By Cecilia Ologunagba

UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths, on Tuesday released US$125 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to assist underfunded humanitarian operations in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East.

The 7 African countries listed are Burkina Faso US$9 million; Mali US$8 million; Central African Republic US$6.5 million; Mozambique US$6.5 million; Uganda US$6 million; Cameroon US$6 million; and Malawi US$4 million.

Afghanistan is to get US$20 million; Yemen US$20 million; Myanmar, US$9 million; Haiti US$8 million; Venezuela US$8 million; and Bangladesh US$8 million and Occupied Palestinian Territories US$6 million.

The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) which Griffiths leads, reported that in 2023, global funding requirements have surpassed US$55 billion to support 250 million people affected by conflict, climate change, disease outbreaks, and other crises.

Faced with these record needs, less than 30 per cent of the target funding goal has been received.

“It is a cruel reality that in many humanitarian operations, aid agencies are scraping along with very little funding right at a time when people’s needs compel them to scale up,” Emergency Relief Coordinator, Griffiths, said.

“Thanks to the generosity of a vast range of donors, we can count on CERF to fill some of the gaps. Lives are saved as a result.

“But we need individual donors to step up as well – this is a fund by all and for all.’’

The recent injection brings the emergency fund’s total support to more than US$270 million this year.

This is the largest amount ever allocated to the highest number of countries, reflecting skyrocketing needs and the fact that regular donor funding is not keeping pace. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Sen. David Umah

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, says contractors using asphalt  in road construction must sign an indemnity agreement of 30 years duration of the roads with the ministry.

Umahi said this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference to unfold the general direction of the ministry during his tenure.

He said  that contractor using asphalt would not be stopped but must sign the durability agreement

The minister, however, said that construction of concrete road would not be enforced on projects awarded already.

He added that  contractors would need to give assurance that roads built with asphalt would last up to 30 years though the concrete roads would last longer.

“We are not stopping asphalt works but it is not possible to be paying the job that we know will not stand for five years.

”Contractors hide under funny excuse of overloading for road not standing long.

“Nigeria must get value for their money paid as tax, enough of contractors doing shady work and getting paid for it.

“The concrete road when properly done will last for 50 years and we have success where we have done that apart from the one I did in Ebonyi.

”In fact before I left office we delivered Abakaliki Ridgeway Road, which was funded by the African Development Bank,” he said.

Speaking on funding for roads, Umahi  however,  noted with concern that the way Nigeria’s budgetary allocation was designed was not encouraging for contractors to timely complete federal road projects.

Umahi said the release of fund to contractors on annual basis made road projects to linger as in most cases the contractor access little from funds to purchase the raw  materials.

He said that the delay further gave rise to contract variation as inflation affect the original amount agreed for the project.

“When you give a contractor N150 millions a year for a N600 millions road project, he will pocket it while mobilising to site without doing anything on ground.

“When confronted, he will say he is yet to get the material he requested for outside the country as the money was not enough,” he said.

He appealed to the National Assembly to release over N650 billion  it withheld for some  projects across the country, which he said were almost complete but lack of the fund is still keeping the contractors on site.

He said if these funds were not returned the roads will not be completed and this according to him have negative  economic impact.

The minister  advised that members of the National Assembly who were representatives of different Senatorial districts should meet with their state governors and determine priority projects that could be completed in time.

He advocated that  to curb the instances of kidnapping of citizens along the  highways economic trees and  cash crops need to be planted  on road corridors to prevent menace .

“Nigerians must get value for their taxes, road is  everything, where we are having kidnapping is on the spot where roads are bad, we should remove the bushes and plant cash crop.

“It is ideal and acceptable and we should replicate it in all parts of the country. It will remove the kidnappings,” he said.

He added that the ministry would review the operations of the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) to ensure that any intervention in states would be done with the input of the state government.

According to him, this would  determine the   priority areas of the state governments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Isaac Aregbesola

By Diana Omueza

BAS Insurance Brokers has inaugurated MAYA, a low-tech-enabled insurance product on WhatsApp to enables car owners have easy access to car insurance policy from their phones within 24 hours.

Ms Patricia Maigida, Chief Operating Officer (COO) BAS Insurance, said this at the inauguration of the product on Monday in Abuja.

According to her, the product is an easy and convenient whatsapp chatbox solution that saves time and money in accessing insurance.

