercial activities.”
Adaji said that a similar initiative was test runed with a borehole, constructed boundary corridor in Ado Local Government Area of Benue state, where it shared boundary with Ebonyi.
“We have also been able to construct some market stalls in the Ebonyi sector of the boundary between Ebonyi and Cross River,” he added.
“So, our appeal is for people to appreciate, cooperate and understand that boundaries are not barriers.
“The boundary line will not stop somebody from owning properties across and that is what we want to partner with the states to educate people along by the boundary corridors. (NAN)
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