Day: November 5, 2023

Sen. Ned Nwoko, (PDP-Delta), the Senate Vice Chairman on Environment, has disclosed that the Senate was resolute in addressing environmental degradation in the country.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

He noted that the major issue of environmental degradation was erosion which hugely affected his home state, Delta, particularly the North Senatorial District.

He said another major issue was flooding, affecting more than 13 states across the country and five local government areas in the Delta North Senatorial District.

He added that another issue of environmental degradation had to do with pollution.

According to him, pollution is caused by reckless disposal of waste all over the place, and pollution from gas flaring that is hazardous to the environment and the people’s health.

“Then you have a pipeline, that is crude oil, pipeline vandalism and the spillage when they are vandalised.

“The spillage, when Navy and Air Force personnel bomb illegal crude vessels and the spillage that comes from such destruction, or even when our joint task forces, you know, seek to stop illegal refining by some locals.”

Nwoko disclosed that starting with the erosions, the Senate was already dealing with the issue.

“We have done some compilations of such sites and they have been put in the next budget to address them as a matter of urgency because some lives are threatened, homes are threatened, some villages are cut off.

“But of course, the flooding is a major issue because when it comes annually, it devastates the entire surrounding communities.

“We have made it clear now to the president that two things must be done to avoid this annual crisis that we know is going to happen, yet we wait for it to happen without doing anything about it.

“So those two things must be done at a huge cost and it doesn’t matter about the cost because the governments are in the business of spending money for the well-being and welfare of the people.

“So if we don’t have the money to complete the dam that was already started some years ago up north, this dam was meant to accommodate the spilled water from the Cameroonian dams.

“If it’s not economically viable to complete that dam that was abandoned some years ago, then we need to build a new one. It is something that has to be done,” he said.

The lawmaker also said that there was the need to dredge the River Niger.

“It is also compulsory that we must dredge the River Niger, and in so doing, build embankments across the shoreline, and the waterfront areas.

“We are also trying to focus on stopping gas flaring and imposing huge penalties on those who flare gas and make them comply with international best practices.

“Really, you can’t get gas flaring in America, or Canada or in Romania, or some other oil producing communities in the West because they must comply with pollution levels acceptable laws as stipulated by WHO and other such bodies.

“But of course because Nigeria is Nigeria, they feel they can trample upon us and get away with it. No, not anymore. Not under our watch. The 10th assembly will be different.

“We will breathe down their neck and we must make sure that they respect humanity, they must respect human lives.

“They must understand that it’s unacceptable to destroy the ecosystem, destroy the habitats or the habitats and destroy human lives just because they’re making money,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says it will ensure International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country, pay their contributions to the coffers of the commission.

Sen. Ned Nwoko, (PDP-Delta North), and member Senate Committee on NDDC, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

Nwoko said that the IOCs were owing the commission hundreds of billions of dollars, adding that the committee would invite, investigate them and ensure they did what was right.

According to him, some of the IOCs are making their money in Nigeria, yet failing to make their contributions to the commission.

“We must also insist that they do that. They must do that. You know, they are owing hundreds of billions of dollars to NDDC coffers. So we will invite them, we will investigate them and we will make sure they do what is right.

“We don’t want to interfere with their work, but they have an obligation under the laws of Nigeria, they have an obligation to host communities. They must deal with that.

“I don’t think any member of the committee on NDDC will be compromised because we will not accept it.”

He also said that the tenth assembly and the committee were poised to ensure effective project execution by the NDDC.

“The work of the NDDC is well explained in the act establishing it; yes, this is the tenth assembly and we are different from the previous assemblies.

“And I know that it will not be business as usual, we have made it clear to members of the committee that they cannot turn to substantive contractors like we had in the previous assembly.

“If they must oversight properly and without fear of reproach, they must do things properly.

“The fact that there is enough budget or work to be done will make a difference in the lives of the people and that is important,” he said.

The lawmaker added that if there was a need to make more money available to the commission through budgetary allocation, that would be done.

