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Fire guts Defence Headquarters in Abuja

Ijeoma OPARA
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Fire guts Defence Headquarters in Abuja

A fire outbreak occurred at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, December 12.

Director of Defence Information Jimmy Akpor, who confirmed the fire outbreak said the cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained.

He disclosed that investigations into likely causes had commenced.

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“A minor fire incident occurred at the second floor of the Defence Headquarters, Garki, Abuja, this afternoon, 12 December 2022. The cause of the fire outbreak is unknown at this moment. However, the incident has been brought under control with the combined effort of the military and Federal Fire Service personnel and resources.

“All personnel and civilian staff were also evacuated without injury or loss of life. Accordingly, normalcy has returned. Investigation to determine the cause of the fire incident has commenced immediately,” he said.

Akpor thanked officials of the Federal Fire Service for timely intervention during the incident.

This is the third fire outbreak within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the past week.

On Saturday, a fuel tanker burst into flames at the Conoil filling station at Area 10 while discharging its contents.

Another filling station in the Lugbe area of the FCT had been affected by an overnight fire on Thursday.

In November, there was a fire outbreak at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Headquarters in Abuja.

Although no deaths were recorded during the fire outbreaks, several properties were damaged.

Energy Transition: Space for Change, others seek justice for affected oil communities

Harrison EDEH
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Energy Transition: Space for Change, others seek justice for affected oil communities

SPACE for Change, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, and Extractive 360 have declared that communities in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta affected by government’s energy transition plan must not be neglected.

The bodies made this known in a statement they issued today at the unveiling of a report titled, ‘Energy Transition in Nigeria’s Oil-Rich Communities’.

The report was supported by the African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP).

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The report prioritises the involvement of communities in the green economy and stresses the importance of addressing environmental injustices, while creating alternative livelihood for those who could be affected.

The statement, which was jointly signed by Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Fyneface Dumnameme and Juliet Alohan, emphasised that community inclusion and participation was key in correcting mistakes of pollution in Niger-Delta states.

It also noted that Nigeria, despite contributing less to the world’s energy-related carbon emissions, was witnessing radical change in climatic conditions that affected its food security.

The statement stressed that
radical changes in climatic conditions like intense rainfalls, heavy flooding, deprecating costal lines due to rising sea levels, drought and desertification were taking their toll on developing countries like Nigeria, and affecting food security.

“The national energy transition plans are silent on communities that have borne the brunt of fossil fuel extraction for several decades, many of whose livelihoods are dependent on crude oil and local refining.

“The national transition plans and policies neither made arrangements
for clean-up, remediation, compensation, and rehabilitation of oil-rich communities, nor
for addressing the massive environmental damage that has accompanied the country’s
protracted dependence on fossil fuels,” the statement added.

It further noted that decades of neglect, widespread environmental damage, and monumental poverty had contributed to popularizing the environmentally damaging but money-spinning artisanal refining trade.

Nigeria is phasing out fossil fuels as part of its commitment to achieve net zero by 2060. The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) on August 24, 2022, establishing the country’s strategy to reach a net-zero emissions energy system by 2060.

As a result, several global funders like the World Bank and the African Development Bank are of the view that Nigeria should begin to explore global opportunities in clean energy and decarbonisation.

FCT Police beef up security ahead of Christmas celebrations

Ijeoma OPARA
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FCT Police beef up security ahead of Christmas celebrations

THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said it has beefed up security in the nation’s capital ahead of the Christmas celebrations.

According to a statement by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command Josephine Adeh, operatives have been deployed in large numbers to various parts of the city.

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“The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed personnel and material resources in their thousands across the nooks and crannies of the Territory ahead of the yearly anticipated festivities.

“The proactive deployment which consists of all Intelligence and Tactical Assets at the Command’s disposal cemented with inter-agency collaboration is occasioned by the need to ensure that crime and criminality in its forms and dynamics are promptly nipped in the bud,” the statement said.

Following the deployment, activities, including stop and search, highway and border patrol, intelligence-led raids on black spots, among others, would be carried out.

“Consequent upon the above, the FCT Commissioner of police CP Babaji Sunday psc wishes to assure residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that residents sleep with their two eyes closed in the festive period and beyond,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police also urged operatives to ensure respect for human rights and adherence to global best practices in discharging their duties.

No critical election material destroyed in attack on Imo headquarters – INEC

Bankole ABE
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No critical election material destroyed in attack on Imo headquarters – INEC

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said no critical election material was damaged in the attack on its Imo state office on Monday, December 12.

Hoodlums attacked INEC’s headquarters in Owerri, Imo State capital, in the early hours of the day.

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission said the attack was targeted at its assets ahead of the 2023 general elections.

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The statement also noted that the incident happened on the day of the commencement of collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by registered voters.

