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

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) has conducted free medical tests and distributed over 500 treated mosquito nets to reduce the prevalence of the disease in Lugbe community of FCT-Abuja.

Speakingbat the event on Tuesday, the Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Arome Salifu, lamented that every 30 seconds, a child die from malaria that could be prevented and cured.

The theme for the 2023 World Malaria Day is: “Time to deliver zero malaria: Invest, innovate and implement”.

Salifu, represented by the Head of Project Delivery of AYGF, Ms Omonike Oyedele, said the foundation is making efforts to reduce the severe impact of malaria on families and communities to promote healthy living as well as enhance societal development.

“Malaria is particularly devastating in Sub-Saharan Africa where it has significant social and economic consequences,” she said.

“The latest World Malaria Report, again confirmed the continent of Africa as home to 95 per cent of malaria cases and 96 per cent of malaria deaths.

“More worrisome is that children under five years accounted for 80 per cent of the deaths caused by the malarial parasite,” she said.

According to her, Nigeria accounted for 31 per cent of global malarial deaths which resulted in 191,890 lives lost annually.

“This contributed to the 619,000 estimated number of malarial deaths on the continent, which carries a disproportionately high share of the global malarial burden.

“While progress has been made in expanding access to malaria services for at-risk populations, too many people are still not receiving the needed services towards preventing, detecting and treating the disease.

“This is compounded by various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict imposed humanitarian crises, funding gaps, weak surveillance systems, and declining effectiveness of malaria-fighting tools,” she said.

According to Salifu, to address some of these challenges, the AYGF is establishing more robust malaria programmes in Katsina, Kogi and Niger States, covering over 2,000 communities.

She added that the foundation’s programmes has reached about one million individuals, including pregnant women and children, and still counting.

She explained that AYGF’s intervention, supported by the World Bank project’s Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), has developed guidance, strategies and frameworks to enhance the transparency, flexibility and access to malaria tools.

“Through these interventions, AYGF is tackling technical challenges facing malaria implementation, especially the barriers people encounter in accessing quality health services.

“By bringing malaria commodities closer to where people live and work through primary healthcare centres in those communities, the cost of care is reduced and equity is enhanced.

“However, the Nigerian government’s approval of a new malaria vaccine from Oxford University, the R21/Matrix-M, is also commendable.

“The vaccine designed to prevent malaria in children aged 5 to 36 months was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.

“We are hopeful that this vaccine and other interventions will soon make malaria a thing of the past in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

“AYGF will continue to partner with government of Nigeria and other stakeholders in enhancing quality of healthcare and deliver zero malaria through investment, innovation and implementation of people centric malaria interventions,” Salifu stressed.

Responding, the Village Head of Lugbe Village, Mr Danlami Cheta, appreciated AYGF for its intervention to reduce the prevalence of malaria in his community.

“It is a good programme for us that we will never forget. It is wise to bring such a programme in this community, because malaria is seriously dealing with my people.

“This is as a result of the environment and that is why when I took over office last year, I have been sensitising people on the need to have a clean environment.

“We thank AYGF for making us to benefit from this malaria programme of treatment of malaria and distribution of mosquito treated nets to my people.

“We will be glad for this relationship between the community and AYGF continuous, and not on malaria alone, but other health interventions. We can not pay you back. It is only God that will pay you. Thank you AYGF,” he said.

Meanwhile, a beneficiary, Hajiya Fatima Maina, who was tested for malaria and given mosquito net, said the intervention would go a long way to help the residents of Zhilu community in Lugbe, Abuja.

“Our people are suffering from this malaria and other health challenges. The malaria is affecting us, because of the nature of our community with stagnant water everywhere.

“There ares gutters everywhere and the mosquitoes are too much, especially in the heat season and the raining season that has started.

“The nets are giving us free of charge will help us so much. Most of us don’t have means to and cannot buy because of poverty. So the nets and malaria drugs given to us are very important.

“It will be helpful to all of us in the community. We appreciate AYGF for the effort they made to get our community to benefit from this programme. Other NGOs should emulate AYGF please,” Maina said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation had tested and provided mosquito nets for free to over 500 residents, including sensitisation on the disease and how to use the nets. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Segun Giwa

United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday in Lagos, commenced training of selected youths and journalists in the South-West zone on digital learning platforms.

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

In her opening remarks, UNICEF Communication Specialist, Mrs Blessing Ejiofor, said that the programme was aimed at exposing youths to the advantages of digital learning platforms.

Ejiofor said that the media were also involved to do the advocacy on the digital learning platforms and give the platforms necessary publicity.

According to her, embracing the digital learning platforms by the youth will reduce unemployment and crimes in the country.

Ejiofor said that the primary purpose of the dialogue was to understand the various digital platforms and how young people could make use of them positively.

The UNICEF communication specialist also said that the training would expose the youth to how to write their curriculum vitae, where to submit job applications and how to make use of digital platforms for wealth creation, among others.

“We brought many experts to this programme to help us know more about digital learning platforms of both the private and government organisations,” she said.

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.

Also speaking, UNICEF Programme Specialist, Mr Joannes Yimbesalu, said that the programme was an opportunity to explore, learn and share ideas on digital learning.