“MAYA is just an easy and convenient whatsapp chatbox solution and distribution channel for quick and easy access to insurance.

“One of the problems of insurance in Nigeria is the distribution channels that are limited, so this is us creating a distribution channel added to the ones we have in existence.

“With your phone, you can now get your car insured.

“We believe this innovation will deepen the insurance penetration in Nigeria by cutting down on the long process of getting insurance policy,” she said

Maigida said the initiative to use whatsapp was due to its common usage by majority of phone users and car owners.

She said that with the product car owners need not download another app, but only save the MAYA number as a contact on their mobile device.

“Once you have MAYA as a contact on your phone, all you need to do is to chat Hi and the system is smart enough to respond asking what you want; whether a question to renew vehicle insurance or to get started.

“Once you click, you follow the processes.

“It can help you access your car chassis number in your vehicle, upload the car image and your driver’s license and immediately you will get your insurance policy number and certificate.

“The same process applies to making claims also. You click and follow the process to make claims; upload necessary documents and claims which may be gotten in not more than 24 hours,” Maigida said.

Mr Mordecai Gbaratu, Lead Marketing, BAS Insurance Brokers, said the product had been carefully studied to effectively meet its targeted market audience and evolve the insurance eco-system within a short time frame.

“MAYA brings the conversation back to consumers; enables them experience insurance on a platform with baseline quality in terms of service delivery.

“I am proud we are putting our best foot forward and we hope Nigerians embrace the opportunity of being one step ahead of unplanned uncertainty with everyday living,” he said.

On his part, Mr Aroh Kenneth, Principal Manager Licensing and Regulation, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) said that the innovation was a welcomed development to the insurance eco-system in the country.

“It is no longer news that technology has come to stay in the business space and it did not elude the insurance eco-system.

“One of the insurance strategic goals is to encourage innovation and this is one of the areas we need to develop.

“With innovation like this, one can get insurance certificate particularly the motor aspect, from the comfort of their homes,” he said.

Ms Ifesinachi Okpagu, the Chief Marketing Officer, Heirs General Insurance, said the innovation and partnership with BAS Insurance Brokers was significant especially in promoting digital insurance.

“We believe that every Nigerian should have access to insurance and this is one of the ways to drive our mission and partnership. As the first digital insurance company this is a win for us,” she said.

Okpagu said the product aligned with Heirs insurance study and proposition on insurance policy and urged stakeholders to support its sustenance.

The representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) lauded the innovation and commended the insurance group for striving to make car insurance quick and easy for car owners.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MAYA insurance chatbox, through the WhatsApp Application, enables users to effortlessly navigate their insurance journey from purchasing policies to making claims from the comfort of a phone.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chidi Opara/Isaac Aregbesola

By Fortune Abang

Some stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to constitute and inaugurate the National Working Group on Business and Human Rights (NWGBHR) to achieve meaningful progress.

The stakeholders gave the advice in a communique issued on their behalf by Ms Naomi Nwokolo, Executive-Director of United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria (UNGC-NN), in Abuja.

Nwokolo said the communique was unanimously adopted by the stakeholders on outcome of the 2023 National Business and Human Rights Roundtable held on Aug. 18, in Lagos.

The roundtable with the theme: “Giving effect to the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in Nigeria” centered on understanding and effective implementation of Nigeria’s recently approved “National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

The roundtable is a multi-stakeholder initiative which promotes dialogue between various businesses, government, regulators, business host communities, consumers and civil society as partners of business and human rights community in Nigeria.

The roundtable was coordinated by a National Steering Committee, co-chaired by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) with Global Rights as Secretariat.

Other steering committee members include CSR in-Action, Accountability Lab Nigeria, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Paradigm Initiative, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Oxfam in Nigeria and EarthNews Nigeria.

“Government must constitute and inaugurate the NWGBHR provided in the Action Plan, to effectively develop strategies and closely monitor implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

“Government must set measurable targets, responsibilities and baselines for monitoring, and evaluating success of the implementation of the Action Plan.

“Strategies for implementing the Action Plan must of necessity include the key principles in the Child Rights Act, Labour Act, Data Protection Act, Persons with Disability Act and other relevant legislation.

“To ensure inclusivity and consideration of all interests in promoting human rights,” she said.