INEC’s facilities in Imo State have been attacked three times in less than two weeks, following earlier attacks in Orlu Local Government Area on December 1, and Oru West LGA, on December 4.

The statement read, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Agu, has reported that our State Headquarters office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen.

“The incident occurred at about 3.00 a.m. today, Monday, December 12, 2022.

“The attack affected part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring Department, and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.”

INEC said the response of the security and emergency service provider (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the Commission.

It added that no critical election material was destroyed, and there were also no casualties involving the staff of the Commission.

“This is the third attack on the Commission’s facilities in Imo State in less than two weeks.

“Our Imo State Headquarters is located in the centre of Owerri, the state capital, between a court and the state secretariat.

“This is, therefore yet another systematic attack targeted at the Commission’s assets across the country, more so on the day that the collection of Permanent Voter Cards commenced nationwide ahead of the 2023 general election,” INEC added.

THE ICIR reported that unidentified gunmen, on Monday, December 12, razed the INEC office in Owerri, Imo State capital.
Three of the gunmen and a policeman died in the attack.

Reacting to the development, the Imo State Police Command, Mike Abattam, said the gunmen were suspected IPOB members.

“They are suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra. It is the outcome of our investigation that will determine those that will be held complicit,” he said.

“We gave them a hot chase. The Command’s tactical teams were able to follow them and in the process, we were able to neutralize three of them.”

He added that two of the gunmen were captured alive with bullet injuries, noting that the Command was combing the area to apprehend other suspects.

PMS: PETROAN asks DSS to go after cartels behind artificial scarcity

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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PMS: PETROAN asks DSS to go after cartels behind artificial scarcity

THE Petroleum Product Retails Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has charged the Department of State Security (DSS) to investigate cartels operating private depots and hoarding petrol, leading to artificial fuel scarcity across the country.

The Chairman of the Association, System 2E, South-Eastern, Sunny Nkpe made the call on Channels Television on Monday, December 12.

Nkpe said that to solve fuel scarcity in Nigeria, the problem must be traced to the root.

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He noted that the ultimatum issued by the DSS to operators in the petroleum sector cannot address the problem.

“There is no amount of threat issued by DSS that is going to change anything. If it must change, they must start from the source. They should go to the private depot operators to find out what is going on because that is where we are getting our products,” he said.

“Until the cartel or cabal in that area is handled or taken care of, we can never get any reduction or fairness in the distribution of the product,” Nkpe said.

He added that there has not been a drop in petrol allocation to the Port Harcourt depot in the last six months.

A former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, who also spoke on Channels Television on Monday, called on the DSS to make its findings public, following the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum it issued last week.

“DSS must tell Nigerians its findings within 48 hours and whoever is behind this should be prosecuted because there are enough products in this country for everybody to get petrol,” he said.

“For DSS to come out and issue an ultimatum, the DSS must be privy to some information. Everyone must focus on the DSS to come out with its results within 48 hours or else, DSS may also be a player in the game.”

Esele said that the system needs to be transparent to ensure constant supply of petroleum.

“Until we make the system better we are not going anywhere.

“These are big-time players and what they know how to do is to make money. So DSS needs to tell Nigerians their findings after 48 hours and they should prosecute perpetrators because I know that there is enough product in Nigeria to make sure everybody has abundant fuel.

“There is no amount of threat issue that will change anything, if it will change it must change from the depot,” he stressed.

Recall that a human right activist and lawyer, Femi Falana has earlier faulted the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and oil marketers to end the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.

APC only worried about Peter Obi, not Atiku, says party chieftain

Vincent Ufuoma
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APC only worried about Peter Obi, not Atiku, says party chieftain

A CHIEFTAIN of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has said the only person posing a threat to the chances of his party in the 2023 presidential election is the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi.

Okechukwu, who is also the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), spoke on Arise Television on Monday, December 12.

He said the APC is not bothered about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

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According to him, the former vice president is no match for the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Okechukwu said the APC is worried about Obi’s growing popularity across the country.

“Atiku is not a match for our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He cannot eat his cake and have it,” he said

“Our only worry as a party is Mr. Peter Obi and not Atiku”.

Okechukwu recalled how in 2014, Atiku led his compatriots and walked out of the PDP at the Eagles Square, Abuja, when he and his friends insisted that it was the turn of the North to rule.

He also noted that when Atiku contested the PDP primary in 2018, no contestant from the Southern part of the country contested against him because there was a general agreement among stakeholders in the party that power should remain in the North.

He queried why Atiku would want to continue as a northerner after Buhari’s eight years as President.

Group urges youths, PWDs to get involved in politics

Lama Queen Godoz
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Group urges youths, PWDs to get involved in politics

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Street Project Foundation, has called on Nigerian youths and People with Disabilities (PWDs) to get involved in politics and hold leaders accountable.

Lead Visionary of the Foundation Rita Ezenwa-Okoro made the call during the Artvocacy Festival, an event held in Abuja over the weekend.

“The whole essence of the activation of this movement is to galvanize young people across Nigeria who have been docile, and unaware of what it means to be an active citizen,” she said.

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She urged young people to make a difference in society, adding that when leaders are consciously monitored, they would be forced to respond to the issues.

During the discussion, panelists emphasized that youth and women are critical stakeholders who must be politically involved to influence policy that affects them directly, as democracy thrives on citizen participation, transparency and accountability.

Referring to the #EndSARS protest, Linking, Learning and Amplifying Officer of the Voice Cedric Owuro noted that the protocols on ground must be followed and the youth must keep advocating for those who are still in detention after 779 days.

Youths including PWDs put up performances highlighting challenges faced by young Nigerians. They also launched a book titled “See through our eyes”.

Visually impaired performer Samuel Gabriels, spoke to The ICIR on challenges facing PWDs in Nigeria.

“The level of enlightenment of the average person relating to People with Disability is very low. From the point of ignorance and oppression, we are subjugated but my philosophy is always to prove them wrong at any instance.

“Even in the presence of sheer evidence that I can swim, I face challenges at the swimming pool,” he explained.

The flutist, saxophonist, activist and social critic also said the Artvocacy program, which uses the power of the creative arts to facilitate youth leadership, development, and social mobilization, gave him a platform to grow and expand his network.

“It is very inclusive and I am a major beneficiary, I am a street project ambassador of the 2016 set and through the Street Project Creative Youth Bootcamp, I learnt the act of networking and expanding one’s horizons.

“I have been able to interact and express myself on big platforms both within Nigeria and internationally,” Gabriels said.

Young people were encouraged to seek political positions despite the technicalities of vying for office in the Nigerian system.

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A young politician, Juliet Isi Ikhayere aspiring for House of Representative in Bwari Area Council, urged youths to get involved in politics.

“The power I have is my voice, and that voice is so unique that we won’t stop talking,” she said.

Ikhayere who has held the position of a councillor added that it is important for young people to rant. However, she noted that ranting without having a leadership voice amounts to nothing.

Police blame IPOB for attack on Imo INEC office

Faith ABEKA
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Police blame IPOB for attack on Imo INEC office

THE Imo State Police Command has blamed suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the attack on the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

Unidentified gunmen, on Monday, December 12, razed the INEC office in Owerri, Imo State capital.

Three of the gunmen and a policeman died in the attack.

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Reacting to the development on Channels TV, spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Mike Abattam said the gunmen were suspected IPOB members.

“They are suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra. It is the outcome of our investigation that will determine those that will be held complicit,” he said.

“We gave them a hot chase. The Command’s tactical teams were able to follow them and in the process, we were able to neutralize three of them.”

He added that two of the gunmen were captured alive with bullet injuries and the Command is still combing the area to apprehend other suspects.

Attacks on INEC offices have become e recurring phenomenon.

In recent times, hoodlums have torched the Commission’s offices in Ogun, Osun and Ebonyi states.

Global Investigative Journalism Network offers fellowship

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Global Investigative Journalism Network offers fellowship

THE Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) is inviting applications for its 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Conference.

The program will offer more than 150 fellowships for established and young promising journalists with a demonstrated interest in investigative or data journalism.

The GIJC23 will feature over 150 panels, workshops, and networking sessions with the world’s leading investigative reporters, top data journalists, and experts.

 

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Grantees are expected to produce a story or give a presentation about the conference in their home countries to help spread investigative journalism worldwide.

Journalists in developing or transitioning countries can apply for a fellowship to travel to the 13th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC23) from September 19, 2023, to September 22, 2023, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The fellowship is open to full-time print, online, television, video, radio, documentary, and multimedia journalists.

Journalists from disenfranchised communities are encouraged to apply.

The deadline for the submission of applications is February 28, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

Gabo Foundation, Cartagena Hay Festival offer Michael Jacobs grants

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Gabo Foundation, Cartagena Hay Festival offer Michael Jacobs grants

THE Gabo Foundation and the Cartagena Hay Festival are accepting candidates for the Michael Jacobs Grants.

The program seeks to benefit journalists and writers who are working on articles or travel books on Latin America and/or Spain.

Journalists who write in Spanish or English and have at least one book or article published can apply for this grant.

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The winner will receive US$7,500 to finance the research and writing of a long-form article or book.

The jury will consider the narrative quality and the journalistic depth of the projects.

The organiser says, “Travel writing can enrich our understanding of the world in a unique way.

“Having the potential to encompass so many different forms of writing, from autobiography to fiction, journalism to history, it allows authors to explore ideas and disciplines with a freedom that would not be possible within a more academic context.”

The deadline for the application is December 30, 2022. Interested applicants can apply here.

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