He also expressed satisfaction with the composition of the current NDDC leadership put together by President Bola Tinubu, saying he had confidence in their capacity.

“They understand that this is a new era, and things will not be done like in the past where contractors are paid money and they run away with it,” he said.

Nwoko stressed the need for all contractors to deliver on their undertakings, adding that there would be no excuses.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta), says nobody should be seen as above the law when dealing with issues of oil theft and spillage in the country.

Nwoko, who is the Senate Vice Chairman on Environment, and member representing Delta North Senatorial District, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

He said that he found it unacceptable when people say that there were cabals who were untouchable and were involved in oil theft and spillage.

He noted that nobody was above the law of the country, adding that whether as a former Military General, or current General or former Head of State, if indicted in oil theft and spillage, the senate would name and expose that person.

“Yes, but what I don’t accept, and I find very unacceptable is when people tell me, oh, there’s a cabal. They are untouchable.

“Nobody is above the law. Whether you are a former Military General, current General or former Head of State, if you are involved in this, you will be exposed. You will be named, because nobody is a sacred cow,” he said.

He said that these categories of people causing oil spillage known as “the big boys, and untouchables” were either vessel owners or those who chatter vessels or badges to steal crude in large quantities.

According to him, they are more difficult to deal with because they have the capacity to connive with those who ought to have stopped them.

“It’s not as if they operate at night or they are from the air. No, as I said earlier, they get their vessels to load at platforms that are protected.

“Of course, we know that sometimes among this group of people are those also very sophisticated in the act

“They can tap into crude pipelines, linking them to hundreds of miles into the sea and load from there. But again, it’s all about technology.

“Technology is there to know this. You should be able to know immediately where this is happening.

“But that this can happen for one year, three years and you don’t know, that means that we are negligent, we are reckless, we are fraudulent. We are complicit in every sense of the word.”

The lawmaker said that there were, however, solutions adding that such solutions were that there might be some Nigerians who were diligent, honest, and committed to ensuring that the nation’s revenue generation was maximized from these sources.

He noted that Nigerians were known to work, so those who were capable of being accountable, diligent, and honest, should be supported, promoted and rewarded.

According to him, we have them in Nigeria. Not everybody is a bad egg, so those ones should be identified and rewarded accordingly and the bad eggs should be weeded off from the system.

“So the the motion that I moved about three weeks ago on investigating the crude oil theft in Nigeria, encompasses all this.

“We just started the meeting of the committees involved a few days ago. We invited some of the oil producing companies as well as the security companies that are involved in joint task forces.

“By the time we are done speaking with them, we will visit these locations to know exactly what’s happening and then we proffer solutions,” he said.

Nwoko said the other category of people causing oil spillage through theft were largely Nigerians desperate to survive.

According to him, they are the ones who are trying to distill crude into some finished products. This category of people should be managed in line with my motion on oil theft.

“My proposal is that we should bring them into the formal economy since they have the technology or the crude technology to refine, and what they refine is usable.

“We can invest in them, we can organise them and then make them more useful and accountable.

“We can give them the crude that they want, and the means to refine them to stop them from breaking the pipelines. We just need to work with them.”

He stressed that there were Nigerians who want to be engaged in some activities that would create jobs and generate income and revenue for the government.

“So why destroy what they’re doing? You want them to become armed robbers? Why kill them? They are Nigerians.”

“So we must identify them, identify who they are and negotiate with them, and then get them to become part of the formal economy.

“That is more like saying bringing them into the mainstream, investing in them and improving their technology.

“So we can organise them because largely they also pollute the environment endlessly.

“We cannot supervise them if you are not willing to bring them into your fold. We don’t need to criminalise everybody, especially this category of people that can help to create jobs, help to generate revenue,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The 12th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) slated to hold from Nov. 5 to 11 will feature biopics of late Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, as well as renowned artist, Nike Davies-Okundaye.

Chioma Ude, Founder of AFRIFF, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, in Lagos.

