By Temitope Ponle

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for African Governments to connect to Africa’s Diaspora for the sustainable development of the continent.

Buhari said this in his keynote address at the ongoing Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS) which was held in Abuja on Thursday.

The president was represented by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Mu’azu Sambo.

The president said African governments needed to harness human and material resources of the Diaspora.

This, he said, would enable them to become forces to be reckoned with in regards to sustainable development of their homelands, regional bodies, and national governments.

He said this could be done through remittances, medical missions, educational visits, tourism, investments and enterprises, among others.

“On this note, there have been foreign and national initiatives to harness the potentials of the African Diaspora in the development of the African continent.

“The African Union, African governments have been making efforts towards mobilising the African diaspora for the social and economic development of African communities worldwide.

“There have been statements by high level officials of several countries, calling for quote unquote, turning the brain drain into brain gain.

“The African Union has designated the Diaspora as the sixth region and some African governments have established cabinet positions within the governments to mobilise the diaspora.

“These are all laudable initiatives geared towards the economic growth of Africa by connection with the African diaspora.”

Moreover, he said the objectives of the symposium would lead to outcomes that portrayed to the entire African Diaspora, “a possible sense of belonging and homecoming, with an ease of entry or movement for the Diaspora into Africa”.

Buhari also said it would be beneficial for an improved collaboration on Diaspora engagement between multilateral organisations.

Speaking, President, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, said building stronger connections between Africa and Diaspora globally was pertinent to the contribution of the Diaspora to global security, stability and development.

Touray said it would enable the Diaspora recognise that they are important actors in the integration and development of Africa.

“For this reason, there is a need for continuous evaluation of the extant policies and regulations for enhanced Diaspora engagement.

“I call on participants to this important conference to help us move from business as usual.

“Concrete and actionable Diaspora strategy, both strategies that will serve both the members of the diaspora and Africa.”

Also speaking, President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni said the theme of the symposium had a role to play in shaping Africa’s future.

Museveni was represented by Amb. Abbey Walusimbi, Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, Uganda.

The Ugandan president said African Governments should work towards a more integrated and prosperous Africa to recognise the importance of the Diaspora community.

He said recognising their importance would encourage them to take an active role in the development of their different countries.

“This is very critical to ensuring that Diaspora resources and expertise for the benefit of Africa and that the Diaspora community is engaged in our coordinated transformation agenda.”

He also said the symposium provided the opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore innovative solutions for division and sustainable development in Africa.

Meanwhile, in his message, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said economic integration was the single biggest force that could help African Union realise its economic ambitions outlined in Agenda 2063.

Akufo-Addo was represented by Amb. Sena Siaw-Boateng, Ambassador of Ghana to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of Mission to the European Union.

“Integration, indeed, is championing the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement of which its secretariat is based in Accra.

“This challenge demands commitment, patience, and clear sightedness, as well as the consistent support of our Diaspora”. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Mercy Osajiugo

Alhaji Umar Mohammed Bago, Niger state Governor-elect, has approved the governorship inauguration subcommittees leadership and members, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

A statement by Dr Mohammed Santuraki, Chairman of the inauguration Committee, disclosed that Bago approved the constitution and membership of nine Inauguration subcommittees.

The committees are Security, Health & Safety, Venue, Accommodation, Transport & Logistics, Inauguration Lecture, Protocol, Welfare & Entertainment and Special Events Subcommittees.

Santuraki said that the subcommittees are expected to liaise, synchronize, and work with the relevant counterpart government committees, and/or other state organs or functionaries to facilitate and celebrate a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.

‘’A peaceful leadership transition is a significant hallmark of a democracy. Details of the inauguration Programme of activities shall be announced at a later date.”

‘’The Governor-Elect look forward to being joined by members of our party and other stakeholders, our numerous supporters and Nigerlites at the inauguration events,’’ he said.

Santuraki called on members of the committee to contact the Inauguration committee’s secretary, Zainab Gogo-Halilu on 0706 686 0662 for details regarding their documentation.

NAN reports that the various subcommittees have the following leadership and dozen memberships: Security subcommittee: DIG Majid Ali (Chairman), Col. Ahmed Sharu (Vice Chairman), Capt. Baro (Secretary); Health & safety subcommittee: Dr Chindo Ibrahim Bisalla (Chairman), Dr Bello Tukur (Vice Chairman), Dr Adam Ahmed Shehu (Secretary); and the Venue subcommittee: Hajiya Ramatu Yar’adua (Chairman), Suleiman Umar (Co-chairman), Hon Binta Mamman (Vice Chairman), Baba Alhaji Ndaman (Secretary).

