By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) says plans are under way to fill up potholes and intervene in the repair of failed roads nationwide as the rainy season sets in.

The acting Managing Director, FERMA, Mr Godson Amos made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, the intervention was necessitated because of the need to ameliorate the hardship and delays road users face daily.

He was optimistic that the intervention would be acheived  within six weeks of the commencement and all potholes and road failure worked on, on federal roads across the country.

He said he had gotten reports across the country of of the deplorable Federal Roads across the country which had caused a lot of inconveniences to  road users.

He added that these failures have  hampered economic activities due to inability of the people to freely move goods from one place to the other.

” The failures on the roads are mostly caused by the incessant rainfall being experienced in many parts of the country, which results in cutting off of roads embankment and collapsing of many carriageway sections at many locations across the country.

“Also excessive traffic, ovet loading of vehicles coupled with age of the roads are other factors that have contributed to the dilapidation of the federal roads.

“This hinders the free flow of traffic, causing colossal damages to vehicles, wastages of productive man hours and huge discomfort to road users.

“Our of engineers in the Field Offices have already carried out route condition survey of the Federal Roads and heave identified all critical failures like road embankments washout and failed carriageway section for the agency to take action.”

Speaking on how the agency would executive this intervention, Amos said direct labour would be deployed by engaging skilled and unskilled youths in the communities.

He further said that  appraisals have been made, including the assessment of works requirement, estimation of resources like men, materials and machines that will be deployed to achieve most cost effective result.

Amos said in order to ensure that maximum results was achieved the agency had designed a good monitoring mechanism for effective and efficient monitoring of all the projects nationwide deploying management team for inspection.

H urged the media to give effective coverage to the activities of the agency and other stakeholders to partner with the agency to ensure that citizens have stress free and enjoyable travel experience on our highways.

The chief executive of FERMA however, said funding was a challenge in the maintenance of the 36,000 kilometres of federal highways all year round.

NAN reports that FERMA is an agency that was set up for the monitoring and maintenance of all federal roads in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

UNFPA Country Representative, Ulla Mueller, says the attainment of eight billion world population is a significant milestone in human development in areas such as medicine, science, health, agriculture and education.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday that the achievement is however, accompanied by concerns and anxiety as the world faces various crises, such as climate change and mass displacement.

The UNFPA in its 2023 State of World Population (SWOP) Report, an annual publication produced by the Fund, revealed that global population will hit eight billion by mid-2023.

The report, which was launched in June, provides an insight into global population trends and implications to development.

According to a new report by the UN, Nigeria’s population is estimated to rise to 223.8 million by mid-2023 from 216 million in 2022.

The SWOP Report, which highlights the rapid growth of Nigeria’s population, notes that in 2006 when the last census was conducted, the country’s population was put at 180 million.

It indicated that the population, aged 0 to 14, increased by 43 per cent, the population aged 10 to 19 increased by 23 per cent, those aged 10 to 24 increased by 33 per cent, 15 to 64 years increased by 54 per cent, while those aged 65 and above increased by three per cent.

Mueller, therefore, explained that the 2023 UNFPA SWOP Report — “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices’’ — aims to reshape the conventional understanding of population figures.

She urged policymakers and the media to abandon sensational narratives about population booms and busts.

The country representative said the report is an annual flagship publication of the Fund since 1978, aimed at bringing population issues, growth and demographic shifts to global attention.

The report is also to explore challenges and opportunities they present for international, regional, national and sub-national development so as not to leave anyone behind.

In the report, she said, recommendations are proposed to enhance the health, wellbeing and rights of individuals and communities across the globe.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Population
By Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
Abuja, July 9, 2023 (NAN) UNFPA Country Representative, Ulla Mueller, says the attainment of eight billion world population is a significant milestone in human development in areas such as medicine, science, health, agriculture and education.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday that the achievement is however, accompanied by concerns and anxiety as the world faces various crises, such as climate change and mass displacement.

The UNFPA in its 2023 State of World Population (SWOP) Report, an annual publication produced by the Fund, revealed that global population will hit eight billion by mid-2023.

The report, which was launched in June, provides an insight into global population trends and implications to development.

According to a new report by the UN, Nigeria’s population is estimated to rise to 223.8 million by mid-2023 from 216 million in 2022.

The SWOP Report, which highlights the rapid growth of Nigeria’s population, notes that in 2006 when the last census was conducted, the country’s population was put at 180 million.

