Category Nigeria News

The Technical Adviser on Communication to the Bayelsa State Governor, Don-Evarada Abednego, has decried what he called the neglect and marginalization of the Niger Delta region despite being Nigeria’s economic lifeline. &nbsp,

Speaking on The Morning Brief, Abednego said the Niger Delta faces extreme poverty, insecurity, environmental degradation, militancy, and pipeline vandalism, despite billions of dollars being generated from the oil-rich area.

“Virtually everything I’m seeing in Abuja here, perhaps in Lagos or Kano, and indeed every other state, is a product of what comes from the Niger Delta”, he said on Friday.

“The question on the ground is: what do we have in the Niger Delta? We see so much poverty… billions and billions of dollars being scooped away from the land and their soil, and what is coming back to them is health challenges”.

He lamented the decline in agriculture and fishing, major occupations in the region, and attributed it to the people’s growing frustration at the wealth generated from their resources being used to develop other parts of the country.

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Abednego noted that while there have been interventions such as the Niger Delta
Basin Development Authority, the South-South Development Commission, and the Ministry of the Niger Delta, these bodies must work collaboratively to improve living standards. He warned of dire consequences if agitation in the region escalates.

“The people of the Niger Delta are already complaining that they are likely forgotten, and the little money that is given to them is like a part to some from the wholesome that is used in developing other lands”, he said, questioning the Federal Government’s infrastructure efforts in the area despite its contributions to the nation’s economy.

Abednego raised alarm over a public health crisis, claiming that cancer has become rampant in the mostly coastal area.

“If you carry out public health research work within the Niger Delta, you would understand that cancer has taken over almost every household.

” There isn’t an individual who does not have any traces of cancer on the skin and internally, “he said, calling for urgent attention to the healthcare needs of people.

According to him, without a safer Niger Delta, the Federal Government’s projections for increased crude oil production—and the development that depends on it—would be unattainable.

Five passengers have been critically injured in Lagos State following a collision between a petrol tanker and a commercial bus.

The incident happened on Friday at the Toyota Bus Stop, directly opposite the Guardian Newspaper Headquarters, inward Oshodi.

Disclosing this in a statement on Friday, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) called the incident a stark and sobering illustration of the grave consequences of roadway negligence.

LASTMA spokesman Adebayo Taofiq said the agency seamlessly coordinated the rescue operation in the aftermath of the accident.

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The statement read: “The catastrophic incident, which unfolded amid the dense congestion of peak-hour traffic, involved a fully laden Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker truck, registration number T28128LA, and a commercial Volkswagen T4 bus, bearing registration number GGE 526 YG.

” Preliminary findings by security operatives from Oloto Police Station revealed that the PMS-laden tanker, travelling at perilously excessive speed, suffered a sudden and catastrophic brake failure. In a desperate bid to avert impending disaster, the driver lost all operational control, resulting in a ferocious collision with the moving, fully loaded commercial bus — an impact of such violent intensity that it left multiple occupants grievously injured.

“The collision inflicted severe injuries upon five individuals — two males, three females, including the bus driver — all of whom were rescued alive through the decisive, swift, and highly professional intervention of LASTMA operatives.

” Acting with commendable precision, the rescue team secured the accident scene, extracted the injured, and mitigated the risk of secondary hazards. “

On his part, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, conveyed heartfelt wishes to the victims and wished them a speedy recovery.

He issued an unequivocal admonition to operators of articulated and heavy-duty vehicles, particularly tanker drivers, to maintain their machinery in flawless mechanical condition, with meticulous emphasis on the integrity of braking systems, to prevent avoidable tragedies of this magnitude.

Another disaster that could have been caused by a fallen tanker around Jin-Jofes Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan, has been avoided by men from the Oyo State Fire Service.

On Wednesday, Mr. Adisa Kazeem called the fire service office after the incident was reported at 20:07 hours.

Akinyinka Akinyemi, the manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, stated in a statement that “the Agency’s Officers led by ACFS Adeniyi Adesina promptly arrived at the scene of the incident and met a DAF trailer tanker with regd. No. T17657LA (Lagos), which has a 50 000 litre capacity and is loaded with Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), “sputtered off the road to the nearby gutter with its contents gushing out.”

According to Akinyinka, the firemen immediately jumped into action and quickly covered the spillage with a chemical foam substance to stop the contents from igniting in the surrounding area.

Also read: Ibadan Petrol Tanker Explodes

A preliminary investigation reveals that the driver lost control while attempting to maneuver a road bend. The motor boy was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment while the driver and the motor boy were both saved alive.

The organization claims that no one was killed or any property was lost in the control of the situation.

After deliberating over 231 disciplinary cases, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) imposed disciplinary action against Nigerian Correctional Service officers, dismissing 15 of them, and demoting 59 others.

The deputy controller of corrections and public relations, Umar Abubakar, made this disclosure in a statement on Tuesday.

The Disciplinary and General Purpose Committee (BDGPC) presented the cases to the Board after thorough investigation and investigation, according to the statement.

The Board approved a number of disciplinary measures in response to its commitment to enforcing discipline and upholding the integrity of the Service, according to the statement.

42 officers received written warning letters as corrective measures in addition to the dismissals and demotions, and 8 employees were forced to leave their positions. One officer received a refund for all earnings received despite holding the rank incorrectly and receiving a reversal.

Read more about Tinubu’s nominations for CEO and commissioners at NERC.

Additionally, the Board made note of the fact that it exonerated 16 employees who had been found not guilty of the allegations.

Seven officers are still on administrative leave pending further investigation into their involvement in a hot topic.

According to the statement, “in one instance, an officer was given a suspended leave of absence and recommended for prosecution to be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution,” the statement continued.

Under the direction of Olubunmi Tunde Ojo, the minister of interior, the CDCFIB reaffirmed its commitment to upholding ethical and professional standards in all levels.

Abdullahi Ramat has been appointed as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s chairman and CEO by President Bola Tinubu.

The nomination of two additional individuals as commission commissioners was also announced in a statement released on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

They are Fouad Olayinka Animashun, the commissioner for finance and management services, and Abubakar Yusuf, the commissioner for consumer affairs.

The Senate must confirm all nominations before any changes.

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The president directed Engr Ramat to take office in an acting capacity pending his screening by the Senate, as required by the law, according to the statement’s statement to prevent a leadership vacuum at the commission.

Ramat, 39, has a doctorate in strategic management, as well as other credentials, as well as an electrical engineer and administrator.

The Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, has said that the state government is intolerant of crime in the state.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics, Emelumba said that the level of security in the state had improved as there was no hiding place for criminals.

While addressing concerns over the killing of seven people in the Ideato North Local Government Area of the state, he said, “Yes, it took some time, but the most important thing is that he]the suspect] was arrested and I think the government should be commended for going all out to ensure he was arrested”.

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On the current state of security, the commissioner said, he said there had been an improvement compared to previous years.

“That does not mean we have a completely safe Imo State. Like every other society, we still have security breaches here and there.

” That does not in any way suggest that the situation is getting worse. As far as I am concerned, these cases are not as frequent as they used to be in the past, “he added.

He assured the public that efforts were underway to bring the perpetrators of the latest killings to justice.

On the controversial Monday sit-at-home directive, Emelumba said,
” I can tell you that in Imo State, the sit-at-home thing is almost history. “

He added that while fear still lingers among some citizens, the government had done everything to reassure the public.

” We have done everything to reassure the people that they are free to come out and work on Mondays. And I think they are responding. Even in the villages, some of them have started responding, and they have seen that they are safe, “he noted.

He said that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration had significantly increased investment in infrastructure.