By Ella Anokam

Coalition of Civil Society Organisations working in natural resource governance has urged the Federal Government to approve the nomination of Prof. Margret Ogbanga as representative to NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG).

Speaking on behalf of the coalition at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), said that Ogbanga emerged through a transparent electoral process.

According to Nwagwu, 68 authentic CSO’s working in the various thematic and allied areas in the extractive sector participated in the process which duly elected Ogbanga to represent them in Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) working group.

“In an election concluded on Sunday March 5, 2023, scores recorded by the candidates were as follows: Prof. Ogbanga Margret 13 votes representing 52 per cent, Ms. Victoria Ohaeri, six votes, representing 24 per cent and Ms Emem okon scoring five votes representing 20 per cent.

“Celestine Odo one vote representing four per cent and Ibeh Gloria zero votes,” he said.

While urging the Federal Government to approve her nomination, Nwagwu decried efforts by non-members of the group to undermine the process that ensured Ogbanga’s emergence.

He said that those castigating the process were not in NEITI CSO data base which has information and data on CSOs working with NEITI in the extractive industries.

He said the coalition’s attention was drawn to the fact that people approached the election with self-entitlement mentality either for themselves or for their surrogates.

He said rather the painstaking process that was followed failed for them to realise this ambition and they now resorted to castigating the process.

“We reject their approach and we think it is shameful, distasteful and uncivil, we want to call on the international Secretariat and the civil society globally to ignore their insinuations because it is self-serving, misleading and their claims frivolous.

“The election was conducted and Prof. Ogbanga emerged, whatever may have been the issues encountered during the process may constitutes lessons we may have learnt.

“Prof Ogbanga is a reputable woman of substance and mix directly into our 3 Cs which stands for Capacity, Competence and Credibility.

“Above all, her election has also helped the civil society to have quality representation and address the issue of gender gap in the current NSWG Board which is made up of 15 Members with only one woman who is a government appointee.

“We call on NEITI, the international EITI and the Civil Society Organisations in the EITI Process to ignore any insinuations against this process because it is lacking in merit.

“We want to use this opportunity to call on government to please approve our choice to represent the civil society in the NSWG,’’ Nwagwu said.

He, however, advised Ogbanga to initiate a reconciliation process to reunite the civil society constituency and harmonise the divergent groups. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Segun Giwa

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and Ondo State Agency Against Gender Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) on Thursday sensitised Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on the VAAP Law.

VAAP Law is Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Law.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 70 of the braille versions of the law were launched and distributed to the visually impaired.

The Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu at the programme in Akure, said the launching of the braille version was imperative because the law is mainly for vulnerable people in the society.

Akeredolu, who was represented by one of her aides, Mrs Ngozi Okoro, said it was important to carry PWDs along because the law would only be “a paper” if people that needed it were not fully involved and carried along.

“This is a law that helps protect and prevent violence against people, irrespective of gender. It is for people in vulnerable groups,” she said.

Akeredolu, however, commended OSAA-GBV for making the braille version of the law available.

The Executive Secretary of the OSAA-GBV, Mrs Bolanle Afolabi said everybody must be carried along on the importance of the law.

Afolabi said the leaders and different groups of PWDs made request for the people with disabilities to be up to date about the law.

“No one should be left behind. Punishments for Gender Based Violence are in the law so that people will know their rights and understand the law.

“It is a very important law that everyone must be involved in the documentation and implementation,” she said.

The Country Representative of WFD, Mr Adewale Olorunmola, said the foundation was in the state to support the implementation of the VAPP Law.

Olorunmola said a law would only be useful when everyone in the society understands its content and know their rights.

“Everyone, regardless of your status in the society is not violated. And when we talk about those people, they are minors, children, and people with disabilities among others.

“What we are doing in Nigeria is to promote inclusiveness of citizens on things that affect their lives. That is why we need to have the VAPP Law in the braille version.

“If we must grow as a country, we need to carry everyone along,” he said.

Also, the Chairman, Ondo State Agency for Welfare of Persons With Disabilities, Princess Folashade Arise, said people with disabilities were more vulnerable to violence.

She appreciated WFD for its special interest in PWDs and for not leaving them behind by sponsoring the programme to bring them up to speed on the VAPP Law. (NAN)(www.nnannews.ng)

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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

By Edeki Igafe

The Labour Party (LP) in Delta has urged party faithful to resist political thugs and ensure their votes count in the March 18, Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The Chairman of LP in Delta, Mr Tony Ezeagwu, gave the advice on Thursday at a Day Unity Summit organised by the party in conjunction with the Nigeria Ministers in Politics.

Addressing the teeming party supporters in Ughelli, Ezeagwu said that the country had been mortgaged by some political parties on the guise of having leadership experience.

He added that LP did not believe in experience but candidates that had the capability to change the current narratives in the country.

He urged the people to vote for all LP candidates in the state to liberate Delta from the shackles of oppressions.

The party chairman decried the current monetary policy in the country describing it as unfortunate.

According to him, citizens are now buying Naira notes with the Naira.

“LP is only providing candidates that will change the system unlike the parties that believe in experience.

“We must try and liberate the country and Delta from those who have “experience”.

“I encourage you to take the bull by the horn. Be serious with whatever you are doing. If they give you huge money, collect it because it is our money.

“However, vote your conscience so that at the end, they will be ashamed that even with their money, they could not win,” he said.

Ezeagwu, however, urged the people to remain steadfast and warned them against collecting miserable money so as not to mortgage their future.

“Build your spirit and mind that this peanut you are collecting cannot help you. Have the confidence that we are already at the Osadebe (Government House) in Asaba,” he said.

Earlier, the convener of the summit, Mr Benjamin Jakpor, urged the people to vote massively for the LP candidates in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Jakpor said that the essence of the gathering was to bring the LP candidates and their supporters in Delta Central together to forge a momentum ahead of the March 18 elections.

He noted that it would be better to tackle the election in group than approaching it individually.

“We sent a clear message to the Federal Government that were tired of the government, of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the top and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta.

“We gave them a deadly blow in the Presidential and National Assembly elections and we are going do it better in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“We are tired of corruption and debts in the state. Go to the poll and vote for LP candidates, so that we can have a new Delta.

“Every indigene of Delta is owing about N150,000 debts cause by the state government.

“Who will pay it, we are the ones that will put an end to that on Saturday through vote so that we can reclaim the state from the oppositions,” he said.

Jakpor said that the momentum the party garner in the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections still lives on, adding that the people were ready to replicate same in the March 18 polls.

He urged them not to allow APC or PDP win Delta otherwise the state would thrown into pepertual bondage in the next four years.

The summit convener assured that a new Delta would start on March 18 with LP Governorship candidate in the state, Mr Ken Pela emerging as winner alongside other candidates of the party in the House of Assembly.

On their parts, the LP candidates representing both Ethiope West and Ughelli South, Mr Lawrence Egodotayire and Mr Joshua Omorere respectively in the House Assembly election thanked the people and appealed for their support in the poll. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to reactivating the nation’s inland waterways transportation to revive the trading activities and boost the economy.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said this at the unveiling of the Navigational Charts of the power River Niger on Thursday, in Abuja.

Mustapha said that there was the need to really get back the mode of transportation on the inland waterways, so as to rekindle the trading activities that used to exist along the river Niger and Benue.

He commended the  Nigerian Navy for providing the resources, persons and the platforms for the conduct of the chatting of the River Niger.

He also commended the Ministry of Transportation through National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other stakeholders for the professionalism they had exhibited.

He said the successful execution of the project locally, had saved the country huge foreign exchange, adding that all the charts in the past were done by foreign firms.

“But today we can beat our chest and say that our Nigerian Navy has provided the platform that is necessary for the chart and for that.

“What this charting has done is that it has created an infrastructure or a process that eventual exercises of capital dredging or maintenance dredging will be guided.

“It is important that we realise that whichever government takes over from President Mohammed Buhari, it must continue the trajectory of creating an intermodal transport system for this country.

“whether we like it or not, it would inhibit our development if we could.

“About a month or two ago, the Federal Executive Council approved a contract, worth N1.9 trillion through the tax credit scheme for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of our roads.”

He said that, that was however important,  but added that if an alternative means of transportation  was not provided that would carry heavy duty goods, the lifespan of the roads could not be saved.

“So it is important that we continue along this trajectory and ensure that it is not only the chatting but also to think about getting the corporate world to participate.

“It is also important that we get the corporate world to be genuinely involved in the development of the river Niger so that we can save the lifespan and also remove the level of carnage, casualties, fatalities that are recorded on our roads on a daily basis,” he said.

Minister of Transformation, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, said the navigational chart was a project that could potentially change the very dynamics of prosperity for the country.

Sambo said the project was in tandem with the statutory responsibilities and objectives of the Ministry of Transportation to boost the efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

This he said was towards the development and operation of an efficient and safe transportation network.

He said that a well developed and efficient inland water transportation was necessary for an integrated and functional multimodal transportation system which its major pillar was dependent upon accurate and timely hydrographic studies and charts.

According to him, the objective of this project is to provide direct maritime linkages within Nigeria and between African countries.

“Thereby utilising Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) creating highly needed jobs and boosting internal as well as intra African trading.

“The United States economy today is supported by revenues in excess of 70 billion dollars from 600 million tonnes of cargo transported through its inland waterways.

“It created hundreds of thousands of jobs, building and industrial communities along the waterway channels and thus spreading economic prosperity throughout the length and breadth of these waterways.

“The United States of America’s waterways and multimodal transportation network provide a competitive edge in global markets.

“No wonder its corn and soybean farmers are the most efficient in the world.”

The minister said that Nigeria was blessed with an 800 kilometer coastline and over 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways that potentially confirms it with such maritime power.

“That in itself alone and transform this country into a great and prosperous place on earth.

“I would like to reaffirm the Federal Minister of Transportation’s commitment to the successful attainment of the overall objective of this project as aligned with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for the holistic and sustainable development of the maritime sector and the inland waterways in particular,” he said.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, said the chart covered a total distance of 594KM (321 Nautical Miles) with a total survey area of 1719.8 Square Kilometers.

Moghalu, represented by the General Manager, Legal Services, Mr Danladi Ibrahim, commended the Nigerian Navy for the successful collaboration which ensured the successful execution of the project.

He said that NIWA would be looking forward to future collaboration with the Navy with a view to extending the hydrographic survey of Inland Waterways nationwide.

“Consequently, the successful completion of the project through this kind of collaboration represents a major milestone in the history of the development of inland water transportation in Nigeria.

“I would therefore like to affirm the NIWA’s commitment to its statutory function of developing and improving the Inland Waterways Transportation system in Nigeria.

“We are also committed to providing an enabling environment for the private sector Participation in the development of the Inland Waterways Transportation (IWT) sector.

“In the same vein, I am glad to inform you that the Authority has just concluded the installation of marine navigational buoys from the Onitsha River Port to the Bifurcation on the River Niger as part of our efforts to ensuring adequate provision of navigational aid on the Waterways.

“The Authority has also installed Permanent Electronic Gauge Stations at several locations along the Lower River Niger and is also executing several other projects on Inland waterways nationwide especially on the Lower River Niger to ensure all year-round navigation,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng

Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Navy on Thursday unveiled the Navigational Chart of the Lower River Niger as part of efforts towards the development of inland waterway in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the navigational chart was carried out by the hydrographic unit of the navy in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

The project was funded by the Nigeria Export Import (NEXIM) Bank and African Export Import (AFREXIM) Bank with the collaboration of Sealink Consortium.

During the unveiling, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Auwal Gambo, said the joint hydrographic survey campaign was flagged-off on Nov. 24, 2021 covering Phases 1 and 2.

Gambo said the project, which extended from Lokoja in Kogi to Burutu in Delta, was one of a series of initiatives undertaken by the Federal Government toward actualising economic diversification.

He said the unveiling of the charts was crucial towards the exploitation of the vast strategic reserve of mineral resources along the Lower Niger Basin with great prospects for Nigerian’s economic diversification.

This, according to him, is expected to boost tourism potential, create more job opportunities and increase economic viability.

“It would also reduce pressure on road infrastructure, as bulk cargos would be transported through the channel.

“Furthermore, successful opening of this River Channel for navigation will accelerate activation of concessioned inland ports and export processing zones for handling bulk cargoes from coastal areas and export of solid minerals as well as agricultural produce.

“Thus, the ceremony we are gathered here today is yet another testimony to the resolve of the Federal Government towards evolving comprehensive mechanisms to emplace sustainable infrastructure through public private collaborations,” he said.

The naval chief thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support to the Nigeria Navy toward actualising its constitutional mandate.

He assured Nigerians of the willingness of the navy to sustain partnership with critical stakeholders under the collaborative initiative to complete the development of the river channel towards creating vibrant maritime activities along the basin.

He said the Nigerian Navy was poised to provide standard hydrographic service delivery to all mariners within the nation’s maritime environment towards facilitating sustainable blue economy in Nigeria.

The Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr Abba Bello, said the project would go a long way in advancing NEXIM Bank’s current initiative and advocacy on the promotion of the operations of inland waterways for both hinterland and intra-coastal trade.

Bello said River Niger and River Benue were historically considered by the British merchants as the most navigable river channels used in the late 19th century.

He said Burutu port served as a link between river transport and the sea.

He added that it served as a port terminal for the Royal Niger Company and UAC for export cargo consolidation.

He said it was also used for discharging of goods from ships for onward water transport to river ports in Northern Nigeria and neighbouring French territories through River Niger and River Benue.

According to him, the cessation of the use of the Burutu Port in mid-1970s substantially led to considerable level of disuse of the river channel for mercantile trade, leading to siltation of the channel over the years that resulted in navigational challenges.

“Therefore, this informed the decision to partner with Afreximbank, Nigerian Navy and NIWA to undertake the survey/charting exercise.

“The information to be gleaned from the unveiling ceremony will no doubt provide a guide on the current state of navigability of the river channel.

“It would be catalytic to ensuring the design of a framework that would enable channel improvement works necessary to facilitate the commencement of massive commercial operations on the channel, especially for Regional Sealink Project.

“Also, information provided from the outcome of the survey/charting activities will highlight the huge inland waterways potential and opportunities in maritime infrastructure investments,” he said.

The President, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said the bank provided a grant of 350,000 dollars for the execution of the project.

Oramah said the grant was because of the critical role that navigability of the River Niger would play in the country’s trade facilitation and indeed overall developmental aspirations.

“We salute the steadfastness of our partners in this arrangement – Neximbank, who coordinated the activities of other agencies like the NIWA and the Nigerian Navy to birth this initiative that will definitely change the narrative in waterways transportation in Nigeria,” he said.

Giving the overview of the project, the Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Adm. CE Okafor, said the survey covered 1,140 square kilometers and 456 kilometers from Jamata in Lokoja to Burutu in Delta.

Okafor said the project was executed with 100 per cent local capacity, adding that the field data acquisition was conducted in 14 months nonstop.

He said a total of 81 underwater obstructions were detected as well as other challenges that must be addressed to ensure effective navigation on the river by a wide range of vessels.

He recommended the dredging of the navigational routes, circle and anchorage among others, as well as wreck removal.

Present at the occasion were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Transportation, the Attah of Igala, HRM Matthew Opaluwa among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Angela Okisor/Salif Atojoko

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By Bridget Ikyado

Dr Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection  Bureau (NDPB), says the bureau will synergise with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms(BPSR) on data protection to enhance effective public service delivery.

The national commissioner spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after an official visit to the Director-General, BPSR,  Mr Dasuki Arabi, on awareness creation on data protection and provision in Nigeria.

Olatunji said: ”Knowing the important role of data in public service reforms, we are here to strengthen synergy for better outcomes.

“When you are talking about reforms you are talking about digitalization; including the pattern and there is no way you can talk about reforms without identity.

“More importantly in the area of digitalization including all the patterns and there is no way you can talk about reforms without identity in the area of digitalization.”

He also stressed the need for identities in the cyberspace to be protected by the law and ensure that data was safely processed as projected.

Olatunji said his office would partner the bureau and work together in areas such as creating awareness, capacity building and provision of the laws by the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation(NDPR).

“There was a circular issued by the SGF for all MDAs in November 2022, to comply by the directive of having privacy policies, having their data protection officers

”It also directed them to ensure that they put in place adequate technical and organizational measures,” he said.

The national commissioner said that such measures would protect the data of citizens and all vendors working with NDPR in the public services.

In his remarks, Arabi, commended the team for the visit and the partnership for national development.

He outlined the achievement of the bureau in reforms in the federal public service.

“We have installed a new pay regime in the public service; we have cleaned up of the personal payroll in the public service; deployed first electronic FOI portal in Nigeria.

“The bureau had restructured ministries to reduce their number, we have also reformed tax, budget, public financial management and due process in public procurement” Arabi said.

The director-general said that the bureau had collaborated with Ministries ,Department and Agencies on ideas exchange.

He also said the bureau would collaborate with the data protection bureau on the ongoing review of the national strategy for public service reforms.

“We will collaborate to facilitate research on topical reforms issues, impact assessment; monitoring and evaluation,” Arabi said.

The director-general also said his office would collaborate with the bureau of capacity building on ICT, e-Government Master Plan and digital literacy of public servants.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

The Anambra State Local Government Service Commission says plans are underway to digitalise its operations to comply with international best practices.

Mr Ifeanyi Ezeaka, Chairman of the commission, made the disclosure on Thursday in Awka, at a digital literacy training for Local Government Employees, organised by Integral Development Konsult (IDK).

Ezeaka said, “This training is one of the efforts to actualise the initiative of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, which is to digitalise the state and make it a prosperous and liveable homeland.

“This is to ensure that every local government staff is computer literate. After this training, there shall be no appointment of personnel who are not computer literate.

“We are digitalising the entire system of the commission, including an ICT centre fully furnished with computers and will be connecting all the 21 local governments online.”

He urged participants to take the training seriously to reciprocate the state government’s huge investment on capacity building.

Declaring the training open, Gov. Soludo said that the local government operations was critical to his administration.

Soludo, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, said that the training would further improve the skills, and competence of the local government employees in the state.

He said that his administration was committed to ensuring regular training and re-training of employees.

“We are investing tax payers money in this project, we appeal to participants to justify the investment in the training, by becoming the best in their line of duties,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran