Residents of Unguwar Nungu, a community in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, have raised alarm over the severe gully erosion that is steadily consuming their lands, urging the state government to act swiftly to prevent the complete destruction of their community.
TVN findings revealed that the escalating erosion has forced many residents to abandon their homes.
Continuous rainfall in the area has exacerbated the situation, leaving houses and infrastructure vulnerable to flooding and collapse.
Yusuf Agalu, a resident of Unguwar Nungu, decried the dire conditions in the community, noting that every rainfall brings significant flooding that damages property and creates health risks.
“As I speak with you now, many people have left their homes to stay with their relatives because we do not sleep at night anytime it is raining.
“The fear that our buildings may collapse is real because the fear of the gully erosion does not leave our minds,” Agalu said.
He added that the community’s existing water channels, rather than providing relief, have worsened the flooding due to blockages caused by the erosion.
Agalu called on the Nasarawa State Government to construct proper drainage systems and involve local residents in planning and maintenance efforts.
Another resident, Abdullahi Lamino, echoed these concerns, urging the government to take immediate action to protect the community’s safety and livelihoods.
“The erosion exacerbates flooding during the rainy season and creates hazardous conditions for the community members. We urgently seek the government’s support and intervention to address this crisis,” Lamino emphasized.
Debbie Ekere, who spoke with TVN ,explained how she was frustrated at some point, telling her father and brother to leave the water to flow through the rooms till day break.
The community head, Abubakar Ismaila, also expressed his worries about the long-term impact of the erosion, pointing out that politicians had previously promised to address the issue, but no significant action had been taken.
“For many years now, residents of Unguwar Nungu have been suffering from the issues of erosion.
“We have made several efforts on the matter. Politicians have also promised to construct drainages for us, but nothing has been done till today,” Ismaila lamented.
In response, Peter Ahemba, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, acknowledged the erosion challenges in Lafia and explained that the delay in addressing the issue was due to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state capital.
“We actually understand the plights of residents in Lafia who are presently experiencing erosion issues.
“We are aware of the situation, but we are unable to attend to it now because of the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of roads,” Ahemba said.
He reassured the residents that the government is committed to their welfare and urged them to remain hopeful, stating that the issue is a priority for the administration.
Nasarawa community seeks govt intervention over devastating erosion
Nasarawa community seeks govt intervention over devastating erosion
Bayelsa boat accident: NIWA condoles victims’ families
The National Inland Waterways Authority has expressed condolences to the families affected by the boat accident that occurred on Wednesday, near the Ezetu 1 community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The incident, caused by an engine explosion, resulted in the loss of several lives among passengers and crew members.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIWA, Suleiman Makama, and made available to newsmen in the early hours of Friday.
“NIWA stands in solidarity with the Government of Bayelsa State and the bereaved families during this difficult time, and we offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed,” Makama stated.
He said that in response to the distressing news, NIWA promptly mobilised its search and rescue team to the scene to investigate the root cause of the accident and provide updates to the public as necessary.
“NIWA reiterates the importance of strict adherence to safety regulations for both boat operators and passengers. It is mandatory for all individuals using the Inland Waterways to wear life jackets at all times to ensure their safety and well-being.
“We urge all stakeholders in the maritime sector to prioritise safety measures and compliance with regulations to prevent future tragedies on the waterways,” he added.
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Hold invaders of NLC headquarters accountable, TUC urges FG
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to hold accountable those responsible for authorising and executing the invasion of the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters in Abuja. TUC President, Mr Festus Osifo, said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday. Osifo described the invasion as a grave violation of fundamental rights,
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INEC, judiciary destroyed 2023 election in Nigeria – Sam Amadi
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the judiciary of destroying the 2023 general election in Nigeria.
Amadi, also a former Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, decried the political strategy in Nigeria, which he said is all about bribing INEC, judiciary, and the security.
In a video sighted by TVN on Friday, the ex-NERC boss averred that when an agency created under the law, with enabling act, make rules, those rules become law.
Amadi stressed that such an agency can only unmake it through rule making process, if not it will be bound to obey it.
“Let me say this, and I’m going to be very clear. In a every country, election is one of the strategies. So in US today you see the policy people thinking around, mapping constituencies.
“In Nigeria as well, election is one of the strategies. And the strategy in Nigeria is very simple: bribe INEC, bribe the judiciary, and come and dear the security and you are done.
“The people that destroyed 2023 election is INEC and judiciary. The rules were clear. The electoral act isn’t perfect but it is very clear.
“I’m surprised that any judge who understands administrative law, which I have taught in the university for many years, which I studied under the best in world, would argue that an internal regulation built on law and an act, a regulation directing that you will do an ‘X’ you can choose to do ‘Y’, when there’s legitimate expectation and detrimental reliance. INEC was totally wrong. And the courts – Supreme Court downwards got it wrong.
“When an agency created under the law with enabling act, and the constitution says you can make rules, those rules are law. They can unmake it through rule making process. If they don’t, they are bound to obey it.
“Results should have been transmitted electronically. I am ashamed. I have a PhD in law. I can stand anywhere in the world to dispute with the brightest. I am ashamed that the court affirmed that INEC could just walk away from the law,” he said.
INEC, judiciary destroyed 2023 election in Nigeria – Sam Amadi
Tinubu sends out aides to engage citizens nation-wide on his govt’s policies
President Bola Tinubu’s aides on Public Engagement have been instructed to initiate citizens’ engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
This comes after the president’s nationwide broadcast, in which he called for an end to the #EndBadGovernance protests and expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue.
According to the Head of Media, Presidential Community Engagement Office, Ms. Seun Ajayi, the six Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement have been tasked with returning to their communities to engage directly with citizens.
Their mission is to ensure that the President’s policies and programmes are well understood and that public feedback is incorporated into the government’s agenda.
The statement read, “The whole idea is to strengthen the relationship between the government and its citizens… The newly established Presidential Community Engagement Office is leading this initiative.”
Read also: Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Friday, August 9, 2024
The office has introduced the Citizens’ Assembly, a nationwide programme designed to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and considered in national decision-making processes.
In his address, President Tinubu urged organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests to “suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.”
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He emphasized the need for all hands on deck to work together to reshape Nigeria’s destiny.
The Citizens’ Assembly was launched on July 29 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Abiodun Essiet.
Essiet highlighted the disconnect with Local Government Councils in Nigeria and noted that President Tinubu appointed six SSAs on Community Engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in September 2023 as part of the administration’s agenda to improve governance through strategic citizen engagement.
The post Tinubu sends out aides to engage citizens nation-wide on his govt’s policies appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
No President makes reforms leading to his downfall, only Jonathan – Shehu Sani
Former federal lawmaker and activist, Shehu Sani, has said that no politician has ever made electoral reforms that led to their downfall apart from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sani spoke in Abuja on Thursday as one of the discussants at the first Roundtable of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, with the theme, the Role of the Judiciary in Nigeria’s Democratic Sustainability.’
The former Senator, who represented Kaduna central senatorial district in the 8th assembly, said there is no integrity among politicians.
“Well, I had the privilege of being in the civil society and I’ve been in politics. And if you mix these two experiences you’ll be able to know the two sides and also to be able to understand where the issues are,” he said.
“As activists, our thinking fundamentally differs from politicians. I’m still trying to find out if there’s any electoral reform Nigerian politicians cannot reconvent.
“We talk about the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, why are the political parties not the last hope of the common man, why is INEC not the last hope of the common man, why is the Presidency, the military, Senate and House of Reps not the last hope of the common man?
“We want a perfect judiciary in an imperfect system. In the field of activism, we’ve two sets of ideas – this is wrong and this is right – politicians don’t have that.
