By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The UN and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday condemned in totality the attack on civilians and several aid facilities in Dikwa Borno.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Edward Kallon said in a statement in Abuja that he was outraged to hear about the attacks and the setting ablaze of facilities belonging to aid organisations.

“I am gravely preoccupies by reports of an ongoing violent attack by non-state armed groups in Dikwa, Borno, during which several aid facilities were directly targeted.

“The attack started last right and information is still coming through, I am outraged to hear the premises of several aid agencies and a hospital were reportedly set ablaze.

“I strongly condemn the attack and I am deeply concerned about the safety and security of civilians in Dikwa, including internally displaced people inside and outside the camps.

“This attack will affect the support provided to nearly 100,000 people who are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance and protection,” he said.

Kallon stressed that civilians and their residence as well as facilities of aid workers should never be a target but must be respected and protected at all times.

He called on all armed parties to immediately stop the violence and respect international humanitarian law and human rights law.

In a related development, the Head of Mission, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Franz Celestin also condemned the attack in Dikwa.

Celestin said in a statement on Tuesday that the attack negated the priority that should be accorded to the safety of those who were striving to rebuild their lives.

“The safety of displaced people and those trying to rebuild their lives after years of conflict must be the top priority in North-East Nigeria.

“Following the latest attack on Dikwa, IOM joins the call on all armed parties to stop the violence and ensure the protection of civilians,” he said.

An Executive Bill seeking to ban open grazing and regulate the business of livestock breeding and marketing in Bayelsa, will be passed into law on Wednesday.

Mr Tonye Isenah, Chairman of the State House of Assembly Joint Committee, on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Trade, Industry and Investment, Environment, and Security made this disclosure in Yenagoa.

Isena gave the assurance during the public hearing on the bill organised by the committee, at the Assembly Complex  on Monday.

The public hearing followed the Assembly’s successful first and second reading of the legislative document, which is titled “Livestock Breeding and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021”, during plenary on Feb. 24.

Isenah, a former Speaker of the House, said that Gov. Douye Diri would sign the bill into law, latest Friday this week, after its expeditious passage on Wednesday.

He explained that the purpose of the public hearing was to get the views of other stakeholders, in order to enrich and strengthen the bill to become an efficient law in the state.

He further promised that inputs made during the public hearing would be harnessed by the committee.

“We want to assure that this week; the committee will sit tomorrow (Tuesday), prepare our report and submit to the House on Wednesday.

“And that Wednesday it will undergo expeditious passage, then on Thursday or Friday, the governor should be able to sign the bill into law so that we can live as human beings,”he said.

Groups that made presentations on the bill included the Cattle Rearers and Butchers’ Associations, Farmers and vegetable growers, Civil Societyociety Organisations, and Traditional rulers.

Others were the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Ijaw Youth Council and Association of Local Government of Nigeria.

The sponsor of the bill and Leader of the House, Monday-Bubou Obolo, said the bill was very essential because the government had a constitutional duty to secure lives and property through proper legislated regulations.

He said the bill when passed into law would “prevent herders-farmers clashes and also prohibit movement of livestock on foot and possession of firearms, but will allow the using of trucks to convey livestock.”

Obolo, also a former speaker of the House, further said that the bill had proposed the establishment of a Livestock Management Committee, to be chaired by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“Government has the responsibility to secure lives and property. Therefore, the government has a duty to regulate livestock breeding and marketing in the state.

“Though the Constitution provides for freedom of movement, it does not include livestock.

“Livestock is not human. The bill ensures registration for permit with the committee, which is empowered to impound roaming livestock and impose fees and other measures,”Obolo said.

By Lizzy Okoji

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S. is keen to strengthen bilateral ties with Nigeria.

Blinken said in statement by Mr Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S Department of State on Tuesday that the U.S considered its relationship with Nigeria a very important one

The statement made available by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria following a phone discussion between Blinken and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Goeffrey Onyeama.

“Secretary Blinken outlined a holistic approach to the U.S.-Nigeria partnership based on our shared values of democracy, respect for human rights, and robust people-to-people relations.

“Acknowledging the threats that violent extremists pose to Nigerian and regional security, he welcomed President Buhari’s recent appointment of military service chiefs.

“To bring new approaches to combat terrorism in the northeast and provide national security throughout the country，President Biden’s revocation of immigrant visa restrictions on Nigeria is an affirmation of the close ties between Americans and Nigerians,” Price said.

The spokesperson further said Blinken reiterated the United States’ support for Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as the new Director General of the World Trade Organisation.

Responding after the discussion via his Twitter handle， Onyeama said he was glad to re-engage with the U.S. Secretary of States and was looking forward to increased cooperation between the two countries.

”Very glad to re-engage , through a very nice phone call with U.S. Secretary of State, @SecBlinken.

“We covered a broad range of bilateral and multilateral issues and look forward to increased cooperation,” Onyeama said.

By Lizzy Okoji

The ECOWAS Parliament has pledged its support to the Malian people as the country embarks on transition to democratic rule.

Speaker of the parliament Sidie Mohamed Tunis pledged the support of the sub-regional congress when he led a parliamentary mission to Mali as part of activities of the sub-regional lawmakers to support the West African country.

The speaker also stressed that the legislative body recognised the National Transitional Council (CNT), the body set up at the beginning of December and entrusted with legislative power.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parliamentary mission was mooted by the speaker during his opening speech at the January Virtual Ordinary Session of the parliament.

The mission was specifically meant to support the transition process in Mali, in line with the relevant decisions of the Special Meeting on Mali, of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in September 2020 in Accra.

Speaking after a meeting with the First Deputy Speaker of the CNT, Mr Assarid Imbarkawane, Tunis said: “We are here to hold parliamentary discussions with the Speaker and the CNT all geared towards giving the support to the Malian people.

“As members of ECOWAS Parliament, we recognise the CNT and it is in the interest of the Malian people that we work with them, advise them, and give whatever support that they need.

“We had very frank discussions and we were able to give some advice on how we can continue to have peace and stability in Mali.

“We are very pleased with the explanation that we got from the President of the CNT and we also hope to meet with other political party players to see how we can encourage them to work together as a country for the interest of the people of Mali.”

The speaker added that as part of the mission, members of the sub-regional parliament would hold further discussions with the CNT as well as lawmakers who had been posted to ECOWAS.

He urged the CNT to ensure that it worked to advance peace and stability in Mali throughout the transition process.

“Between now and the time for the elections, the ECOWAS Parliament will continue to engage them to ensure that we all go by the rules, to ensure inclusive dialogue that will bring all political players on board.

“So that at the end of the day when we have the elections, it would be acceptable to everybody,” he said.

By Kelechi Ogunleye

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in collaboration with security agencies, have deployed about 100 personnel to arrest traffic flow violators.

Mr Wadata Bodinga, Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), stated this on Monday during an inspection visit to a mobile court set up to prosecute traffic offenders in the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of FCT, Muhammad Bello, on Feb.26 flagged-off a ministerial action against traffic violation.

The ministerial taskforce team comprises of men of the Nigeria Police Force, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

It has a mandate to ensure compliance with all traffic rules and regulations by road users.

The DRTS boss said that officers and men of the taskforce had been deployed to ensure that the directives of the FCT minister to ensure sane roads in the territory were strictly adhered to.

“Some offenders were apprehended on Monday and the Mobile Court is sitting. At this mobile court, there about 21 vehicles impounded due to several road traffic offenses and still counting.

“The owners of the vehicles are before the Magistrate to have their fines, penalties and court judgement as the case may be,’’ he said.

He stressed that it was important to note that anyone found guilty of traffic offenses would undergo a compulsory two weeks emotional evaluation.

“Aside of fines, anybody who beats traffic lights, uses a phone while driving, drives against traffic flow or drives dangerously, will go for emotional evaluation.

“Such persons must undergo a compulsory two-week lecture so that they will be accustomed with to rules and regulations guiding driving in this city.

“I cannot imagine someone in his emotional sense or right state of mind will beat traffic lights or drive against traffic flow,’’ he said.

According to Bodinga, a deliberate preparation took place on Feb. 28 with officers and men of the security agencies at Eagle Square to prepare them for the road operation.

He charged men of the taskforce to be civil and avoid excessive chase of offenders to avoid crashes.

“We have to find a tactical way and approach to get the cooperation of motorists.

“In a situation where you cannot arrest an offender if he drives off, the bike riders can ensure they copy his plate number for further enforcement,’’ he said.

Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, one of the alleged road violators said that he was apprehended by men of the FCT Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), stating that he was on a phone call although his phone settings was on hands-free.

“I am very ignorant about this law that I was meant to park to make or answer my call before I continue driving and so that was my offence this afternoon.

“I am presently waiting to face a judge at the Mobile Court situated here. I am just on the list and I think after two or three people I will be called upon to face the judge.

“I don’t know what my penalty will be, but I pray it’s a lenient one.

“I think they are very professional with their operations as the Director of VIO was here himself and was able to explain part of the law to me and I understood their angle.

“The officers on ground too have been professional in explaining to offenders what their offences are and likely punishment and everything has been cordial here due to the presence of a Mobile Court,’’  he said.

Another alleged traffic offender, Mr John Sunday, admitted that he violated the traffic light by stopping at a Zebra crossing.

“I actually violated the traffic light by stopping at a Zebra crossing at which they said it had been announced before that crossing it is a violation, but I didn’t know about it.

“I was apprehended and they brought me here and I think I will have to pay a certain amount of money.

“But the issue here now is that some people were actually arrested earlier, but they allowed them to go, which is really unfair,’’ Sunday said.