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Onitsha Fire: Anambra restricts movement of petrol-laden tankers

Nneoma BENSON
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Onitsha Fire: Anambra restricts movement of petrol-laden tankers

THE Anambra State government has announced a time restriction to the movement of tankers laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the state from 8 pm-5 am, with effect from November 2.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Adinuba said the time restriction follows the incessant cases accidents by tankers carrying petroleum products in the state and the most recent one at the early hours of Thursday, October 31 along Enugu- Onitsha express road.

He explained that the restriction was to enable agencies like; the Anambra State Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps and other security, law enforcement and safety agencies to respond effectively, in good time to related emergencies as the Ochanja inferno.

Adinuba said all the affected agencies were directed to religiously enforce the restriction order on the movement of vehicles laden with petroleum products in the state.

“They have also been directed to ensure that such vehicles do not exceed the speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour,” the Commissioner said.

“Any violation of either the time restriction order or the speed limit will be punished accordingly. The protection of the life and asset of every person in Anambra State cannot be compromised.

“All stakeholders, including oil marketers, workers, tanker drivers and indeed concerned persons in the downstream oil sector are urged to bear with the state and help to adhere to this regulation which is made strictly in the overriding public interest,” he added.

Recalled on October 16, the residents of Onitsha, the commercial centre of Anambra  State witnessed  an inferno which razed down some parts of the Ochanja market.

The inferno reportedly happened, when a truck carrying petroleum product had an accident at the Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha.

It was reported that the fire had ravaged traders commodities, before the arrival of the state fire fighters.

The Federal Fire Services in a statement, said the delay was as a result of a gridlock encountered at the overhead bridge by the fire service operatives coming from nearby Asaba, Delta State.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari,  reacted to the gory incident, calling on the Ministry of Transportation, Federal Road Safety Commission and other stakeholders agencies to urgently address the issue of safety standards in Nigeria, with a view to stemming the frequency of such tragedies.

“I am calling for urgent action on the part of those concerned to stem these frequent fatal disasters on public roads. Safety precautions and routine maintenance, often taken for granted by vehicle owners, must be enforced,” Buhari said.

AFDB capital base increases to $208b —largest since 1964

Jennifer UGWA
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AFDB capital base increases to $208b —largest since 1964

THE African Development Bank  (AfDB) has received a unanimous vote from its shareholders approving the sum of $115 billion increase to accelerate delivery on its High 5 development strategies across the region.

This was part of the outcome of  an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting in Abidjan, Coted I’voire who represented 80 countries.

The capital increase, the bank said, is the largest since its establishment in 1964.

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The approval, increased the banks’ capital to $208 billion which is more than a triple increment from a previous $93 billion.

According to the AFDB, discussions for a general increment were ongoing since 2017 to help facilitate attaining its priorities hinged on the sustainable development goals and the African Union Agenda of 2063.

“This solidifies the Bank’s leadership on development financing for the continent and ensures that the Bank will continue to maintain a sterling AAA rating, all stable, from the top rating agencies,” the bank said in a statement posted on its official website.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the bank noted that the approval would be instrumental in the improvement of quality of life for Africans.

“This general capital increase represents a very strong commitment of all our shareholders to see better quality projects that will significantly have an impact on the lives of the people in Africa –  in cities, in rural communities, and for millions of youth and women,” Akinwumi said.

 

UCJ extends deadline for inter-university essay contest

Lukman ABOLADE
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UCJ extends deadline for inter-university essay contest

THE Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, has announced an extension in the deadline for submission of entries for the fourth edition of its annual Inter-University Essay Contest.

Application for the contest was initially set to close on October 31, but has been shifted to November 30, 2019.

President of the UCJ, UI, Martins Isaac, said the fourth edition is the largest installment of the essay and it seeks to engage university students across the federation on the imperative subject of nation-building.

“UCJ, UI is proud to be spearheading this process of getting university undergraduates nationwide to inculcate the habit of thinking deeply and proffering solutions, rather than just whining and complaining, to the country’s problems,” he said.