It indicated that the population, aged 0 to 14, increased by 43 per cent, the population aged 10 to 19 increased by 23 per cent, those aged 10 to 24 increased by 33 per cent, 15 to 64 years increased by 54 per cent, while those aged 65 and above increased by three per cent.

Mueller, therefore, explained that the 2023 UNFPA SWOP Report — “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices’’ — aims to reshape the conventional understanding of population figures.

She urged policymakers and the media to abandon sensational narratives about population booms and busts.

The country representative said the report is an annual flagship publication of the Fund since 1978, aimed at bringing population issues, growth and demographic shifts to global attention.

The report is also to explore challenges and opportunities they present for international, regional, national and sub-national development so as not to leave anyone behind.

In the report, she said, recommendations are proposed to enhance the health, wellbeing and rights of individuals and communities across the globe. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Peter Okolie

Gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home order on Friday night, attacked Amaraku Market located at Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo.

Although, no life was lost in the attack, but the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the gunmen, suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), set a tricycle and vehicles ablaze.

Also, the attackers destroyed some goods and properties of petty traders, who are mostly women.

Eyewitness told NAN that the gunmen also attacked Obolo community in the same local government area.

“The gunmen were angry with the traders and transporters for flouting the order.

“The attackers warned traders to close shops and never to flout the order, warning them not come out on Saturday.

“They went on to raze part of the market and burnt vehicles.” the source said.

The source said the gunmen shot indiscriminately into the air which made the traders scamper for safety.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Imo Police Command proved abortive as the Police Spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, neither picked his calls nor replied to text messages sent to him. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Ismail Abdulaziz

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to attend the 63^rd  Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Saturday.

The meeting to be held in the port city of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau on Sunday is expected to address memoranda on pressing sub-regional issues.

A statement from the presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, announced that the memoranda include Report of the 50^th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report covers security challenges faced by the member countries.

“Slated for discussion is Report of the 90th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers on the financial situation of the body and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“It will also discuss the Report on the status of Transition in the Republics of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

“Other items slated for discussion include; Memoranda on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme and the Report on Obstacles to Free Movement of Goods on the Abidjan- Lagos corridor”, he said.

He said that Tinubu would be accompanied by some members of the Presidential Policy Advisory Council and other top government officials.

The president is expected back in Nigeria at the end of the meeting. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

By Angela Atabo

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has reiterated its commitment to strengthen partnership with the Kaduna State Government on peace building.

The Acting Country Director of the institute, Dr Chris Kwaja, made the promise in Kaduna on Thursday, during a meeting with Mr Atiku Sankey, Special Adviser to Gov. Uba Sani on Peacebuilding.

Kwaja said that the USIP has been working with the Kaduna State Peace Commission to strengthen the state’s peace building efforts.

He explained that the visit, was to introduce the institute and its peace building initiatives in the state since 2016 to the new administration.

“We are here to congratulate the new government in Kaduna State and understand the focus of the government on peacebuilding.

“This will enable USIP to determine how to support the peace building process with a view to achieve lasting peace in the state.

“USIP has trained and supported six peace facilitators in Kaduna, through its Network of Nigerian Facilitators project.

“The facilitators were expected to organise dialogues in their various communities that will help address conflicts by promoting peace,” he said.

Kwaja added that USIP would continue to partner with the Kaduna State Peace Commission and extend the peace building platform to other peace builders across the state and the country.

He said that USIP Country Office has concluded plans to bring stakeholders together within the month, to appraise its peace building efforts and to roll out future plans.

Responding, Sankey thanked Kwaja and USIP for the sustained support to promote peace in Kaduna state.

He said that the Sani-led administration was committed to uniting the people as against the current divide along ethnic and religious lines.

“The current government is already doing this through inclusive governance while jettisoning divisive politics which is the key driver of hate, intolerance, and violent confrontations,” he said.

Sankey reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Sani-led government to heal the pains of the people and reconcile them to live in peace and harmony with one another. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Philip Yatai

By Cecilia Ijuo

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the FrontFoot Media Initiative, has trained journalists on how to identify and expose manipulations and corrupt practices in public accounts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the two-day training programme, which began on Wednesday in Abuja, is “X-raying Government Audit Reports”.

NAN also reports that the training which is the third in the series, was organised as part of Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Project, under the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, and funded by MacArthur Foundation.

During a technical session on Thursday, Mr Sully Abu, FrontFoot Media Executive, stressed the need for journalists to acquaint themselves with the tenets of auditing in order to report appropriately.

Abu, who was one of the facilitators, emphasised the pivotal role of newsmen in holding public officers accountable.

“The self-inflicted tragedies of our nation have derived substantially from the failure to hold not just people, but also leaders, to account for their actions.

“This has been quite evident at the state level, where governance touches people’s lives mostly.

“In many places, state governors have turned into local potentates because of their unfettered access to and control of public treasury.

“They can suborn individuals and other branches of government to do their will with results not always meant or guaranteed for the public good,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Sonala Olumhense, another official of the organisation, urged newsmen to take their constitutional obligation as contained in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution(As Amended), seriously.

Olumhense, who is also a Columnist, said in view of the constitutional right of the press, it was necessary for newsmen to hold governments to account for their actions.

He added that auditors were critical to issues if accountability and transparency, adding that they had to act independently always.

Also speaking, Mr Chido Nwakanma, Coordinator of the FrontFoot Media Initiative Training, who delivered a paper on “the Principles and Purpose of Public Interest Journalism”, stresses the need for newsmen to always project the interest of citizens in their reportage.

Nwakanma urged journalists urged newsmen to use their profession to effect positive changes in the society.

According to him, journalists need to write in the public interest and adhere to other ethics of journalism at all times if they must effect changes in the society.

“The public interest content that journalism serves is about the lives and well-being of citizens and relevant issues that affect individuals and communities.

“It is about the common good in health, livelihood, quality of life, security, accountability and governance, among others.

“Note that public interest is not merely what people find interesting. It is more of relevant issues different from what is entertaining, fascinating or titillating,” he said.

Participants at the workshop, commended the organisers of the the training.

They said the training had made them better equipped to write informed stories and features that would empower the people and deter public officers from corrupt tendencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that facilitators at the training include experts in auditing, accounting and media.

Topics covered at the training include, imperative of audit reporting for Nigerian journalism and principles and purpose of public interest journalism.

Others are Features of Government Audits, Crafting Good Stories from Audit Reports, Where to find Audit Reports, among others.

NAN also reports that 20 newsmen, drawn from the print, broadcast and online media benefited from the training. which ends on Thursday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Jolotoye/Sadiya Hamza

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Second Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Summit will bolster ties between Russia and Africa in security, sustainable economic and humanitarian development.

Anton Kobyakov, an Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organising Committee for the Russia–Africa events, made this known on Wednesday.

Kobyakov, in its programme schedules said the summit would create the basis for the establishment of powerful, prosperous and safe regions in new realities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia at the Expo Forum Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 27 to July 28, 2023.

He said that the summit would strengthen Russian-African cooperation and outline the trajectory of Russia’s relations with African countries in the long-term.

“The summit programme includes more than 30 panel sessions and thematic events on the most important issues involving cooperation between Russia and African states.

“African countries will obviously play an increasingly important role in the emerging architecture of a multipolar world.

“The summit’s business programme consists of four major thematic pillars that encompass all areas of cooperation between Russia and Africa.

“They are; `The New Global Economy’; ‘Integrated Security and Sovereign Development’; ‘Cooperation in Science and Technology’ and ‘The Humanitarian and Social Sphere: Working Together for a New Quality of Life’,’’ he said.

According to him, the programme of the pillar ‘The New Global Economy,’ will focus on the kind of prospects Russian businessmen have for doing business in Africa.

He said the experts would discuss topics on expanding business cooperation between Russia and African countries, their export potential amidst the new challenges, as well as cooperation in agriculture, energy, and logistics.

Kobyakov said the main theme of the ‘Integrated Security and Sovereign Development’ pillar would dwell on international security, political stability, food security and joint efforts to combat epidemics and emergencies.

“The key question that experts plan to answer as part of this pillar is: “How can Russia’s experience in ensuring security be beneficial to African countries?”

“During the panel discussions of the ‘Cooperation in Science and Technology’ pillar, experts will discuss collaboration between Russia and Africa in advanced technologies.

“The key themes of the pillar are how industrial cooperation leads to technological sovereignty and advanced technologies for Africa’s sustainable development.

“Separate sessions will be devoted to nuclear, digital, and healthcare technologies. During the discussions, speakers will talk about how high-tech solutions could unleash Africa’s potential and have a positive socioeconomic impact on numerous areas of society,” he said.

Kobyakov explained that these topics would be addressed as part of the pillar ‘The Humanitarian and Social Sphere: Working Together for a New Quality of Life’.

He said events on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum would include the Media Forum, the Congress of University Rectors and a roundtable. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma