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Ogun will soon become oil producing state – Governor

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Ogun will soon become oil producing state – Governor

OGUN State governor Dapo Abiodun has said the state will soon become an ‘oil producing state’.

The governor spoke at the commissioning of Molusi College Road on Friday, December 16, in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

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“By the special grace of God this state will become oil producing. From the Keji Island, we have Olokola and we are working assiduously to become oil-producing. We must because we are the industrial capital of this nation,” he said

The governor added that his administration will ensure the development of the state by constructing pliable road networks which would link all rural and urban communities together to foster economic development.

He also stated that his government will see to the establishment of a seaport to facilitate and increase trade and investment in the state.

“Again in this state, we will also have a seaport. The seaport fit into our modern time transportation masterplan. We have done our road network connecting us and we must complete the ongoing roads with our seaport. Before I leave, before my eight years, ships will sail through Ogun State,” he said.

African leaders urged to make more investments in health systems

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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African leaders urged to make more investments in health systems

AFRICAN leaders have been urged to commit more resources to their nation’s health systems to improve citizens’ well-being.

The appeal was the highlight of the just-concluded second edition of the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2022) in Kigali, Rwanda, according to a statement from the meeting mailed to The ICIR by Ouma Onyango.

The conference had the theme, ‘Preparedness for Future Pandemics and Post-pandemic Recovery: Africa at a crossroads’.

Participants called for solidarity among African nations and global partners to advance local manufacturing of health commodities, strengthen emergency preparedness and response, and expand universal health coverage.

They also sought improved collaboration with the African Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) to implement the New Public Health Order, a roadmap for sustainable health outcomes and improved health security championed by the African CDC.

“Drawing on lessons from Africa’s past experiences in outbreak response, the New Public Health Order is guided by principles of local ownership, leadership, equity, innovation and self-reliance. Throughout the three days of the conference, stakeholders echoed the call for a new approach that empowers African countries to be prepared for the health challenges of the future,” read a part of the statement.

The conference was held between December 13 and 15 and had over 2,500 participants from 90 countries across the continent and beyond.

The participants include heads of state and ministers of health, leading scientists and researchers, representatives from the private sector, civil society, and global health and development organisations.

The meeting also honoured Africans who have made remarkable impacts in the health sector in the region, including Nigeria’s Stella Adadevor, who sacrificed her life to prevent Ebola from spreading in Nigeria in 2014.

Some of the other awardees are Rose Leke, a professor of immunology and parasitology, who received the Achievement in Global Health Leadership Award.

Leke, a Fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Science and The World Academy of Science, got the award for her contributions to academia, including her time as Head of Department at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Yaounde and Director of the Biotechnology Centre. 

She has also chaired the African Region Regional Certification Commission since its inception in 1999 and made the decision to certify the WHO African Region free of wild polio in 2020. 

Memoranda of understanding (MoU) were also signed at the meeting, including the CDC and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) MoU to enhance supply security and facilitate equitable access to quality approved antimalarials, thereby maximising the use and health impact of existing products on the continent. 

The collaboration aims to support African Union member states in accelerating and scaling-up African manufacturing, building on existing capacities and developing new ones to support the manufacturing of quality-assured malaria APIs and FPPs. 

Sessions at the meeting focused on Africa’s most pressing health challenges and topical issues, including re-emerging and high-burden infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, mental health, the role of women leaders in public health, technology and digital health innovations, the power of engaging civil society, community actors, and the private sector to advance shared health goals. 

Speaking on behalf of the government of Rwanda, which hosted the event, the State Minister of Health, Dr Yvan Butera, said Rwanda was glad to collaborate with the Africa CDC to implement the New Public Health Order in its various aspects, including strengthening institutions for public health, building public health workforce, expanding local manufacturing, increasing domestic investment in health, and promoting strategic partnerships, which he said resonated very well with the theme of the conference.

Some of the participants are Rt. Hon. Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister, Republic of Rwanda; Yvan Butera, State Minister of Health, Republic of Rwanda; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO); Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General, World Health Organization (WHO) for Surveillance and Health Emergency Intelligence; Winnie Byanyima.

They also include the Executive Director, UNAIDS; Awa Marie Coll Seck, Minister of State to the President of the Republic of Senegal and Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director of Africa CDC.

The next edition of the meeting will be hosted by Zambia.

Buhari not fighting corruption according to global standards – CSO

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Buhari not fighting corruption according to global standards – CSO

THE Executive Director, Corruption Observatory and Public Awareness Initiative, Richard Ivie, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not fighting corruption according to global standards.