He explained that contestants are required to discuss, ‘The Dire Need For Genuine National Development: Is Revolution A Solution?’ in a word limit of 1200.

Entries are to be in font size 12, 1.5 spacing and font type Times New Roman, are to be submitted in PDF format to ucjunibadan@gmail.com, along with the applicant’s short bio and scanned student identity card.

Launched in 2015, the 2019 edition comes with the highest prizes ever, as three winners will go away with the sum of N450, 000.

The first prize attracts N200, 000 plus an internship placement in a newspaper, while second and third prize go away with N150, 000 and N100,000 respectively.

Former president of the union, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, launched the maiden edition of the contest in 2007 but  was only held once in the seven years that followed.

Speaking on the 2019 edition Soyombo said “It’s an honour to be the one to revive this contest and take it on as an annual pet project”.

“Back in 2007, with the help of the likes of Obianuju Okafor and Chinyere Chimodo-Okeh, we ran a contest that gave out a total prize money of N340,000 — N100,000 for the first-prize winner, N80,000 for the second, N60,000 for the third, and N20,000 each for five other finalists,” he said.

“I am finally happy that, for the first time, we’ve now reached a point where we’re surpassing the 2007 total prize money,” he added.

Simult Omoya, Kunle Adebajo and Kanyinsola Olorunisola won the prizes of the previous contest in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Governorship Elections: INEC raises alarm over influx of thugs into Kogi and Bayelsa states

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Governorship Elections: INEC raises alarm over influx of thugs into Kogi and Bayelsa states

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says there has been mobilisation of thugs from within Kogi and Bayelsa states ahead of governorship elections fixed for November 16.

“We are also concerned that thugs have been mobilised from within and outside the States with the aim of either influencing the elections or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors,” said Mahmood Yakub, INEC chairman on Friday at a meeting with Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at INEC Headquarters, Abuja.

Yakubu noted that “There are already warning signals in the two states,” adding that “Both are politically volatile. Elections have been severally disrupted by violence in the past.”

A total of 46 candidates are contesting in the Kogi State election, according to a final list of candidates published by INEC on its official website. There are 90 candidates contesting in the Bayelsa governorship election.

The INEC chairman disclosed that a risk assessment by the Commission has already identified some flash points.

“Our own risk assessment which will be shared with the security agencies at this meeting has identified some flash points,” he said.

“This calls for a robust response before the elections, on Election Day and during the process of collation and declaration of results.”

He emphasised that Nigerians expect that by now the nation has learnt enough lessons from previous elections to ensure a swift security response to the increasing desperation by political actors to disrupt elections and subvert the will of the electorate.

“If that happens, many Nigerians will blame the electoral umpire and the security agencies. We must continue to rise to this challenge,” Yakubu said.

He however expressed optimism in the ability of the security agencies to provide adequate security during the elections.

“We are equally confident that with the sheer number of personnel the security agencies are deploying in the two states, there can be no excuse for the processes to be undermined by anti-democratic elements,” he said.

“We are equally re-assured that security personnel will adhere strictly to the standard operational guidelines and deal decisively with misconduct by their personnel on election duty.

“We have been re-assured by the security agencies that Election Day activities at polling units and collation centres will not be disrupted by the activities of hoodlums neither will thugs be allowed to cart away results sheets or compel our ROs to make declarations under duress.”

He said the Commission was  equally confident in the assurances it has received from the security agencies of civil and professional conduct by their personnel deployed for the elections.

On its part, Yakubu stressed that INEC was committed to the integrity of the process.

“Over the last seven months, we have been working assiduously to ensure that we conduct credible elections. We cannot undermine the processes we have so laboriously established,” he said.

Police rescues 12 victims from illegal spiritual centre in Lagos

Nneoma BENSON
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Police rescues 12 victims from illegal spiritual centre in Lagos

TWELVE victims have been rescued from an illegal spiritual healing centre at the Isheri Osun area of Ijegun in Lagos State on Thursday.

The Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana in a phone conversation with The ICIR confirmed that the victims have been rescued and are currently undergoing medical care.

“Yes, we rescued twelve persons from a healing centre and they are currently undergoing medical attention,” Elkana said.

According to a report by The Channels, the healing centre, called “Blessings of Goodness Healing Church”  harboured about twenty victims, some reportedly in chains since 2014.

Elkana said the chained victims were barely able to walk. He said the victims were to be removed first before the law enforcement personnel evacuate the rest.

However, the PPRO told The ICIR that the case was under investigation by the police, stating that more information would be revealed after results of the investigation were ascertained.

Buhari, Saudi Crown Prince set to launch Nigeria-Saudi Council

Lukman ABOLADE
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Buhari, Saudi Crown Prince set to launch Nigeria-Saudi Council

NIGERIAN President Muhammadu Buhari and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have agreed to establish a Nigeria-Saudi Council.

Buharia, currently in Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia has accepted an invitation by Mohammed bin Salman for the establishment of Nigeria- Saudi Council as effort to enhancing investments and fostering relations between both countries

According to a press statement released on the Presidency official Twitter handle,  the decision was the high-point of the bilateral meeting between Buhari and Mohammad bin Salman on margins of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.

Initially, the meeting was scheduled to hold in the crown prince’s office but he insisted that he would meet with Buhari at his hotel room in The Ritz Carlton, Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

The council is set to be established in two months and will be made up of government officials and business leaders from the two countries with focus on mutual economic growth and development, investment in oil and non-oil sectors and security cooperation.

Buhari and the Crown Prince decided that the first step for the Council is to establish a legal and operational framework that will facilitate investments beneficial to both countries.

Muhammad bin Salman agreed with Buhari that the Council after establishment will hold meeting twice in every year while the Leadership of both countries will meet at least once every year to review progress of the council and foster the established relations.

Appreciating the Crown Prince, Buhari said “Nigeria has a large population mainly made up of dynamic, young people and partnerships of this type will help them to be productive & prosperous.”

He said his government will continue to provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.

Mohammad bin Salman noted that the security challenges in the Sahel should be seen as a global issue. “Saudi Arabia is prepared to participate in the engagement and sensitisation of the whole world to the problems in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said

On bilateral issues, the Crown Prince reiterated the preparedness of the Kingdom to support Nigeria’s development agenda, noting that the country had the potential to be among the top 20 economies in the world.

“Saudi Arabia is eager to support Nigeria and we want to be a part of Nigeria’s journey to be among the top 20 economies in the world,” he said.

Mohammad bin Salman said Saudi Arabia has invested 40 billion U.S. dollars in India, 10 billion dollars in Pakistan and 20 billion dollars in Indonesia and are willing to do the same in Nigeria given the favourable business environment.

Speaking on regional and international issues, Buhari agreed with the Crown Prince that with the collapse of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the next frontier for terrorism is the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

World Cities Day: Cleaner air, speed management, tobacco restriction…, needed to improve cities- WHO 

Rebecca Akinremi
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World Cities Day: Cleaner air, speed management, tobacco restriction…, needed to improve cities- WHO 

THE World Health Organisation has launched a report that offers guidance and tools for urban leaders to tackle some of the leading causes of death in cities.

The report was published on Thursday on the occasion of the 2019 World Cities Day that is set aside by the United Nations to address challenges of urbanization and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world.

With the underlying theme of “Better City, Better Life”, WHO’s report was titled ‘The Power of Cities: Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs) and Road Traffic Injuries’. And it was geared towards local government officials and city policy planners.

It outlined ten key interventions on how city leaders could tackle the drivers of NCDs that include tobacco use, air pollution, poor diets and lack of exercise;  and improve road safety.

By enforcing legislation to create a smoke-free area, improving pedestrian and bicycle networks, reducing air pollution and increasing seat belts and helmet use are some of the ways to tackle traffic injuries and non-infectious diseases in the cities.

The WHO’s strategies are highlighted below:

  • Monitor NCD risk factors: Conduct a population-based survey of behavioural risk factors for NCDs, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, dietary habits and physical activity.
  • Create a smoke-free city: Protect people from second-hand smoke through the introduction, passage and enforcement of legislation that makes all indoor public places 100 per cent smoke-free.
  • Ban tobacco advertising: Comprehensive bans on all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
  • Reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages: Establish and implement policies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, such as taxes on the production or sale of sugar-sweetened beverages.
  • Reduce salt consumption: Implement key components of the evidence-based WHO SHAKE package for salt reduction
  • Create walkable, bikeable, livable streets: Improve pedestrian and bicycle networks and infrastructure across the city to ensure safe and equitable access to services, and to promote more walking and cycling for recreation and transport.
  • Cleaner air: Reduce ambient air pollution through interventions in polluting sectors, such as in transport, solid waste, and industries, and promote cleaner indoor air through access to cleaner fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting.
  • Reduce drink-driving: Increase enforcement of drink-driving laws.
  • Speed management: Establish lower speed limits and strengthen existing speed-limit enforcement.
  • Increase seat-belt and helmet use: Increase enforcement of seat-belt and motorcycle helmet use.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes kill 41 million people worldwide every year, and road traffic crashes kill 1.35 million.

In Nigeria, NCDs are estimated to account for 29 per cent of deaths in the year 2016, according to the WHO’s NCD country profiles published in 2018. It indicated that of the 2,128,000 deaths in the country in 2016, 617,300 were deaths from non-communicable diseases.

There are lots of bad incidents that have occurred on the Nigerian road.

According to the Federal Road Safety Commission, more than 48,000 people have died in over 78,000 road accidents across the country within 2007 and 2016.

The data obtained from the FRSC website in 2018 noted that more auto crashes happened in Abuja, the federal capital city, than any other place in Nigeria.

The Safe Cities Index 2019 ranked Lagos as the least safe city globally where above 50 per cent of its residents reside in slums.

Fake medical doctor attempts escape from prosecution – ICPC

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Fake medical doctor attempts escape from prosecution – ICPC

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday says Martins Ugwu, a fake medical doctor who fraudulently raked N17.2 million as salaries and allowances from the Federal Ministry of Health from 2006 and 2016, has temporarily escaped prosecution. 

He was scheduled to appear before Justice Abubakar Kutigi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gwagwalada, Abuja in an on-going trial for alleged impersonation as a medical practitioner but the trial was stalled due to his absence in court.

Until his arrest, he was a top official of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“When we looked at our archives, we discovered there is actually somebody that bears the name Dr. George Davidson Daniel but the picture is not the same as was sent to us,” lead investigator Dr. Henry Okwuokenye had stated.

“The actual person that bears that name is a doctor doing his residency at teaching hospital in Jos.”

However, according to a statement by Rasheedat Okoduwa, Spokesperson of the ICPC, the accused person is currently being remanded at the Keffi Prisons over another crime.

Ugwu is accused of  impersonating a certain Dr. George Daniel Davidson to gain employment into the Federal Civil Service (FCS), an offense said to have contravened Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the same act.

Moreover, the commission, in February 2016, filed a 7-count charge before Justice Kutigi, against Ugwu, for allegedly making false statement to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, through which he secured the false employment into the health ministry, in 2006.

“Ugwu allegedly used the fake documents to procure a staff identity card bearing the name of Dr. George Daniel Davidson, apply for annual leave as well as a post-graduate training programme which would have conferred on him, a Masters degree in the Field of Epidemiology Practice,” the statement read.

However, when the case was raised for trial at the court, David Ajaba, the defense counsel claimed not to know his whereabouts since 6th October. He pleaded for an adjournment in order to meet with the accused persons and present him in court but he was reminded of his detainment at Keffi prison.

In his submission, Ekoi Akponimisingha, Counsel to the ICPC, told the court to issue a ‘production warrant’ for the defense counsel to provide the accused in court.

However, Justice Kutigi adjourned the matter to 22nd January 2020.

He said this would enable the defense counsel to meet with the accused, stressing that the adjournment became vital as Ugwu also has the right to fair hearing as provided by the constitution.

Nigeria to leverage on U.S facility to address energy problem

Nneoma BENSON
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Nigeria to leverage on U.S facility to address energy problem

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will leverage on the United States of America’s (USA) facility to address the current challenges confronting the nation’s power sector.

The President made this statement on Wednesday while speaking at the meeting held on the margins of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum.

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu also tweeted about the president’s plan on Thursday.

Buhari expressed the willingness of the Nigerian government to mobilise additional capital from development finance institutions for the upgrade of critical infrastructure in the country.

The president met with the U.S Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin in Riyadh, where they talked about investments in Nigeria under the new, United States Int’l Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC) providing $60bn for investments in developing nations.

President Muhammadu Buhari meets with U.S Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin

Both leaders discussed strengthening Nigeria’s ongoing collaboration with the U.S to stop the act of financing terrorism.

Buhari appreciated the U.S government’s support to clamp down on terrorism in Nigeria and,  in accessing the $60 billion infrastructure fund under the USIDFC.

Earlier on Wednesday, the president met with King Salman of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and both spoke about developing relations in the areas of trade, technology, education and agriculture.

Buhari and the Saudi prince reviewed aspects of cooperation between both countries and agreed to advance cooperation in the areas of oil and gas, given the similarities of both countries as big producers of the commodity.

Salman assured the President of the willingness of Saudi Arabia government to invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, strengthening a partnership between the Saudi Energy company, Aramco, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The President instructed the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo and the General Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari to work with the Saudis and expedite modalities for investments.

Why we are protesting against bad roads in Ogun State ― NBA

Lukman ABOLADE
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Why we are protesting against bad roads in Ogun State ― NBA

THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ogun State Branch on Thursday protested in Sango-Otta against the deplorable conditions of roads in the state.

In a statement made available to The ICIR, the lawyers lamented the condition of roads in the GateWay state, expressing concerns that the poor state of the roads has led to the loss of lives and caused bodily injuries on commuters.

Chairman of the association, Isaac Ogbah who signed the statement specifically cited Sango-Ota-Owode-Idiroko expressway, Atan-Agbara expressway and the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, among others that have been causing major accidents in the state.

“Bad roads in Nigeria cause Nigerians annual losses in terms of vehicle maintenance, the estimated sum of N133.8 billion. Out of every two vehicles you see on Nigerian roads today, one must be damaged and perhaps, off the road, within a month,” Ogbah said.

According to him, the bad condition of the roads has contributed to the incidents of robbery, kidnapping, sexual molestation and accidents.

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During the protest,  an accident also happened as a result of the deplorable state of the Sango-Otta-Abeokuta road.

“Last year May, the Federal Government was reported to have awarded the re-habilitation of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, to Julius Berger Plc. The contract sum was N22.387 billion,” the NBA chairman said.

“Julius Berger Plc. came to fix less than one kilometer out of the over 50 kilometers road and up till this moment, no further substantial improvement has occurred on the road.”

“Most of the other roads in the Ota area are terrible, Obasanjo and Oju-Ore area, in particular, has become a nightmare, and a source of heartaches to the Ota people. It has taken the notoriety of Oshodi-Lagos of the old,” he added.

In a telephone chat with The ICIR,  Ogbah said many properties have also been destroyed due to erosion within the Ota community stating that it is very difficult to travel to Lagos State through the Ijoko axis of Ogun State.

He also said the Itori-Ewekoro-Papa Alanto road is as worse as  Iyana-Ilogbo, Papa-Sagamu Road and Sona-Igbala-Joju road.

The ICIR contacted the Permanent Secretary of Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure; Kayode Ademolake who said the ministry had spent over N15.8 billion on roads in six month.

He added that most of the roads being referred to by the NBA were federal roads and that the previous administration couldn’t have fixed all the roads in the state.

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