“The festival will present a selection of note-worthy films, including “Queen of Adire – A Story of Nike Davies Okundaye” by Titi Ogunfere and “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” by the visionary Bola Austen-Peters, among others.

“ All these will showcase indigenous narratives from women who have made national impact.

“ The festival will be adorned with a series of diverse activities, including panel discussions, and networking sessions, leading to the prestigious AFRIFF Globe Awards,” she said.

Ude noted that 2023 edition of the award would unveil three new exciting categories sponsored by MTN Nigeria.

She said these additions included: Honouree Award, offering N2million to each recipient and Viewer’s Choice category, allowing viewers to vote for their preferred movie of the year.

She said the last one was the Fan Favorite Award, enabling fans to cast their votes for their favourite actors and actresses.

“The awards will be presented to selected actors at the Globe Awards Night, on November 11 during the festival.

“Actors to be honoured include Richard Mofe Damijo (The Black Book), Blossom Chukwujekwu (The Trade), Chidi Mokeme (Shanty Town), Funke Akindele (Battle on Buka street) and Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun).

“Others are Chioma Akpotha (Gangs of Lagos), Kunle Remi (Anikulapo), Ini Edo (Shanty Town), Nse Ikpe Etim (4-44-44), Lateef Adedimeji, (Jagun Jagun) and Tobi Bakare (Gangs of Lagos),” she said.

Ude reaffirmed readiness to improve the festival’s capacity towards global expectations.

She said 12th AFRIFF promises a captivating opening night with the exclusive premiere of ORAH, directed by Lonzo Nzekwe.

Ude noted that the closing night would be equally exciting as it would feature the highly- anticipated premiere of the inspirational movie “Breath of Life” , directed by BB Shashore and produced by Eku Edewor.

“We are inspired by the passion and dedication of filmmakers and film enthusiasts in Africa, and we are committed to providing a platform for their voices to be heard.

“This year, the theme is Indigenous to global 2.0, which is in continuation of last year’s theme, but I learnt a lot about how unready we are.

“In order to be very prepared, we expanded our panel, our judges, master classes to prepare us more for the global market.

“ We are focused on improving capacity building, with industry partners and position the industry further for more opportunities. Next year will be Indigenous to Global 3.0 until we get it right”,she said.

Latasha Ngwube, Head of Media and Public Relations for 12th AFRIFF said that the festival woulf uncover new talents, create insider opportunities and screen hundreds of films for free.

“The world is coming to Nigeria as AFRIFF looks internally to strengthen and grow in preparation to take African stories made by Africans to the world.

“The AFRIFF jury boasts of local and international members headed by Stephen Dr. Love.

“Others are Abby Ajayi, Nicholas Weinstock, Geneva Wasserman, Wafa’a Celine Halawi, Greg Odutayo, Ranada Shepard, Tsitsi Dangaremgba and Nollywood greats, Kate Henshaw, Desmond Elliot, as well as Multichoice Nigeria’s Bisola Tejumola,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and other stakeholders, have fingered insecurity and lack of funding as responsible for the ineffective operations of Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), in parts of North Central.

Some of the stakeholders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in separate interviews on Sunday, stressed that most of the PHCs were not functional, and the few functional ones lacked the capacity to provide essential health care services because of lack of funding.

Mr Steve Aluko, of the Civil Liberties Organisation, told NAN in Jos, that most PHCs in the state were under lock and key, while those operating were either without the essential facilities or had inadequate manpower to operate optimally.

Aluko said this was due to lack of funding, non implementation of policies, dearth of personnel and lack of political will on the part of government.

“Most of the PHCs in Plateau lack the capacity to provide essential healthcare services, including inadequate equipment, poor infrastructure and lack of essential drugs,’’ he said.

According to him, when the PHCs were established in the 1980s by the then Minister of Health, Prof. Olukoye Ransome-Kuti, the centres helped in the promotion of immunisation programmes and preventive healthcare.

He said this led to a rise in Nigeria’s health care indices and citizens of other countries were coming to seek health care services in Nigeria.

He said the PHCs over time however, began to witness a downturn in the giant strides achieved, and had continued to nosedive since then.

Aluko called on governments at all levels to prioritise the PHCs through the provision of adequate funding, prompt release of funds, implementation of policies and the recruitment of adequate manpower to man the centres.

Similarly, Gad Shamaki, of the CLEEN Foundation, an NGO, also said most of the PHCs were not in operation, especially in the rural areas.

Shamaki said this was in spite of the efforts of some local government authorities to influence the deployment National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) doctors and nurses to the PHCs.

He also appealed to government, especially the local government area (LGA) chairmen, to revive the PHCs by providing at least essential drugs, and partnering with the NYSC for the deployment of personnel.

A resident of Apata in Jos North LGA, Mrs Ngozi Obi, said the PHC in her community was not operational, but Mrs Simi Chollom, a resident of Bukuru Lowcost in Jos metropolis, said the PHC in her community was always opened, but essential drugs were always out of stock.

However, a resident of JMDB layout, Mr James Paul, said the PHC in his community was operational and often conducted some tests such as blood culture.

Meanwhile in Benue, stakeholders who spoke with NAN said PHCs were non functional because of the raging insecurity in the rural communities.

A retired Community Health Worker, Mr Mbaiorga Kunde, told NAN that each of the council wards had at least one PHC facility, but the constant farmers and herders clashes had rendered them ineffective.

Kunde said people no longer patronised them and the personnel were not safe to go to work there.

“For instance, five council wards in Kwande LGA have been deserted for the past eight to ten years and no one dares to go there for any business or activity.

“It is not only Kwande LGA that is affected or facing the challenge, but most of them are bedevilled by one form of crisis or the other, and this is hampering the smooth operations of the PHCs,” he said.

However, Miss Veronica Oche, a nurse in one of the private clinics in Makurdi, said that one of the major challenges of PHCs in the state was inadequate drug supply and other major non medical consumables.

Oche said that epileptic power supply, as well as dearth of personnel, were some of the challenges hampering operations of the PHCs.

Mr Theophilus Anhwange, a Makurdi resident, on his part suggested that the PHCs could be revived by equipping them with simple essential drugs and personnel, as well as basic facilities.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, a losing aspirant in the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primary has asked the rank and file of the Party to unite and give the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a ‘showdown’ in the 2024 General Election. ‘I pledge my support that we are going to work tirelessly ‘to break the eight’, ‘ he said. ‘Breaking the eight’ has become a mantra for the NPP as it seeks to defy the odds surrounding the inability of any of Ghana’s main political parties to go beyond eight years in governance. Mr. Agyapong, addressing the Party’s leadership, activists and losing presidential aspirants, at a handing-over ceremony, in Accra, said the transparency and fairness that characterised the conduct of the primary would translate into victory for the Party in 2024. The ceremony was symbolic as it marked the official declaration of the Vice-President as the presidential candidate-elect for next year’s polls. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in line with the NPP’s tradition officially handed over the mantle of leadership to the flagbearer-elect. ‘We have to come together and give the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a showdown,’ Mr. Agyapong echoed, drawing a deafening applause from the crowd. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central and business tycoon called for unity of purpose. He appealed to the party faithful and losing aspirants to bury their differences, urging them to give the flagbearer-elect the needed backing. Vice-President Alhaji Dr. Bawumia, who was tipped to win, garnered 61.43 per cent of the total valid votes cast to emerge victorious in the presidential primary, with Mr. Agyapong placing second with 37.41 per cent. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso and Minister of Food and Agriculture, polled 0.76 per cent to place third, while Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh took the fourth position with 0.41 per cent. More than 200, 000 delegates participated in the presidential primary, which was supervised by the Electoral Commission.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Chief Executive officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA),has urged the public to embrace the cylinder recirculation model (CRM) policy to ensure safety and increase access to LPG to 50 percent by 2030. The policy he added would ensure robust and standard health, safety and environmental practices in the production, marketing and consumption of LPG. ‘What we need to know is that the CRM is here to curb our fear of gas being filled close to our homes,’ he said. Dr. Abdul-Hamid gave the advice during the launch of the Consumer Week Celebration in Takoradi in the Western Region on the theme: ‘LPG: Clean Cooking, Healthy Lifestyle’. The Consumer Week Celebration is observed each year by the National Petroleum Authority as part of the Global Consumer Service Week celebration, to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities and how to safely use petroleum products. The NPA Boss said LPG was a cleaner burning fuel that provided smoke-free indoor cooking and helped to reduce outdoor and urban air pollution. ‘LPG produces 50% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal, 20% less CO2 than heating oil and 10-12% less CO2 than petrol. Gas (LPG) has been accepted as the most dependable transition fuel, especially in our homes. It provides health, environmental, and economic benefits, especially to our households,’ he said. Unfortunately, Dr. Abdul-Hamid said LPG uptake in the country was low, currently around 37 percent, and needed to be actively promoted. That, he said, implied that a lot more of the consuming public continuously resorted to the age-old charcoal or wood fuel method of cooking despite the enormous benefits of LPG as compared to wood fuel. ‘We also need to commence action on addressing alternative livelihood for families that depend on the charcoal business for their livelihood to curb the onslaught on the already depleting forest cover’, he said. Dr. Abdul-Hamid said the issue of safety had been high on the agenda of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, and that had culminated in the introduction and implementation of the CRM. He noted that the LPG-related accidents in homes were due to lack of adherence to LPG safety precautions and the NPA was equally concerned about the incidents hence the intensification of its public education on the safe use and handling of LPG. The NPA Boss urged bulk storage haulage, retailing and domestic handlers of LPG to observe the LPG safety rules to reduce or possibly eliminate the accidents. In his speech, a Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr. Andrew Egypa Mercer, said the timing of the promotional and sensitization drive was significant, given the current debate about climate change with its associated environmental and health effects. He said Ghana needed to play a leading role in discouraging any activity that hurts the environment, and affirmed the resolve of the Ministry of Energy to support the NPA and other allied institutions to save the environment. The Western Regional Minister, Dr. Okyere Darko Mensah, urged the public to avoid complacency and familiarity but uphold the safety rules in dealing with LPG and all petroleum-related products.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Leading high definition (HD) satellite broadcast service provider in Ghana, SES HD PLUS has trained over 80 female Prison Officers in its comprehensive installer program. The training formed part of the company’s commitment in making HD quality TV viewing experience accessible to every Ghanaian and creating local employment, whereas ensuring that users have their devices and accompanying satellite equipment professionally installed by accredited installers. Speaking at the training program held at the Prisons Headquarters in Accra, Madam Adelaide Abbiw-Williams, Chief Executive Officer of SES HD Plus thanked the leadership of the Prison service for the partnership to successfully initiate the training. She said SES HD PLUS GH was keen on equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge to foster greater diversity and excellence in traditionally male-dominated fields. ‘Ladies, I want to commend your dedication and commitment to this groundbreaking satellite installation training, the first of its kind in Ghana. Your presence here is a testament to your resilience and the strength you bring to this field’, she said. DOP Baffoe -Bonnie, Director of Prisons at the Ghana Prisons Service speaking at the event said the initiative would go a long way to boost the confidence of female officers and also provide them with an opportunity to earn income by utilising their personal time. She further encouraged the trainees to stay focused on the training and harness the potential thereof. ‘I thereby encourage very woman present here to grasp every knowledge being imparted into them since it will go a long way to help them not only for today but in the future’. As part of creating a better viewing experience, the company, in May 2023 accomplished the training of 2000 youth in the first half of the year, bringing the total number of trainees to 10,000 since the inception of the HD+ service in Ghana. SES HD Plus Limited believes that empowering locals with professional installer training programs would not only ensure users of the service but also to have access to installer support whiles contributing to the development of broadcasting in Ghana and the economic status of locals.

Source: Ghana News Agency