“We expert more from our judiciary. No president will make electoral reform that would lead to his downfall in office, only Jonathan.
“Only Jonathan appointed a Chairman of INEC he never knew and never met. Only Jonathan can introduce a data capturing machine and ended up being captured,” he said.
No President makes reforms leading to his downfall, only Jonathan – Shehu Sani
Africa to declare public health emergency over Mpox
The African continent is poised to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security as the Mpox (Monkeypox) outbreak continues to spread across many countries.
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control, said this during a webinar on Thursday on the Mpox outbreak situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is similar to smallpox, though generally less severe.
Mpox is characterised by symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
The disease can spread from animals to humans and between humans; through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects.
The World Health Organisation and other health bodies renamed monkeypox to “pox” in 2022 to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the original name.
Kaseya highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated response to contain the disease.
“Mpox is the reality, and Africans are dying.
“We are taking decisive actions to protect our people. Next week, more likely, we will declare the PHECS,” he said.
According to him, the move is expected to mobilise resources, streamline cross-border responses, and fortify the continent’s health systems against the outbreak.
He also stressed the importance of engaging the continent’s youths in the fight against the outbreak.
He said that the declaration of the PHECS would be based on guidance from health experts and political leaders across Africa, to ensure a unified and effective approach to the outbreak.
“This call for youths’ involvement is vital to harnessing their energy and innovation in combating the spread of the virus.
“This will help us to have an appropriate response, to help stop this outbreak, and also reinforce the health system in Africa,” Kaseya said.
He said that the Africa CDC had been at the forefront of monitoring and responding to the Mpox outbreak, which has caused significant concern due to its rapid spread and the rising number of fatalities.
“Public health officials have warned that without urgent action, the situation could worsen, putting even more lives at risk.
“As the continent braces for the official declaration of the PHECS, there is a growing sense of urgency to contain the outbreak.
“The declaration is expected to facilitate the rapid deployment of medical supplies, enhance the sharing of critical information, and improve the overall resilience of public health systems across Africa.
“The global community is closely monitoring these developments, recognising that Africa’s response to the Mpox outbreak will have far-reaching implications for public health security both on the continent and worldwide,” he said.
He said that as Mpox cases surge across Africa, with all five regions and 16 countries currently affected, the continent faced a significant public health challenge.
Since January 2022, Africa has recorded 38,465 Mpox cases and 1,456 deaths, with a 160 per cent increase in cases in 2024 compared to 2023.
According to Kaseya, the disease has spread through cross-border transmission, sexual contact, and co-morbidities, particularly in regions with vulnerable populations such as those with malnutrition or HIV.
“The outbreak has reached new countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Uganda, marking their first-ever reported cases,” he said.
Speaking on case study from the affected countries, Kaseya said that the Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Health declared its first Mpox outbreak, involving a 46-year-old agricultural worker.
He said that a 20-year-old student was also discovered to have contracted the disease, adding that both of them are from Abidjan.
“The mode of exposure remains unclear, and the circulating clade is yet to be identified.
“in Kenya, a 42-year-old long-distance truck driver was identified as the first Mpox case at the Taita Taveta point of entry on the Kenya-Tanzania border.
“in Uganda, two female cases were reported in the Kasese district, both imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.
Kaseya said that Mpox posed a high risk due to its 3.2 per cent case fatality rate, with children under 15 being the most affected, demographically.
NAN recalls that on July 17, the African Union’s Executive Council approved a statute allowing the Africa CDC to make independent public health decisions.
This move followed WHO’s July 23, 2022, declaration of monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, despite Africa dealing with the disease since the 1970s.
NAN
Controversy over Ebonyi govt’s N1.3bn youth empowerment scheme
Controversy is brewing in Ebonyi State over the committee set up by the state government to oversee the N1.3bn empowerment for 1,300 youths across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Governor Francis Nwifuru had last week announced his decision to empower 1,300 youths with one million naira each for not participating in the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests against President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.
On Wednesday, the State Executive Council set up a 9-man committee to oversee the selection process, with the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Obila, as Chairman.
Other members include: Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa, Speaker Ebonyi State House of Assembly; Sen. Ken Eze, representing Ebonyi Central Constituency in the Senate; Mr Emmanuel Uguru, Member Representing Abakaliki/Izzi Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Others are Stanley Okoro Emegha, State APC Chairman; Mrs. Ann Aligwe, Commissioner for Human Capital Development; Okorie Philip Ogbonnaya, Commissioner for Inter-Party; Comrade Chinedu Emerike, President FON Youth Movement; and Comrade Joshua Nwafor, Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs.
However, the Committee is generating controversy as many in the state view the list with suspicion.
Many have expressed fear that the committee will be used to siphon the money.
A resident in the state, Mr Udoka Ede, argued that the committee will not yield the desired results.
He said: “This is not a party affair, hence the APC chairman shouldn’t have any business with the committee unless it’s merely for political compensation like the looted, misappropriated and unaccounted audio hawkers’ fund.
“The Deputy Governor should also not be seen in the committee because she was not able to make public her findings on the looted hawkers’ fund as the chairman of the investigative committee.
“Lastly, the Governor should step down the committee to local government levels, using upright, unbiased and independent people.”
A constitutional Lawyer, Ifeanyi Chukwu, condemned the drafting of legislators into the committee.
“How do you explain that a serving Senator representing a senatorial district is made a committee member constituted by the State Governor?” He queried.
According to him, the appointment of three legislators was against the separation of powers in a democracy.
“We practice democracy and in democracy, there is separation of powers with the Legislators acting as a check to the Executive.
“Making the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly a member of a committee to be chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state is an abuse of democracy,” he stated.
Another resident, Ogbonna Francisca argued that distributing the money to the youths will not solve the unemployment problem in the state.
“The governor should use that money to build an industry in Ebonyi. This idea of giving people money is just a temporary fix. He should build industries thereby creating jobs for the people,” she said.
Reacting, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Oketa, promised that the Committee will be transparent.
“The Governor constituted a committee for the selection of youths to benefit from the N1m empowerment to ensure it is not left in the hands of one particular state ministry.
“The committee will definitely work sincerely to justify their inclusion in this delicate assignment.
“But more important than any comment about them, will be an insightful suggestion on how they can get it right,” he said.
Controversy over Ebonyi govt’s N1.3bn youth empowerment scheme
Kano files fresh charge against Ganduje, three others
The Kano State Government has filed a fresh fraud charge against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, his Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others.
According to the charge sheet, Garo, Lamin Sani and Muhammad Takai were charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, making false statements or return and criminal misappropriation.
The state accused them of mismanaging the 44 Local Government’s statutory allocations remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account.
They were also accused of criminally diverting N57.4billion through several personal accounts of Local Government’s Cashiers and other Personal and Cooperate Accounts,the charge sheet said.
The state government also accused them of transfering the funds into dollars for their personal benefits.
The state further alleged that they acquired a service apartment on the Murtala Muhammad Way, a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen – x20868 Dubai in Tigerwood and plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Height, Marsa Dubai Marina, a multi billion Naira Hotel in Jabi, Abuja.
Others are filling stations, on Gwarzo Road Kano, Eastern Bypass Kano.
In the charge sheet, the state said it will call 143 witnesses.
No date has been fixed for the matter.
NAN reports that on April 4, the Kano government filed a suit against Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar and six others before the Kano High Court.The six others include Ganduje’s son, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd., Safari Textiles Ltd., and Lesage General Enterprises.
NAN also reports that on Juky 16, in the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, the state government accused Ganduje and erstwhile commissioner for justice, Musa Lawan, were charged with criminal conspiracy and misappropriation.
The Kano government accused Ganduje and Lawan of abuse of office.
NAN