Nwokolo explained that once constituted, NWGBHR would create an independent body responsible for managing a grievance reporting mechanism.

Also, such body should channel grievances to appropriate public authorities or regulators, track response by the authority, ensure rapid response to grievances, and establish clear consequences for violations.

“Strategies for implementing the Action Plan must include recognition of good practices and strict sanctions for violations.

“Establish a centralized report for various actions and initiatives, ensuring all relevant matters are properly documented and accessible.

“Government must ensure that available stakeholder platforms for meaningful engagements remain open to all stakeholders, including business host communities, in designing the structure of engagements and reflecting inclusivity in participation.”

She further said that since the past eight years, Global Rights, which serves as the secretariat of the National Business and Human Rights Roundtable, facilitated the annual roundtable through partnership with NHRC.

Others include, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Integrity Organization Limited (Gte), CSR-in-Action, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), MAN and UNGC-NN, which co-convened this year’s roundtable.

The Action Plan enable the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) Framework, to ensure Access-to-Remedy for individuals or communities adversely affected by business operations in Nigeria. (NAN) (www.nannews.com.ng)

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Edited by Benson Iziama/Isaac Aregbesola

By Aisha Cole

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured users of the Blue Line light rail of maximum security while on board the system.

Sanwo-Olu spoke as he joined the rail line as its first passenger during its inaugural commercial operation, for the use of the masses in Lagos on Monday.

He acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for being the brain behind the achievement, by including the train in the master plan of the Lagos government.

The government said it had come to reality for Lagos residents to enjoy.

Speaking after a ride on the light rail, Sanwo-Olu expressed gratitude to the management of the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for ensuring that safety and security of the train was properly managed throughout the journey.

He also commended the Lagos State Commissioner of Police as well as all the security agencies in Lagos for ensuring safety of lives and properties of the passengers while boarding the train.

He advised Lagos residents as well as students to obtain the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) Card and the Cowry Card, which had been integrated to board all the means of government transportation in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said that with the light rail, he, alongside other passengers, had been able to reach many places in Lagos and return in less than an hour.

He said that the multi-modal transportation had been fully integrated in Lagos with the commencement of the blue light rail.

The Senior Special Rail Design Engineer, LAMATA, Mr Abidemi Atobatele, said that all the terminals were covered by security men and Closed Circuit Television, assuring passengers of full security within the areas.

He said that the train was electrified and pleaded with the residents not to cross over the rail area, but to make use of the pedestrian bridges.

One of the passengers, Ahmed Farida, commended the Lagos State Government for completing the light rail project, saying it would ease movement across Lagos.

“With this train, there is no stress; we are able to move around. You can work with your time, and your mental health is intact now; gone are the days we complained of traffic and all of that.

“So, we went to about five places within an hour to and fro; I must commend the working governor for this great project,” she said.

She urged Lagos residents to support government in maintaining the light rail project.

Princess Mulikat Sanni, former, President, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA) urged Nigerians to ensure they maintain the light train project.

Sanni said that the commencement of the rail would create more job opportunities and add value to the economy of the state.

The Managing Director, Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, had said ahead of the commencement that with feasibility study, the train system would be conveying 175,000 passengers on daily basis.

She said that though the commercial operations would have begun in the first quarter of 2023, it was delayed to ensure that all modalities were in place.

“As you know, the first phase of the blue line was commissioned, the infrastructure completion was commissioned by Mr President (Former President, Muhammadu Buhari) in December.

“At the time, we had said to you we would start operations in March. Unfortunately, we did not, by the end of the first quarter, then it was by the end of the second quarter. Unfortunately, we had hiccups with power delivery.

“We are here to say that we are completely ready in terms of all operational infrastructure. The reason that we have been delayed is due to the fact that our power provision was delayed,” Akinajo had said.

The LAMATA boss said that the train service, which would run from Mile 2 to Marina, would run 12 trips on daily basis for a period of two weeks, and the service would gradually increase.

“We will be working according to a timetable. That timetable will be available on LAMATA’s website, that timetable will also be available at every station.

“When the train gets into any station, it will stop for no more than 90 seconds. So, you need to know, and this is it, for us to understand that it is a scheduled service,” she had said.

She said that the Blue Line Rail service had five stations which comprise Marina, National Theatre, Orile-Iganmu, Alaba, and Mile 2. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Editing by Oluwole Sogunle