Ivie made the assertion while speaking on Channels Television on Friday, December 16.

According to him, the Buhari administration has failed to protect whistleblowers.

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“The problem is the language from the top, the tone from the top. I’m very sorry I don’t think the President is really serious about fighting corruption and they say he is the African champion of anti-corruption. I don’t know what measure was used to make that appointment or award.

“There is no whistleblower protection law. The first thing to do if you want to fight corruption is to protect those who want to speak out. Not based on what has happened or suspicion alone. The present policy is not right,” he stressed.

Ivie emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt a transparent and standardized integrity system to check corruption among public office holders and politicians.

He also faulted the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the campaign against corruption.

“The speech of Mr Bawa (EFCC chairman) indicted the corruption campaign of this administration. That a lot of recoveries and arrests are being made show that the system is dirty,” he said.

Ivie also spoke of the need for Nigeria to adopt a standardized whistleblower protection policy and integrity system.

“We are talking about international standards that strengthen systems and make it very impossible for corruption to thrive. Everything you do will go through the process and you think about the risk you will meet. Even for you to steal one million naira the system will throw it up, people will know and you will be exposed publicly.

“The ICPC and EFCC are overwhelmed and others need to be strengthened to ease the activities of the agencies.”

However, Ivie faulted the provision of incentives for whistleblowers. According to him, the government should instead provide protection for whistleblowers.

“Whistleblowing is based on three principles – protection, confidentiality, and trust. The issues of incentivizing whistle blowing is optional. Why should a giant of Africa initiate a policy based on incentive? What an average whistleblower wants is to be protected, trust the institution he is disclosing the issue to. The protection shouldn’t just be about you but all the people around the whistleblower.”

Twitter bans high-profile journalists for doxxing

Lama Queen Godoz
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Twitter bans high-profile journalists for doxxing

TWITTER Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elon Musk has banned some high profile journalists from the microblogging site for doxxing (sharing his live location) during a space.

Musk barred the following journalists from Twitter: Ryan Mac from New York Times, Donnie O’Sullivan from CNN, Drew Harwell from Washington Post, Matt Binder from Mashable, Micah Lee from The Intercept, and Steven from Voice of America.

Prior to this, 20-year-old Jack Sweeney was suspended from the platform for tracking the Live location of the Tesla boss through @Elonjet.

Barely 24 hours after suspending @ElonJet from Twitter, Musk has gone after top journalists, for violating privacy policy by sharing @ElonJet links.

The Chief Twit posted, “Criticizing me all day long is totally fine but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family is not.”

“They posted my exact real-time location basically assassination coordinates in direct violation of Twitter’s terms of service,” he added.

During a Twitter Space, Musk tried to explain his decision but within a short time, he left the session due to some offensive questions.

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A report by India Today said the Space was shutdown and all the guests tuned in were evicted.

Subsequently, minutes later, Twitter temporarily halted Spaces feature, and stated that it would be back after a bug fix.

Currently, there is an ongoing poll on Twitter, asking users to vote on when the suspended accounts who shared Musk’s real-time location would be released.

In an earlier post Musk stated,“Any account doxxing real-time location info of anyone will be suspended, as it is a physical safety violation. This includes posting links to sites with real-time location info. Posting locations someone traveled to on a slightly delayed basis isn’t a safety problem, so is ok”.

The Pulitzer Center Rainforest Journalism Fund offers Dom Phillips reporting grant

Blessing OTOIBHI
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The Pulitzer Center Rainforest Journalism Fund offers Dom Phillips reporting grant

THE Pulitzer Center Rainforest Journalism Fund is inviting applications for its Dom Phillips Reporting Grant themed “How to Save the Amazon?”.

The Fund is seeking reporting ideas focused on solutions for the future of the Amazon.

Proposals can be centered on the Brazilian Amazon, but projects about the Amazon in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia or Venezuela are also welcomed, just as stories addressing border areas, or projects held collaboratively between Amazon countries.

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Independent and staff journalists, freelancers, journalists collectives, writers, photographers, audio and radio producers and TV and film producers anywhere in the world can apply for this grant.

Selected proposals will receive the necessary funds to carry out the project, in accordance with the detailed budget submitted upon application.

The organiser says the grant is named after Dom Philips, the British journalist killed along with Brazilian Indigenous Expert Bruno Pereira during a trip to the Amazon region on June 5, 2022. How to Save the Amazon was the title of the book Phillips wanted to finish writing.

The deadline for the submission of applications is January 18, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

Global Landscapes Forum seeks social media ambassadors

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Global Landscapes Forum seeks social media ambassadors

THE Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is accepting applications for the GLF Social Media Ambassadors Volunteer Program.

The program seeks social media ambassadors who will shape the global conversation about sustainable landscapes, network with top organisations around the world, and gain early access to GLF campaigns and events.

Selected social media ambassadors will help boost the GLF’s campaigns and events through their social media channels; co-create insightful content in collaboration with the GLF Social Media team; provide live coverage of GLF events; and attend virtual coordination meetings.

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Social media-savvy sustainability enthusiasts, 18 to 35, from around the world can apply.

Basic knowledge of English is required.

The deadline for the submission of the application is December 31, 2022. Interested applicants can apply here.

3,167 condemned prisoners on death row in Nigeria – Correctional Service

Bankole ABE
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3,167 condemned prisoners on death row in Nigeria – Correctional Service

THE Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said there are 3,167 condemned inmates on death row in prisons across the country.

The number comprise 3,105 males and 62 females.

The spokesperson of the NCoS Umar Abubakar disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, December 15.

Abubakar added that the correctional centres currently have 19,140 male and 339 female convicts.

“As of Monday, December 15, we have 74,824 inmates in the correctional centres. Also in the correctional centres are 50,955 male and 1,223 female awaiting-trial persons,” he said.

He added that the NCoS had changed its strategy from punitive to restorative and corrective approaches in the management of offenders.

The Principal Staff Officer at the Service, Mamman Salisu, also said NCoS personnel had been trained to confront external attacks.

Salisu said more weapons were acquired and personnel placed on red alert to avert further attacks on the custodial centres.

“Before now, our men were trained to prevent attacks from within, but they have now been trained to counter external attacks on our facilities.” 

He said arms and ammunition had been procured, and there is a presidential directive that anyone who attacks the custodial centres should not leave to tell the story.

“Our men have been put on red alert to gun down anyone who intrudes on our custodial centres,” Salisu stressed.

There has been various attack on Nigerian prisons in recent years.

However, an attack on the Kuje Medium Facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) generated much condemnation.

In a statement concerning the attack, the NCoS said 879 inmates escaped from the Kuje Prison.

Abubakar said five persons, including an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and four inmates, died during the attack.

The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway group of the Boko Haram terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a video released by the terrorist group, a large group of men with guns and ammunition chanting ‘Allahu Akba” and shooting sporadically into the air set cars ablaze during the attack.

According to a report, the terrorists delivered a 15-minute Quranic lecture to inmates before setting them free.

The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, had told pressmen that the 64 Boko-Haram terrorists who are inmates of the Kuje Custodial Centre were at large.

The NCoS also released a complete list of the names and pictures of the escapees from the Kuje prison. 

2023: Military will not take sides – CDS Irabor

Bankole ABE
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2023: Military will not take sides – CDS Irabor

THE Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lucky Irabor has assured that the military will remain apolitical and unbiased during the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

The CDS gave the assurance when the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau paid him a courtesy call at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Irabor thanked the NBA for identifying with the Armed Forces and indicated the readiness of the Nigerian military to partner with the association, particularly on issues that border on the delay in trials of crimes relating to terrorism and insurgency.

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He agreed with the NBA President that the Army is a creation of the Constitution and that the military shall continue to respect the rule of law.

Regarding the forthcoming general elections, the Chief of Defence Staff said, “The Police remain the lead security agency in respect of the elections, but we have a contingency that will enable us to help or assist the Police if the need arises.

“The military will be unbiased and apolitical. We remain subject to civil authority and we shall ensure that democratic culture is protected and advanced.”

In his remarks, NBA President Maikyau spoke of the need to uphold the rule of law in the country.

Maikyau also congratulated the men and women of the Armed Forces for the giant strides being recorded in the protection of the territorial integrity and internal security of the country.

*We have come to identify with the excellent work the Armed Forces has been doing, and we do not take the sacrifice for granted. You have also made us proud in the assignment you’ve had to do outside the shores of the country.

“We must show respect to the Armed Forces. Are we happy with all the things the military has done? No! But in spite of all the challenges, it is deserving to identify with you, and the job you’re doing in the North-East and North-West Nigeria is commendable,” he said.

The NBA President also called on the military to ensure utmost neutrality in the forthcoming general elections, urging it to remain unbiased in the discharge of its duties during the exercise.

On the prosecution of the suspected terrorists, the NBA President pledged to work with the military and the government to speedily dispense of the cases.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army Council has approved the promotion of 122 senior officers from the ranks of Brigadier General to Major General and Colonel to Brigadier General, respectively.
In a statement released on Friday, December 16, the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, said 52 of those promoted are Brigadier Generals while 70 are Colonels.

According to him, the Brigadier Generals were elevated to Major Generals and the Colonels to Brigadier Generals.

He said their promotion was in recognition of their meritorious service to the nation.

Defection: Kebbi Assembly declares seats of ex-speaker, three others vacant

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Defection: Kebbi Assembly declares seats of ex-speaker, three others vacant

THE Kebbi State House of Assembly has declared the seats of its former Speaker, Samaila Kamba, and three other members vacant over their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

Other affected members are Muhammad Buhari Aliero, Samaila Salihu Bui and Habibu Labbo Gwandu.

The Clerk of the Assembly, Usman Ahmed Bunza, announced the development after an executive session on Thursday, December 15.

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Kamba was earlier removed as Speaker of the Assembly last year over allegations that he was loyal to a group led by a former governor of the state, Senator Adamu Aliero.

After defecting to the PDP, he was selected as running mate to the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

The clerk, Bunza, in the statement, said the decision to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant was “in line with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”

A few hours before their seats were declared vacant, the four members, in a press statement titled, ‘Enough of Intimidation and Clampdown on Oppositions by Kebbi State Government’, had raised the alarm over plans to suspend them.

According to them, the motive is to silence the opposition particularly the PDP members in the House, through intimidation and financial inducement..

NDDC Board: Akeredolu backs rejection of Ondo nominee

Vincent Ufuoma
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NDDC Board: Akeredolu backs rejection of Ondo nominee

ONDO State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has backed the rejection of Charles Ogunmola as the state’s representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ogunmola, from Owo, a non-oil producing area of Ondo State, was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari, along with 15 other persons, as the Executive Director of Projects in the NDDC board in November this year.

But, his nomination was rejected in a protest letter forwarded to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, by three senators from the state, namely Robert Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North), Pius Akinyelure (Ondo Central) and Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo South).

 

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The lawmakers said Ogunmola’s nomination ran contrary to the provisions of Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act, 2000.

According to them, the NDDC Act clearly stated that the nominee for the position of Executive Director, Project of NDDC “shall be an indigene of an oil-producing area”.

The senators stressed that Ogunmola is not an indigene of an oil producing area of Ondo State.

In a statement released by the Ondo State Commissioner of information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, on Thursday, December 15, Akeredolu supported the lawmakers’ position.

The statement said that the three senators had demonstrated unalloyed team spirit in their joint insistence that the contents of the Act establishing the NDDC be strictly adhered to.

The governor said that the lawmakers have taken a courageous step and have refused to accept arbitrariness when it is evident that it is the path of least resistance.

According to him, the lawmakers “have done the right thing by their fearless, selfless and rightful rejection of any infraction on legal authorities with regards to the nomination of anyone outside what the NDDC Act stipulates”.

“Their resolve can only strengthen our oneness and peculiar status as the only oil-producing State in the South-West, for now. This is one shrewd bipartisan political collaboration worthy of huge commendations,” the statement said.

“If feelers at our disposal are anything to rely upon, it is heart-warming to note that, on the strength of the resistance and joint rejection by our Senators, the Senate Committee on Niger Delta has rejected the nomination of Mr Charles Ogunmola as nominee for the position of Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC.”

Akeredolu also noted that by the provisions of the NDDC Act, and with specific reference to the position of the Managing Director, it is the turn of Ondo State to produce the next Chief Executive of the Commission, adding that his administration has done what is required by Law over time to pursue that cause.

The governor said that the state shall continue to reactivate all efforts and work with the lawmakers to ensure that the state is not short-changed on the NDDC Board.

“We count on them to zealously guide and guard their conscionably displayed passion for the people of the oil-producing areas of Ondo State. We are in congruence with them, as they monitor events between now and the next plenary session, where their report is most likely to be submitted and debated.

“However, the next collective battle is for all hands to be on deck to achieve what is most desirable in the immediate.

“Put simply, we must all work together to ensure that Ondo State is not short-changed under the flimsy guise of our ‘rejection of an earlier opportunity’.

“The next EDP of the NDDC is still for the mandate areas of Ondo State to produce. We shall give whatever it takes to achieve this. For this reason, we will ensure a more robust, holistic stakeholder engagement in a matter of days.”

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