Others are Accommodation subcommittee: Abdullakeem Oshinuga (Chairman), Hussaini Ndayako (Vice Chairman), Baba Ahmed Yumu (Co-vice chairman), Fati Baba Mustapha (Secretary), Transport & Logistics subcommittee: Umar Nagogo (Chairman), Hannafi Jantabo (Vice Chairman), Sa’idu Salisu Njaga (Secretary); and the Inauguration lecture subcommittee: Prof. A. B. Ahmed (Chairman), Prof. Nasiru Maiturare (Vice Chairman), Dr Shaba Mohammed Etsu (Secretary), Mohammed Kudu Abubakar (NTA) (Co-Secretary/Member).

The Protocol subcommittee is chaired by Abdullahi Baba Arah, with Abdullahi Yerima (Vice Chairman), Hon Habiba Lamido (Co-Vice Chairman), Ibrahim Inga (Secretary), while the Welfare & Entertainment subcommittee is chaired by Hanau Salihu (Chairman), Amina Musa Guar (Co-Chair), Ladidi Kata (Vice Chair), Ibrahim Abdul Hamid Muller (Secretary), Hon. Fati Abubakar (Co-secretary)

Santuraki disclosed that the Special events subcommittee has Jumaat services chaired by Chief Imam Sheikh Isah Fari, Sheikh Beji (DG Religious Affairs) (Co-Chair), Alhaji Isa Abdulkadir (Co-ordinating Sec); while the Novelty football match subcommittee is chaired by Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Hon. Adamu Aliyu (Co-chairman) and Musa D Sarkinkaji (Co-ordinating Sec.).

The Special Polo Tournament subcommittee has Mohammed Babangida as Chairman, with Umar Nagogo as Co-Chair and Hadiza Idris Kuta as Coordinating Secretary.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Akwa Ibom map

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has vowed to resist ongoing efforts to redraw the map of Akwa Ibom, designed to realign Ijaw settlements.

According to the group, the aim of the realignment is to bring communities into Ijaw settlements who are oil bearing communities.

The pan Ijaw socio-cultural and pressure group dismissed claims advanced by promoters of the project as false, baseless and mischievous.

INC said that claims that Akwa Ibom has no map hence the need to draw a map by the state government was a ploy to realign settlements in the state to bring communities into Ijaw settlements who are oil bearing communities.

Prof Benjamin Okaba, President of INC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Ijaws across the Niger Delta region were being mobilised to halt plans to further marginainalise them in Akwa Ibom.

Okaba regretted that some interest groups who are not comfortable with the natural endowments of oil and gas in Ijaw settlements in Akwa Ibom, want to use government machinery to distort Ijaw settlements and create boundary crisis.

According to Okaba, it is regrettable that while the INC is in the struggle to reverse the marginalisation of the Niger Delta region in the Nigerian context, the people of the region are busy marginaising their kinsmen.

The Ijaw leader who described the plot as ‘internal colonisation’, said that it was both illegal and unconstitutional for a state government to delve into mapping and boundary adjustments which are clearly on the exclusive legislative list.

He explained that mapping and boundary adjustments were clearly the role of the Federal Government, the Surveyor General of the Federation and the National Boundary Commission, respectively.

“It is laughable that people are claiming that the state of Akwa Ibom created some 35 years ago has no map, when the major requirement for state creation is a map.

“How then did the constituencies delineation take place if there is no map, on what basis does Akwa Ibom get its revenue from the federation account?

“The state of Akwa Ibom also won cases bordering on oil wells with neighbouring states at the Supreme Court and the map of the state tendered as evidence formed the basis of the verdict and the maps are still in the records,” Okaba said.

He said that INC would take every necessary step to support and protect the economic interest of Ijaws in Akwa Ibom in their quest to benefit from the three per cent host community fund in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“I want to place it on record that the government of Akwa Ibom will have the entire Ijaw nation to contend with on this, Ijaws may be minority in Akwa Ibom but we are majority in Niger Delta,” Okaba said.

He urged the state government to comply with a subsisting court judgment in favour of the Ijaw communities and jettison the idea in the interest of peace. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Vincent Obi

By Justina Auta

Two Non-Government Organisations — Invictus Africa and BudgIT Foundation, on Wednesday, introduced “Womanity Index”, a tool to track annual ranking and reports on gender equality and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The Executive Director of Invictus Africa, Ms Bukky Shonibare, at a news conference in Abuja, said that the index would also focus on issues affecting women, especially girl-child education, women’s health, economic empowerment and political representation in Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria.

She explained that it would be carried out through field and technology-based data collection to assist state and local governments to understand the context and identify gaps, as well as challenges peculiar to each state in addressing GBV.

She said “the Womanity Index is novel as it helps subnational governments, as primary duty bearers, to know their performance in their efforts to prevent and respond to GBV in their states.

“It will also identify the gaps and challenges that impede their performance, and the specific actionable recommendations which, when implemented, will result in ensuring laws and policies that guarantee GBV prevention, effective support systems, and allocation of adequate budget and spending to address GBV.

“It will also aid accountability by duty bearers (governments) and provide the relevant data and evidence needed by citizens to track implementation and advocate for effective GBV prevention and response,” she said.

Mr Gabriel Okeowo,the Country Director, BudgIT Nigeria, said data from the research in some states would serve as reference documents on GBV to ensure state-specific recommendations.

“So this first work is very important and will serve as a base line.

“We will then have a basis of comparison to be able to say as at 2023 this is where this state is and as at now this is what the results is showing,” he said.

Mr Folarin Johnson, the Senior Project Officer, Nigeria Governor Forum World Bank SFTAS programme, said the index would enable government measure all interventions on GBV in their various states.

According to him, it is a research and it is not just about the field data collection.

“We are going to be building on some of the data that are in existence.

“So the reason this partnership exist is for everybody involved to bring out what they have done in the past and it is what will form the basis of what it is.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Segun Giwa

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has urged youth to embrace digital learning platforms in accelerating skilling, up skilling and employment opportunities.

Mrs Blessing Ejiofor, UNICEF Communication Specialist, said this on Thursday in Lagos at a two-day workshop organised in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos Office, for young people and journalists across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day workshop is tagged: “Media Dialogue on Digital Learning Platforms.”

Ejiofor said the programme was aimed at galvanising the media to support advocacy on digital learning solutions with a focus on bridging the digital divide, especially for girls and young people in hard-to-reach communities.

She noted that UNICEF had collaborated with governments and other partners in creating the enabling environment for skills development that would enable young people to thrive and better able to respond to the country’s social and economic needs.

Ejiofor also said that the deployment of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), an online offline and mobile digital learning platform that supports learning and skills acquisition for Children and youths as well as the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) platform, were avenues to skill as well as connect young people to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and social impact.

Mr Joannes Yimbesalu, UNICEF Programme Specialist, said that the workshop was an opportunity to explore, learn and share ideas on the benefits and opportunities available to young Nigerians on the NLP, YOMA and U-Report digital platforms.

Yimbesalu enjoined the media to help amplify these digital platforms to the youths.

In her remarks, the NOA Director in Lagos, Ms Adetola Adegboyega, said that the training was important due to the importance of technology in day-to-day activities.

Adegboyega who noted that journalists were also an important aspect of the training, said that they would help in disseminating information on the opportunities offered by digital learning. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Victor Adeoti/Vincent Obi

By Cecilia Ijuo

Mr Aliyu Tahir,Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency(NEMSA), has warned against importation of substandard electricity materials into Nigeria.

Tahir, who is also Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, gave the warning at the 2023 First Quarter Interactive Session with Energy Reporters in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the agency was collaborating with Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON), security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that only standard electrical materials were imported into Nigeria.

He said NEMSA had begun removing such materials across the country, adding that 68,168 substandard materials were removed in 2022.

The managing director said the agency had equally set up a tax force on monitoring and evaluation of existing networks to stem the use of substandard electrical materials.

Tahir said NEMSA would not relent in its effort to achieve its mandate, particularly in the area of substandard materials.

“Four distribution companies in Abuja, Ibadan, Ikeja and Eko were monitored by the Tax Force set up by NEMSA last year.

“This year, the monitoring exercise will continue to cover the six other distribution companies in Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Yola, Jos,  Benin and Enugu.

“The essence of this effort is to maintain stability in the existing electricity networks.

This is also to stem use of substandard materials, cables and equipment in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry(NESI),” he said.

On other achievements of the agency in 2022, Tahir said 10, 876 new electrical projects were inspected, 10, 598 existing networks were monitored while 771 of them were resolved.

He further said 3, 480 factories, public places and hotels were inspected, 2, 576, 607 electricity meters tested, 2, 719 electrical personnel certified and 6, 332 certificates renewed.

According to him, the agency also inspected 647 pole manufacturers in the country, investigated 376 electrical accident sites and established first Meter Generation Museum and Gallery.

Other achievements according to him are, training of 18 electrical engineers of NEMSA on renewable energy, certification of 36 electricity meters and instruments manufacturing assembling companies.

The managing director said in furtherance of previous achievements, the agency would continue with sensitisation, certification as well as stakeholders’ engagement among others.

“There is a planned national conference on safety which is aimed at bringing together core professionals in the power sector and security agencies.

“This is to chart the way forward on how to provide and deepen NEMSA’s services in areas of security, safety of lives and property in NESI,”he said.

Tahir said the agency was not unmindful of concerns by electricity customers.

According to him, the problem of epileptic power supply,  meter purchase by customers, fast reading meters among others were being addressed.

He commended the media for its continued support, while calling for more support, particularly in the area of awereness creation on the agency’s mandate.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that NEMSA was established in 2015 to enforce technical standards and regulations.

It was also established for testing and certification of all categories of electrical installations among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Yakubu Uba/Isaac Aregbesola

By Jessica Dogo

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has engaged stakeholders on the improvement of courts management reporting.

This came to the fore at a two-day workshop tagged: “Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Building Training”, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Chairman, National Programme Coordinator for the Court Admi ofre nistration Management (CACM) Project, Dr Oluwatoyin Badejogbin said there had been challenges of managing court cases efficiently and in a timely manner.

Badejogbin said the project sought to adress these challenges by helping courts and departments of public prosecutions to work more efficiently.

This, he said, was with the hope that such efficiencies can improve the output of courts and help to further decongest courts.

Badejogbin said that the organisation would look at the implementation of other interventions that would strengthen case management and help speed up cultural processes through digital recording devices.

“All across courts in the country, we experience challenge of managing cases efficiently and in a timely manner.

“We are looking at implementing a whole range of interventions that will not only strengthen case management, but will help to speed up courts processes through digital recording devices.

“The practice has been that judges write in long hand and that contributes a whole lot of delays in cases so by introducing recording devices, we hope to bring down the delay considerably.

“We also want to strengthen the capacity to manage a couple of courts very efficiently so that we don’t have cases of records being lost,” he said.

The Board Chairman, PPDC, Chibuzo Ekwekwo said the project was already implemented in three states, adding that new states will soon benefit from the programme.

“The states themselves will also invest and take up the programme and improve its expansion across the judicial systems.

“We have to help the court systems improve their manual process because without improving the manual process, digitising becomes difficult.

“The next step is to deploy the infrastructure to digitise the process and have a full impact of using the new system,” he said.

Mr Jibril Shittu, Chief Executive Officer of PPDC, said that the effect of the project on justice was in a way that justice would no longer be delayed but accelerated.

“It is very important because we see the potential impact on the lives of the average citizens.

“When we talk about efficiencies in court systems and processes, court administration scheduling in our various judicial offices and systems need to improve,” he said.

Executive-Secretary, Judicial Service Commission, Nasarawa State, Yahaya Shafa said some of the challenges faced were lack of facilities in court rooms Nigeria.

“This project will help us do better case management, help in acquiring evidence and all these will lead to better administration of criminal justice,”he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CACM project is a pilot that is being implemented in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau States.

The project seeks to improve access to and the dispensation of justice for Nigerians, enhance citizens’ interaction with the government and law using transparency tools. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved Action Plan 2022-2026 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the weekly meeting of the council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The plan was formulated by the stakeholders in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

He said the approval followed the Buhari administration’s compliance with National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), judgement and payment of N135 million compensation to victims and family members of the Sept. 18, 2013 Apo six killings.

Malami also said the report of the committee for the protection of journalists, equally adjudging Nigeria as the only African country that has been in full compliance in terms of the protection of the rights of the journalists.

The minister said: ”This is taking into consideration that not a single incidence of death of a journalist has been recorded in Nigeria arising from infractions, relating thereto.”

According to Malami, the policy is intended and targeted at consolidating and upscaling the Nigerian observance of the Human Rights posture in view of the successes and achievements of Nigeria as it relates to human rights under the current administration.

He said: “As you will recall, the administration of Buhari has established a record of being the first and only administration in the history of Nigeria that has indeed tolerated, accommodated and enforced the decision of the Human Rights Commission.

”And in this respect, talking of the Apo six, taking into consideration, the commission adjudged the government as being in breach of the human rights of certain individuals popularly referred to as Apo six, which unfortunate incidents predates the government of  Buhari .

”The Human Rights Commission adjudged the government liable to pay about N135 million to the family of the victims of the alleged infractions.”

Malami said the Buhari’s administration took steps to ensure payment of the N135 million to the Apo Six in compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission/

The minister said: ”Thereby giving teeth to the Human Rights Commission in terms of compliance with the recommendation,” he added.

“Now with those local and international successes in mind, the need has now arisen for Nigeria to indeed consolidate on the gains.

”This is with the view to upscaling its provision from a local observance of the protection of the human right to international standard by way of ensuring compliance with the best practices.”

According to him, the new action plan will help prove that Nigeria is working in tandem with International best practices with regards to the protection of human riights.

“So, the essence of the presentation of the council memo today is to deliberate on the action plan, review it and seek approval for its conservation or presentation before the International Human Rights committee for the purpose of establishing the following:

”That Nigeria is no longer operating at a local scale in terms of the observance and promotion of human rights, but indeed upscaling its international observance to international best practices as far as the human rights, promotion and protection of human rights is concerned.

“I am happy to report that the council deliberated and the council approved the action plan presentation before the International Committee on Human Rights,” he said.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, who also spoke on the outcome of the council meeting again assured that the indigenous airline- Nigeria Air, would take off on or before May 29.

According to the  minister, the infrastructure and staffers are ready and only await the final approval by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He also assured the workers in the aviation sector that all issues relating to their agitations on minimum wage would be taken care of by relevant government agencies and ministries.

The minister further disclosed that the council approved N9billion for the procurement, installation, and inauguration of voice and data recorders in nine airports across the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed also disclosed that the 137kms Kano to Zaria and 73 kms Zaria to Kaduna expressways, as well as the second Niger bridge projects would be handed over to the Federal Government on May 15 for inauguration.

According to him, the 116kms  Lagos to Ibadan will also be handed over to the government on April 30, while the Loko-Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue States and the Utor bridge in Delta had been completed. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim with the participants at a two-day capacity building workshop for case officers on nationality screening for asylum seekers at Keffi, Nasarawa State.

By Jacinta Nwachukwu.

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has engaged its case officers on nationality screening for asylum seekers to strengthen their capacity towards enhancing service delivery.

Speaking at the workshop on Wednesday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the aim of the training was to deepen officers’ knowledge on the subject matter.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that Nigeria had about 100,000 registered refugees, adding that asylum seekers among them were undergoing the process of either achieving refugee status or returned if they declined.

According to her, the training will enhance accuracy of nationality screening for asylum seekers and refugees in the country.

“The significance of this discussion cannot be over-emphasized. The Commission’s Act 2022, a person can only be a refugee if he/she is outside his/her country of nationality.

“Or for those who are stateless outside their country of habitual residence. Nationality screening for refugees is therefore essential in determining eligibility for refugee status,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.

On asylum seekers, she said for them to be granted asylum, they must fulfill the stipulation of the 1951 Act of the Commission.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained further that they must be genuinely non – Nigerians who were fleeing from persecutions.

“In Nigeria some of the asylum seekers have Nigerian parents, grand or great grandparents, spouses or children. Establishing nationality of claimants with such ties may not be easy for RSD and litigation officers.

“The Commission is committed to supporting measures such as this that contribute to building staff capacity and strengthening the integrity of the asylum space.

“NCFRMI remains very committed to work with partners towards provision of sustainable protection and assistance as well as durable solutions for our persons of concern, including refugees,” she said.

On her part, Ms Mwihaki Kinyanjui, Senior Protection Officer, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said that the agency would continue to support the government towards enhancing protection of refugees in the country.

“We do support the Nigerian government in ensuring the standard for screening new arrivals to meet the international and national standard for the protection of refugees,” Kinyanjui said. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi