By Clara Egbogota

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Delta Sector Command, on Monday decorated 107 of its newly-promoted officers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three deputy corps commanders are among the officers decorated at a ceremony held at the sector command’s headquarters in Asaba.

The Sector Commander, Mr Udeme Eshiet, who  decorated the officers, urged them to live up to expectations.

According to him, to whom much is given, much more is expected.

“Your responsibilities have changed, and you must live up to the task before you and do the corps proud by increasing productivity and  dedication to duty.

“I am really grateful to the corp marshal and the Federal Road Safety Commission Board,” he said.

The sector commander said that the promotion enhanced staff morale.

“It is a call to be exceptionally disciplined.

“It will now be whether you are worthy to perform a task effectively and efficiently before you are given a sensitive appointment,” he added.

Responding on behalf of the decorated officers, Mr Jonathan Ogboh expressed gratitude to God for the promotion.

He also thanked the management of FRSC for finding them worthy of promotion.

“We have every reason to be happy and we have accepted the responsibilities that come with the new rank,” he said. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Cross session of a mid- term review meeting on “ Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiative in Nigeria“

By Gabriel Agbeja

Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have collaborated with Federal Government to strengthen governance by promoting anti-corruption policy in the country.

Rev. David Ugolor, the Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), said this at a mid- term review meeting on “ Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiative in Nigeria“ on Monday in Abuja.

Ugolor said that the NGOs were ready to deepen effort to sustain government initiative to tackle corruptions.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is being implemented by ANEEJ and eight partners as part of the Strengthening Civil Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project.

SCALE project is a 5-year project being implemented by Palladium and its resource partners with funds from United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

NAN further reports that the project is designed to enhance local civil society organisasation`s ability to be positive and responsible change agents in Nigeria.

Ugolor said that such assistance from CSOs to sustain government initiatives would improve integrity of the Nigeria among the comity of nations.

He said the 5-year project was to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms in Abia, Edo, Delta, Imo, Ondo, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

According to him, project is also designed to address reform issues within the interventionist agencies set up to develop the Niger Delta region by both the Federal and State governments such as Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Other places he mentioned were the oil and gas producing areas development commissions in Abia, Delta Edo, Imo and Ondo.

He said the CSOs considered the project as important to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms at both the national and sub-national levels with the ultimate goals of strengthening governance to deliver development goals to citizens.

He further said that the project would contribute to the eradication of corruption in Nigeria by addressing poverty and inequality among Nigerian people.

“The cluster organisations are 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative, Abuja; Community Empowerment and Development Initiative (CEDI), Wari, Delta State and Community Heritage Watch for Development Initiative, (KAI) Akure, Ondo State.

“ Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation (CFCF), Owerri, Imo State; Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Aba, Abia State; Gender and Development Action (GADA) Port- Harcourt, Rivers States.

“Also, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Edo State Chapter and the New Apostolic Centre for Development , Benin City, Edo State,” he said.

ANEEJ boss said the cluster was leading an online campaign against vote buying to mainstream anti- corruption into the upcoming 2023 general elections.

According to him, a town hall meeting with political parties and candidates was held in December 2022.

“ For them to tell Nigerians their plans to fight corruption if elected to office and to mainstream anti-corruption issues into their manifesto as they campaign across the country,” he added.

ANEEJ Project Manager, Mr Innocent Edemhanria, said ANEEJ together with other eight cluster members commenced the implementation of the project in February 2022.

He further said the project had implemented several activities to include- baseline research, capacity-building workshops for CSOs, media, private sector, PWDs and host community groups on several issues.

Other activities he said were development of advocacy plan to support the passage of pending anti-corruption bills, engagement with Federal Ministry of Justice, National Assembly, Sub- national government, oil and gas commissions among other.

“ We are happy to inform you that the project has achieved some level of result, as some of the anti-corruption bills the project worked on have been passed and signed into law by the president.

“ The proceed of crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 and the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 are key legislations to support anti-corruption in Nigeria.

“ We are also happy with the extension of the implementation of National Anti-corruption Strategy,“ he said. (NAN) (wwwnannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Lucy Ogalue

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Business  Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provision) Bill 2022 also known as the Omnibus Bill into law.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business and Secretary, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

According to Oduwole, the bill will aid the ease of doing business for small business owners in the country.

” This marks an important step in the delivery of an enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

“Presented as an Executive Bill, the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2023 is a legislative intervention by the PEBEC which
amends 21 business related laws.

“It removes bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria.

“The new law also codifies the Executive Order 001 on Transparency and Efficiency in Public Service Delivery, the Administration’s first executive order, aimed at strengthening ease of doing business reforms across the country,” she said.

Oduwole said that the PEBEC Secretariat was extremely grateful to see this Act come into fruition.

According to her, it is a culmination of over four years of collaboration between public
and private sector stakeholders.

“This includes the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law through the participation of over 40 law firms and consulting firms.

“The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the National Assembly Business  Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) are also part of the team,” she said.

The PEBEC secretary said the Business Facilitation Act, 2023 consolidates the last seven years of PEBEC-led reforms.

Oduwole said it also demonstrated the Administration’s sustained commitment towards making Nigeria a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Jessica Dogo

The Mining Entrepreneurship Stakeholders Association has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of compensation to the owners of a closed quarry, Nino Corporation Ltd.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Aminu Inuwa, made the appeal at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.

Inuwa urged the government to compensate the quarry owners to enable them relocate their equipment to the proposed new site for the firm.

He said that as the quarry commenced operation within a month in 2018, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) reportedly took over the land to build a new correctional facility in Karshi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“This is to appeal for the government’s quick action on the demand for compensation on the takeover of our land and business premises for the ongoing construction of a correctional facility at Karshi.

“This particular land and business premises is actually a quarry company operated by Nino Corporation Ltd, of which some of our members have stakes.

“Many others run businesses of supplies, transportation services, marketing mechanical and engineering services and sales, among others.

“This take over disrupted production and crippled the business activities, thereby putting all the investments, including bank loans whose interests have continued to grow by the day.

“At the highest risk, many of our members and their families have been suffering the socio-economic effects of this development since then,” he said.

Inuwa said that the land was a solid mineral area under the control of the government, which allocated the quarry site to Nino Corporation Ltd through the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development.

According to him, the quarry site, massive rocks, was legally obtained by Nino Corporation Ltd from the Federal Ministry of Mining and Solid Mineral Development with all necessary documentary evidence.

Inuwa said: “The claim by the government was that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) allocated the land to the Nigerian Correctional Services.

“However, after a series of meetings between the FCTA and Nino Corporation Ltd, the FCTA authorities admitted to an error on their side.”

The Chairman said after several efforts by Nino to communicate its demands to the relevant authorities the Comptroller-General of the NCoS, invited the management of the quarry company to discuss the issue of compensation.

He commended the efforts of the government in tackling the challenges of securing Nigeria’s Correctional facilities by approving and funding the construction of ultramodern correctional facilities in the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, has promised relief in areas of education, transport infrastructure, healthcare and the environment for residents and businesses across the Eti-Osa corridor.

Sanwo-Olu made the pledge during an engagement with residents and stakeholders of Lekki, Etiosa, Ibeju Lekki and Epe, on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was to discuss activities and plans of his administration for the community and the state in general.

The governor said that properties, businesses and tenants that might be affected once the building of the fourth mainland bridge starts would be fully compensated.

He explained that the bridge must be built to bring modern development to the state.

Sanwo-Olu also read “riot act” against noise pollution, lawlessness and other environmental degradation factors, endangering lives and properties in the axis.

He stated that when rebuilding the Ilasan area for a better health and environment status befitting the area, nobody would be left out.

“The slum, health hazards and way of life is not fit for Ilasan area and in feeling the plight of the residents of the area, we are committed to addressing what must be done to result in a win-win situation for residents and the environment.

“Residents are advised to bring acts of lawlessness and bad behaviour along the corridor to the knowledge of government.

“For the youth, once the leaders approve of an area for us, we would build a stadium, more primary schools and other important facilities in this axis.

“We are also committed to rebuilding the hospital at the Ibeju Lekki axis and also build a General Hospital at Ajah this year,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu reiterated his commitment to providing relief on the road transportation challenges experienced on the Lekki-Epe expressway.

He said that his administration would continue to build regional roads and ferry routes, to solve some of the issues.

The governor, however, stressed that the promised coastal road was not forgotten and would be built after the regional roads were finished.

“Also, the Jakande road would be rebuilt to address traffic situation and we shall also consider the beautification of the Lekki-Epe expressway,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Gbemi Adelekan, Secretary, Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) and other residents highlighted several areas of concerns from 1004 to Epe.

According to him, they include building of coastal road to address the traffic situation on the Lekki-Epe expressway, and regeneration of Ilasan Housing Estate.

Other areas of concern, the residents pointed out, were the traffic situation at the Jakande junction, the flooding situation at Lafiaji, Orchid road, and others.

“We also call for more primary and secondary schools across the Lekki corridor, more functional healthcare centres and a youth facility for more inclusiveness,” he said.

Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, reiterated the focus of the current administration to delivering critical infrastructure aimed at easing the lives and businesses of residents in the axis.

According to her, eight roads will be upgraded in Ikoyi, and focus was on Ado-Badore road, Orchid to Ogombo road and up to Abraham Adesanya would be rehabilitated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Abigael Joshua

Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, the Kwara’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) governorship candidate, has promised to embark on realistic, dynamic political and economic reforms if voted into power.

Oba, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said he would create a governable environment that promotes and supports socio-economic well-being of the people through his Strategic Actions to Change Kwara (SACK) strategy.

“We want a Kwara State that works for all, propped by a determined focus on shared prosperity for all, driven by a vibrant economy and underpinned by quality service based on equity and justice.

“The ultimate goal of Government and Governance is the welfare and security of the people,” the governorship candidate said.

He said his government would pursue vigorous value-orientation to minimise corrupt practices, reduce and, ultimately, eliminate waste and leakages in public financing.

Explaining his education agenda, Oba who was a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said there would be a deliberate focus on educational infrastructural renewal, arresting and reversing the decay at the basic education level.

He added that there would be unhindered access to free, qualitative basic education for all in Kwara.

“There will be drastic reduction in out-of-school children population; progressive decongestion and expansion of instructional space and facilities, promoting ICT and e-learning.

“I will embark on capacity-building through re-conceptualizing the teacher training education in order to match the goals of the Universal Basic Education.

“There will be improved conditions/incentives for trainee teachers, restoration of rural posting and incentives for basic education teachers,” he said.

Oba said the professional focus of the colleges of Education and polytechnics would remain sacrosanct, while there there would be enhanced conditions of service, including career opportunities for trained teachers.

According to the NNPP governorship candidate, education is a change-agent which will be deployed as the flagship of his party’s change agenda. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi

Stakeholders at a Consultative Worship on Standardisation of Private Shelters and Safe Homes

By Angela Atabo

Stakeholders in the humanitarian sector have called for the harmonisation and standardisation of shelter homes operations with accordance the provisions of Regulation 2019.

They made the call at a Consultative Workshop on Standardising Private Shelters and Safe Homes –Northern Region organised by Palladium with other stakeholders in Abuja.

Abdulganiyu Abubakar , National President, Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour(NACTAL-Nigeria), said that the meeting was a stakeholders’ engagement on the regulation and management of private shelters and homes in Nigeria .

According to Abubakar, private shelters and homes are institutions that provide care for survivors, victims of trafficking, abuse and exploitation.

He said: “We are here today to interact between the government of Nigeria and CSOs from the northern part of Nigeria on how to ensure that all shelters and private homes meet the minimum standard of care.

“We are dealing with human beings, we are dealing with lives, so there should be minimum standard for operations to ensure that we respect the dignity of human lives .

“So, by the end of today, it is expected that all the organisations would have a sheer understanding of the minimum requirements for the operationalisation of shelters and care homes in Nigeria.’’

Abubakar advised the stakeholders to be driven by passion as well as commitment and ensure they adhered to all the rules and regulations governing the establishment and management of such homes.

He also urged them to work in close collaboration with the government of Nigeria and other relevant agencies.

He added: “Regulation 2019 just came and NAPTIP is trying as much as possible to ensure that CSOs and private individuals running these homes comply with the provisions of these regulations.’’

Abubakar said that NACTAL is a network of CSOs all over Nigeria working very closely with NAPTIP to ensure that its members operate within the confines of the laws.

Ms Lydia Odeh , Chief of Party, Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE), assured the stakeholders of support towards their activities.

Odeh said that the ultimate goal was to provide quality care to survivors.

She said: “What we are really trying to do is to aggregate as much input as possible so that as NAPTIP goes back to review some of these procedures that they are putting in place to support the work that you are doing actually has your input in it .

“Whatever works the government is doing in this area ;whatever work that you are doing as private operators, the ultimate goal is that we are providing quality care to the survivors.

“The project is time-bound, it is on till 2025, so it’s an opportunity to leverage our resource, leverage the kind of alliances that we have and the kind of reach that we have to really drive this project to where it can go.’’

Mr Arinze Orakwue, Director of Training and Manpower Development, NAPTIP commended Palladium for orgnising the workshop.

Orakwue said that the workshop was a testimony of the commitment of Palladium to make sure that standardisation of shelter operations was achieved.

He said that the SCALE project was of critical importance to NAPTIP’s mandate and its effort to deepen participation of the society.

Orajkwue said: `We all know that this issue is core to the work that NAPTIP does, rehabilitation is not just one of the departments, rehabilitation is critical because shelter is part of rehabilitation.

“NAPTIP is here to guide, listen and learn because it is a workshop ;the purpose is to generate protocols for standadisation of shelter.

”This is to ensure that anytime you see it you will know that what obtains here, is what should be obtained here.

“We don’t want haphazard issues, we want to have a central theme that guides our operations that leads us into the things we do.’’(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Ibironke Ariyo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has intercepted a consignment of 1,340 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa being conveyed from Ogbese in Ondo state to Odukpani in Cross River.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement issued in Abuja.

He said that the items were loaded in a truck belonging to the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and heading to Okurikang Okoyong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River.

Babafemi said that following credible intelligence, the movement was monitored for three weeks and upon arrival, 130 bags of cannabis were seized.

The seized drugs, weighed 1.430 tons and were recovered from the LNG truck and 13 motorcycles which were hired by the cartel to convey the consignment deep into the Odukpani forest, were impounded.

Babafemi also said that in Kano, four suspects: Ado Shuaibu; Yahaya Shuaibu; Mamman Sani and Umar Musa Yakubu were arrested in connection with 229 blocks of skunk weighing 131.1kgs.

He said that Musa was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Tumfafi village, Kano, while Ado, Yahaya and Mamman were nabbed on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Garin Balarabe, Maigatari, Jigawa state.

“Another suspect, Aisha Muhammad, was arrested in Koki area of Kano with 17kgs cannabis,” he said.

According to him, no fewer than four members of a syndicate using dispatch motorcycles to distribute illicit drugs in Lekki area of Lagos were arrested on Sunday, Feb. 5.

“They include: Tijani Hakeem; Eric Maku; Ahmed Jubril and Adobi Chris.

“At the time of their arrest, 1.88kgs of Loud and assorted paraphernalia were recovered from them,” he said.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, Retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending the officers, men and women for their commitment and professionalism towards ridding Nigeria of the menace of illicit drugs.

Marwa said the agency would continue to target any one or group involved in the criminal trade without fear or favour.

He urged all NDLEA officers across the country to remain unrelenting in the pursuit of the corporate goal. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ICA/BEN/VAO

Edited by Vincent Obi