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Climate change will kill 250,000 every year for 20 years, says WHO

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Climate change will kill 250,000 every year for 20 years, says WHO

By ICIR Nigeria

An additional 250,000 people will die every year between 2030 and 2050 due to the effects of climate change, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

It also stated that already, 12.6 million people die every year from diseases associated with environmental hazards, such as water, soil or air pollution and climate change.

The pronouncements come a day after Donald Trump, US president, withdrew from the climate change agreement that the US and 94 other countries, including Nigeria, signed in 2015.

Trump had described the agreement as a “massive redistribution of United States wealth to other countries”, saying he would try to renegotiate a better deal.

“In order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord, or an entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its tax-payers,” he said.

“So we’re getting out. But we will start to negotiate and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine.”

It would appear WHO’s statements were in response to Trump’s action, as it also tweeted: “Climate Change is a health problem. Let’s take action for a healthier environment! #ParisAgreement”


 

Million-naira ejaculation… 22-year-old man granted N1m bail for ‘raping’ 8-year-old

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Million-naira ejaculation… 22-year-old man granted N1m bail for ‘raping’ 8-year-old

By ICIR Nigeria

An Ikeja chief magistrates’ court on Friday granted a N1 million bail to Samuel David, a 22-year-old driver accused of raping his neighbour’s eight-year-old daughter.

In granting the bail, Chief Magistrate Davies Abegunde also ordered the accused person to produce two sureties in like sum.

Abegunde said that the accused should pay N100,000 into the chief registrar ‘s account, as part of the bail conditions.

During Friday’s hearing, Raphael Donny, prosecutor and police sergeant, told the court that David committed the offence on May 12 at his house located at No 30 Oremeji Street, Bariga, Lagos.

According to Donny, the accused called the girl into his room on the pretext that he wanted to sending her on an errand.

“The accused defiled the girl, cleaned her up and told her not to tell anybody,” he said.

“Days after, the girl was feeling uneasy and could not urinate properly, hence she told her mother what happened and the accused was apprehended.”

The accused person, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding magistrate adjourned the case till June 26.

Pittance! FG to settle 3% of promotion indebtedness to civil servants

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Pittance! FG to settle 3% of promotion indebtedness to civil servants

By Yekeen Nurudeen

The federal government says it is set to release N10 billion for the payment of promotion arrears of civil servants — a mere 3.5 percent of the original debt of N290 billion.

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, said this after a meeting with Udo Udoma, minister of budget and national planning; Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance; Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of the civil service of the federation, on resolving the problem of unpaid salary arrears and allowances of public servants.

According to Ngige, the meeting was in furtherance of the directive of the federal executive council, on May 24, 2017.

He expressed the determination of the government in clearing all arrears, such as outstanding allowances on promotion, 28 days relocation, repatriation, training, burial expenses and death benefits to public servants .

He explained that government’s decision was anchored on a clear understanding that clearing these arrears forms part of the palliative measures being taken to cushion the harsh economic realities on the public
servants.

He noted that a disbursement of the sum of N14.6bn had earlier been done in early 2017 to take care of the salary arrears arising from the shortfalls in the 2016 budget.

In May, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) issued 14-day strike notice to the federal government over the issue.

Since the ultimatum ended on May 30, Ngige said he had been engaged in many marathon meetings with the  leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

However, 12 states still owe workers’ salaries. Of the 12, Kogi is the most indebted, with 15 months unpaid salaries. This is despite the double bailout funds from the federal government.

Also on the list of heavily indebted states are Osun, which owes 13 months; Kwara 12 months; Bayelsa nine, Ondo eight months; Ekiti and Oyo seven.

Others are Benue State (five), Nasarawa (three), Abia (three), Imo (three) and Ogun, which owes more than six months of unremitted deductions from workers’ salaries for cooperatives and union dues, among others.

REVEALED: 1,800 youths getting infected with HIV every day

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REVEALED: 1,800 youths getting infected with HIV every day

By ICIR Nigeria

Ever thought young people are carelessly engaging in premarital sex and getting away with it? They aren’t, after all.

According to Peter Thomson, president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), 1,800 young people a day are being newly infected with the HIV virus, with young women at particular risk.

Thomson was speaking at UNGA’s annual review of the secretary-general’s report.

“While major advancements have been made, the scale of shortcomings remain deeply concerning,” he said.

“Some 1,800 young people a day are being newly infected with the virus, with young women at particular risk. A blunt assessment would say that to date our achievements have been mixed.”

He said that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach that also targets education, information and services to people living with HIV and to those at risk.

“Adequate funding remains critical to meet the objectives,” he said. “There is also the need to close the $7 billion funding gap for the global AIDS response.”

Also speaking, Amina Mohammed, deputy UN secretary-general, said more than 36.7 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.

Warning that the pandemic is still far from over, she called for a reinvigorated global response to HIV/AIDS.

“I am happy to report that, today, more babies than ever are being born free from HIV. Now we need to do a better job of reaching young women and adolescent girls,” she said.

“This is particularly true for sub-Saharan Africa, where adolescent girls account for three out of four new HIV infections among 15 to 19 year olds.

“Achieving our aims on AIDS is interlinked and embedded within the broader 2030 Agenda. Both are grounded in equity, human rights and a promise to leave no one behind.”

In 2016, the UN political declaration on ending AIDS set the world on a fast track to stamp out the epidemic by 2030.

In the first phase, countries pledged to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths to fewer than 500,000 by 2020 and to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

However, according to the report, with less than four years to go, progress on reducing new HIV infections among adults has stalled.

The report added that financing for the global response had dried up and more importantly, women and girls continue to bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic.

“While more than 18 million are now on life-saving treatment, this is just half of those who need it, and there is no decline in the number of new infections each year,” Mohammed said.

“People living with HIV who are on treatment can now expect the same life expectancy as someone who is not infected.”

Mohammed noted that key populations, including sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people and homosexuals, remain at much higher risk of HIV infection.

More than 10 million additional people living with HIV must access treatment by 2020, while most of them are unaware of their HIV status.

 

PHOTOS: The ‘national embarrassment’ of Lagos international airport road

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PHOTOS: The ‘national embarrassment’ of Lagos international airport road

By ICIR Nigeria

Ever wondered what was the ‘big deal’ about the Lagos international airport road to warrant a media war between Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, and Babatunde Fashola, the ‘superman minister’?

On Wednesday, the Lagos state government secured the permission of Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo to reconstruct the road.

One day on, the governor’s media team followed up on the breakthrough by releasing photos of the road, even recalling how Ambode had “earlier this year described the current state of the road as a national embarrassment which required urgent attention to salvage the nation’s image”.

Photos below:

Lagos roads2

 

Lagos roads1

 

Lagos roads

 

Lagos roads.

 

Poor State of Lagos Roads..

Bode George: I’m not a chameleon… I can never go to APC

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Bode George: I’m not a chameleon… I can never go to APC

BY ICIR Nigeria

Bode George, former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says there is no chance that he will defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) because he is “not a chameleon”.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Thursday, George said that although PDP was neck deep in crisis, it would overcome its problems and come back stronger.

He dismissed rumours that he would soon dump the party for APC, saying he would rather quit politics instead of joining APC.

“People saying that PDP would die are missing the point,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“The party has laid on a very strong foundation that could last for so long. PDP was created for the unity and prosperity of the nation by its founding fathers, and its national spread will make it stand the test of time.

“I am disappointed at those leaving this party at this time. As for me, I would rather quit than defect. Whoever is saying I plan to defect to APC is lying. I am not a chameleon. I do my things straight. I can never go to APC.”

George also faulted calls by some politicians, particularly Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti State, for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over his ill-health.

“It is inhumane of anyone to pressure the president to step down from office just because he was having some health challenges,” he said.

“You see, I don’t support the call by some people that the president should resign because of his health. Even though I have always been on different camps with the president, I do not think it is right for anybody to have evil thoughts towards him.

“He is ill and we can only wish him good health and pray for him; calling him to resign because of this is getting beyond politics. He is a human being and only God knows the appointed time for everyone.

“The holy book says we should always pray for people in authority; I think the president deserves everyone’s prayers, not comments that could even outrage some people and create unnecessary tension.”

South Africa slipping into recession but Brazil heading out

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South Africa slipping into recession but Brazil heading out

By Kingsley Obiejesi

South Africa’s unemployment has risen to its highest in 14 years, with agriculture and informal sectors shedding jobs and more people refraining from job hunting in the first quarter — a sign that the country’s economy may be headed for recession.

According to Reuters, the unemployment rate rose to 27.7 percent of the labour force in the first quarter — the highest since September 2003 — from 26.5 percent in the last quarter of 2016.

South Africa’s crisis coincides with a period of economic regeneration in Brazil, which, since 2013, has been in its worst known economic recession.

Data released on Thursday showed the economy to have emerged from its worst recession on record with its fastest growth rate in nearly four years.

The South American country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.0 percent in the first quarter from the preceding one, matching economists’ forecasts for the biggest rise since the second quarter of 2013.

“The recession is over!” President Michel Temer, who has resisted protests for his resignation after being placed under investigation by the Supreme Court, tweeted minutes after the release.

“It’s the result of the measures we are taking. Brazil is growing again and will grow even more with the reforms.”

Despite the progress, 14 million workers remain unemployed in Brazil, a country with one of the biggest gaps between the wealthy and poor. Many analysts expect Latin America’s largest economy, operating now at 2010 levels and forecast to grow just 0.5 percent in 2017, will continue running below potential throughout next year at least.

“There is still some way to go before a full recovery but we’re in the right direction,” Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said in a statement praising a “historical day” for Brazil.

Brazil’s economy shrank more than 3 percent in each of the past two years, the deepest and longest downturn since records began in 1901.

It is a downturn like this that is now being feared in South Africa, where unemployment levels have risen to 36.4 percent, or 9.3 million people out of a total workforce of 22.4 million.

Statistics South Africa warned that recent credit downgrades to sub-investment grade and the threat of further cuts were taking its toll on the economy as the currency depreciated and made imports more expensive.

“Certainly you are better off without a downgrade than you are with one,” Pali Lehohla, statistician general, said. “The depreciation of the currency works for you when it is deliberate.”

South Africa’s economy shrank 0.3 percent in the last quarter of 2016 and if it shows a contraction when domestic product results are released on Tuesday, then the continent’s most industrialised economy will be in technical recession.

Nigerians among 44 migrants ‘killed by dehydration’ in Sahara Desert

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Nigerians among 44 migrants ‘killed by dehydration’ in Sahara Desert

By ICIR Nigeria

Nigerians are among the 44 migrants to have died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger.

According to BBC, there were six survivors, all women, who managed to walk to a remote village Dirkou, Niger, where they are being looked after in.

Lawal Taher, a Red Cross official, said several children were among the dead. He added that nobody had visited the site yet to identify the bodies.

Sahelien, a Nigerien news site, said the Ghanaians and Nigerians were trying to get to Libya.

African migrants traditionally attempt crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe by first travelling from Niger to Libya.

Reuters reports that crossing the Sahara is one of the most perilous parts of the journey, as migrants are crammed into pickup trucks often with just enough room for a few litres of water.

The unforgiving conditions of the Sahara Desert mean that a broken-down vehicle is often a death sentence for migrants.

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants cross the Sahara to reach Libya. From the Libyan coast they board rickety boats to ferry them to Europe.

Although lots of death go unaccounted for, it is common knowledge that many migrants die of thirst, while others are robbed and attacked by criminal gangs and security forces.

In June 2016, the bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, were found in the Sahara Desert near Niger’s border with Algeria, a government minister saying  it appeared they had died of thirst after being abandoned by their smuggler

LIST: The 15 resident electoral commissioners approved by senate

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LIST: The 15 resident electoral commissioners approved by senate

By ICIR Nigeria

On Thursday, the senate approved the appointment of 15 of the 27 names nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari in March as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). 

Presenting the report, Suleiman, Nazif, chairman of the senate committee on INEC, explained that the other 12 nominees were yet to complete the screening exercise.

He added that their names would be forwarded to plenary for confirmation once the process was completed.

 

THE FULL LIST

S/N NAMES                             STATES
1 Godswill Obioma              Abia
2 Ahmed Makama               Bauchi
3 James Apam                    Benue
4 Nwachukwu Orji               Ebonyi
5 Iloh Chuks                        Enugu
6 Nentawe Yilwada             Plateau
7 Umar Ibrahim                   Taraba
8 Emeka Joseph                  Imo
9 Obo Effanga                     Cross River
10 Francis Ezeonu                 Anambra
11 Briyai Frankland                Bayelsa
12 Ibrahim Abdullahi              Adamawa
13 Agboke Olaleke                Ogun
14 Hussaini Pai                      FCT
15 Sadiq Musa                       Kaduna

As of March 4 this year 33 states of the federation are without RECs, which means that even if all the 27 nominees get Senate approval, six states will still not have RECs who head INEC’s operations at the State levels.

The nominees who are yet to be confirmed are: Mike Igini (Delta), Jibrin Zarewa (Kano), Asmau Maikudi (Katsina), Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi), Samuel Egwu (Kogi), Rufus Akeju (Lagos), Mustapha Zubairu (Niger), Sam Olumekun (Ondo), Abdulganiyu Raji (Oyo), Riskuwa Shehu (Sokoto), Kasim Geidam (Yobe) and Bello Mahmud (Zamfara).

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Senate Passes Customs And Excise Repeal And Re-Enactment Bill

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Senate Passes Customs And Excise Repeal And Re-Enactment Bill

The Senate has passed the Nigerian Customs Service Management Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2017.

This followed the consideration and  adoption of the report submitted by the chairman of the Senate committee on Custom and Excise, Hope Uzodimma.

Uzodinma said the re-enactment of the customs act became necessary given that the Act establishing Customs had not undergone a major overhaul since 1958.

Among many other new introductions in the new Customs Act is the provision for the appointment of a Comptroller-General from the service by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Recall that the current Customs CG was before his appointment by President Buhari a retired Army Colonel.

Uzodimma said: “The primary purpose of amending this bill is to bring discipline and prudence into Nigeria Customs Service as a major revenue earning Department of Government.

“It is also to use the services of Customs to strengthen border community and facilitate trade.

“The Customs Act was legislated upon last in 1958. This is the first time that this bill is going through a comprehensive overhaul and it is as good as a brand new one.

“This bill has created a Customs Service Commission that is in charge of the day to day management of the service.”

According to the bill, “the Chairman of the (Customs Service) Commission will be appointed by the President, subject to Senate confirmation and members of the commission are going to be statutory organs of government, Federal Ministry of Finance.

“Others are Federal Ministry of Transport, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Nigeria Customs Service, Standard Organisation of Nigeria.”

Uzodinma pointed out that the creation of the commission was not to jettison the position of the Ministry of Finance, but to make the work easier.

He explained that the tenure of the Chairman of the commission as provided for in the new Act would be four years with an option to renew for another four years.

“Currently Customs should get money from non-dutiable items and it should be able to oversee the activities of dutiable cargo and non-dutiable cargo. That is what we have done,” the lawmaker stated.

“Now customs will be funded through the existing seven per cent surcharge and additional one per cent charge from the revenue generated.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki, in his remarks said the bill, when signed into law would modernise the customs service in accordance with modern realities

“It will also ensure that Nigeria complies with international commitments of World Trade Organisation, WTO,” Saraki said.

“It is a very positive development in ensuring that we have a customs administration that will be more transparent with better clarity.”

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