In her presentation, Head of Communication, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Ms Taiye Tunkarimu, said that the agency was saddled with creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for all Lagos residents.

Tunkarimu said that the agency was also working toward reducing unemployment and crimes in the state.

She stated that the agency had trained no fewer than 16,000 youths on digital literacy, tech talent drive and vocational skills, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Victor Adeoti and ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Victor Adeoti

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun have commended the Jennifer Etuh Foundation (JEF) for donating a hospital and skill acquisition centre to Ifewara community in Osun.

The duo gave the commendation on Wednesday during the inauguration of the hospital built by the foundation in memory of the late Mrs Jennifer Ramatu Etuh, wife of the Chairman of JEF, Mr Thomas Etuh.

The establishment of the hospital is part of the vision of late Mrs Jennifer Etuh to provide accessible and affordable world-class healthcare services to women and children in rural communities.

In his remarks, Adeboye thanked Etuh for siting the hospital in his hometown, adding that the late Jennifer Etuh was one of his “spiritual daughters”.

The cleric who noted that the late Jennifer and her husband were very dear to him, said that in spite of his intercession while she was sick, “the Lord decided to call her home”.

Adeboye called for prayers for the family of the Etuhs, admonishing people to contribute their quota to improving the society and helping the people around them.

Also speaking, Adeleke appreciated the foundation for building the health facility in the state.

He said that his government would continue to prioritise the welfare of the people of the state.

The governor said his administration had provided free medical care to over 25,000 residents of the state under the “Imole Free Sugical and Medical Outreach.

In his remarks, Etuh said his wife gave clear instructions on what should be done with her investments following her health challenges, before her demise.

He said the late wife’s instruction gave birth to the medical centre.

“Before her demise, considering what she was going through, Jennifer gave clear instructions on what was to be done with her investments and this was to ensure others do not experience what she unfortunately passed through.

“It was the burden she carried before her demise that gave birth to the blessing, now known as the Jennifer Etuh Foundation (JEF).

“By the special grace of God, we are here today inaugurating a new hospital in the home town of her spiritual parents, Pastor and Mrs Enoch and Folu Adeboye,” he said.

Etuh noted that two similar medical centres on the instruction of his late wife, had been built and inaugurated in Odu (Kogi State) and Kagoro (Kaduna State).

He said the foundation intended to build two more hospitals.

Etuh disclosed that the foundation would soon inaugurate another hospital in Gombe State. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Reporters

Some residents of Abuja and its environs have expressed fear over the looming flood as a result of poor environmental and sanitation practices.

The residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that rainy seasons had been a difficult period for them as floods always submerge their belongings.

Mr Jacob Idris, a resident of Nyanya, said that the community had been battling with flood every rainy season even after clearing the drainages around them.

He said ”until the bridge and the road are reconstructed and a bigger ring is fixed; they may not get out of the problem.

‘’We don’t have the financial strength to construct a bigger bridge and a better road that’s why we are appealing to the government to come to our aid.

‘’We have lost millions of naira worth of goods and property to flood in this area and we are afraid that if nothing is done this year, property or even lives may be lost to flood.

‘’We have started seeing signs that it will rain heavily this year, since the first rain had caused serious flooding’’ he said.

Mrs Amaka Ukachukwu, a resident of Mararaba, Nasarawa State, said to prevent a recurrence of flood this year, the public needed to be sensitised to desist from dumping refuse on water channels.

‘’We need to sensitise residents to the danger of dumping refuse on waterways and major channels.

‘’Now that the rains are coming, we appeal to the government to be prepared and assist us on time.

‘’Some of us are poor, we should be relocated to camps as usual, so we are calling for early preparation in case such occurrences happened,’’ she said.

Mr Abdullahi Sanwo, a resident of Ado, Nasarawa State appealed to residents to avoid blocking waterways with refuse.

He said that a simple environment friendly rule of cleaning the waterways should be adhered to.

‘’We do not want to witness flooding this year in our community; we are educating our people on the need to keep the drainages free of refuse.

‘’Aside that, we use the media houses to educate the public to clear their drainages and to cut the weeds on the waterways,’’ he said.

Mrs Josephine Paul, a resident of Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, said that a committee has been constituted in her area to monitor residents to ensure proper disposal of waste .

Paul said that “waste bins are provided by the government, so residents are been monitored to ensure the proper use of the waste bins

‘’We had an agreement to contribute the sum of N100, 000 to hire labourers that will assist in clearing the drains and the weeds around our premises,” he said.

Mr Isaac Dogo, a resident of Garki advised residents against blocking of drains, adding that nature would fight back and the result is flood.

‘’I urged the government to take precaution against the impending doom,’’ he said

He appealed to the government to take a lasting solution to address the issue of flooding in the country in general.

NAN reports that the Director-General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu, says that rainfall is predicted to be earlier than the long-term average in most parts of the country.

NAN also reports that in 2023, although NiMet forecast had predicted a largely normal rainfall pattern, it also indicated a high possibility of flash floods in some states.

Matazu said there was likely to be elevated dry spell in some states of the north with potential adverse impact on planted crops.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Joseph Edeh