The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has called on Nigerians to join the fight against corruption.

The group called on community members, women, traditional and religious leaders, labour and trade union members to demand their rights, play their role and say no to corruption by taking a stand against the spate of abandoned projects in their communities and states.

Executive Director of PAACA, Ezenwa Nwagwu, said this in a statement to unveil the “NaMyCommunitybeThis” campaign.

Nwagwu said the campaign would provide the platform for community members to actively track abandoned projects in their locality by reporting such projects, advocating for their completion and monitoring the process using the hashtag #SnapAndSend.

Part of the statement reads: “PAACA calls on community members, women, traditional and religious leaders, labour and trade Union members to demand for their rights, play their role and say no to corruption by taking a stand against the spate of abandoned projects in their communities and states.

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“These projects, most of which full payments have been made, are often abandoned due to weak oversight by community members, while funds get diverted, leaving communities to suffer the consequences arising from the lack of such projects.

“PAACA hereby unveils an accountability campaign called #NaMyCommunitybeThis. The campaign provides the platform for community members to actively track abandoned projects in their locality by reporting such projects, advocating for their completion and monitoring the process using the hashtag #SnapAndSend.

“Using this hashtag, members of the public will expose abandoned capital projects reflecting in state and national budgets and instigate public pressure to push for their completion. All received videos and pictures will be documented in the campaign website www.abandonprojects.ng

“The campaign will work closely with community members in 36 states, including the FCT, document abandoned projects in all communities, and monitor budget performance to ensure that capital projects reflecting in yearly federal and state budgets are rightly executed.

“It is the responsibility of community members to adequately oversee execution of government projects cited in their communities as well as monitor government expenditure to ensure accountability. This is the reason, 2021 International Anticorruption Day theme “Your Right, Your Role, Say No to corruption” is apt for Nigeria’s strategy at succeeding in the fight against corruption.”

The Federal Government yesterday launched the National HIV Clinical Mentorship Programme which was aimed at increasing the quality of care for people with HIV under treatment.

It noted that while over 1.6 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) are currently receiving treatment, the quality of care could go a long way to affect their continuous adherence to treatment or relapse to worse states of gross resistance.

The programme, which was made possible with collaboration with the United States Government, UNAIDS, Global Fund, among others, will ensure that health workers are properly trained and enlightened not to discriminate against their HIV patients.

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During the official launch of the programme, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Dr Gambo Gumel Aliyu said: “We are in the last mile push for controlling the HIV epidemic, and that comes with consequences.

“Gross resistance is largely attributable to non-adherence, especially on people who have started treatment; who have been exposed to these medications, but in one way or the other failed to adhere to the medication.

“It is important to do some preventive and professional mentoring so that we are sure of the quality of care.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunmimbe Mamora, added: “Nigeria’s HIV response has grown significantly in the last five years. The last three years have been the most remarkable because of the resilience shown in the HIV program despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1.6 million people on antiretroviral therapy.

The Benin Republic Government has granted 30,000 hectares of land to a Nigerian company, Labana Rice Mills, for the cultivation of rice in that country.

Alhaji Abdullahi Idris-Zuru, the General Manager of the company disclosed this in a statement made available to reporters yesterday in Birnin-Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.

He said the company would finance farmers in the country through the Benin Republic Government, in 2022, to produce 20,000 metric tons of paddy rice.

Idris-Zuru said: “A total of 30,000 hectares of farmland is being made available in the Benin Republic to Labana Rice Mills for the cultivation of rice.

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“These resolutions were made during a joint meeting of Beninoise Government officials with the delegation of Labana Rice Mills at Cotonou, the country’s capital, last weekend.

“The meeting with the Labana delegation led by the Chairman, Abubakar Abbah-Adamu, was chaired by the Benin Minister of Agriculture, Mr Gaston Dossouhoui.”

He said the Beninoise Government granted the farmland after an assessment of the company’s rice mills and farms in Kebbi State, Nigeria.

“The report has convinced the government of Labana Rice Mills’ capacity to be a reliable partner in agriculture,” the General Manager added.

He said the chairman of the company, Abbah-Adamu, expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence the Benin government had in Labana Rice Mills and the government and people of Nigeria.

The Senate yesterday passed a bill to establish the Federal College of Forestry, Wawa Zange, Duku, in Gombe State.

Also passed during the plenary was a Bill to establish the University of Education Numan, in Adamawa State.

The passage of the two bills followed the consideration of two reports presented by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West), who presented the reports on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), said the Federal College of Forestry Bill Wawa Zange 2021, seeks to provide the legislative framework for the establishment of the institution.

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He added that the College, when established, would provide full-time courses in forestry, technology and development to improve genetic resources of forest trees and ecosystem for economic growth and development.

According to the lawmaker, the College would promote Applied Sciences, Management and other fields of studies with a view to augmenting agricultural needs and expectations of Nigerians.

He said the Institution, as a special college, would offer Higher National Diploma (HND) and Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and other certificates in education in the areas of its core objects of interest on a full-time and part-time basis.

In another presentation, the lawmaker said the bill seeking to establish the University of Education, Numan, Adamawa State, would provide the required manpower needs of teacher education to guarantee improved learning in tertiary institutions across the country.

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has honoured Dr Princess Ifeoma Ike as one of the recipients of the 2021 Eye Health Heroes Awards.

Dr Princess, who has consistently demonstrated her passion, purpose, and determination to restore sight by helping to improve people’s lives around the world, said as an eight-year practising Optometrist, one of her favourite parts working in this role is that she get to help improve people’s quality of life by improving their vision, and general health.

She spoke during the award presentation in Abuja, stating that something as simple as reading glasses and counselling can make a world of difference in helping a patient with their daily activities. Though sometimes it can be challenging, it is equally satisfying.

Another fulfilling part is that Optometry is a social profession where every patient has a story which is an essential part of understanding the diagnosis and recommending treatment modalities.

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Dr Princess is counted among the change-makers, innovators and emerging leaders from across all areas and backgrounds in eye health. Her emergence as an optometrist with global health contributions will benefit millions of lives. She is set to continue growing as a leader by tackling the largest and complex problems in eye care. This is an annual development programme to celebrate the achievements of young people who are moving to shape the world.

Dr Princess Ifeoma Ike, a Public Health Optometrist and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper was one of the three recipients from Nigeria named Eye Health Hero in the Future Leaders’ category by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

Currently, she is the CEO of Princess Vision Eye Clinic Limited Abuja, Awka Eye Clinic Limited, and Awka Eye Foundation situated in Anambra State. It focuses on providing quality, accessible and affordable eye care service that meets the need of every Nigerian irrespective of their social class through public and private sector engagements.

She has worked to ensure that marginalised and high-risk groups have access to eye care. The recipients of the Eye health Hero were recognised in a virtual ceremony and, over the next year, be involved in an exclusive series of events and media opportunities.

Joanna Conlon, Director of Development and Communications IAPB, noted that the commitment and energy of the 2021 Eye Health Heroes will be critical to ensure that by 2030, no one experiences unnecessary sight loss, and that everyone has the support and services to achieve their full potential and that we all understand the importance of caring for our own eye health.

She believes that public recognition and commendation will spur others to become more actively involved in spearheading impactful and transformational health care ventures.

The Kano State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), yesterday inaugurated the 2021 operation zero-tolerance to road traffic crash campaign.

The occasion took place at the Yankaba Central Motor Park, Kano.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who was represented by his deputy Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, stated that “following the approval given by the National Council on Education on the introduction of road safety education in the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools in the country, the Kano State Government is committed to introducing the road safety education in its schools.”

Ganduje said his administration was planning to construct weighing bridges in order to prevent over-loading by vehicles.

“The weighbridges, when fully operational, will ensure that all vehicles entering the state are weighed so as to find out those that are over-loaded.

“We are working towards establishing more drivers’ license centres in the state, so as to ensure that only qualified and licensed people drive vehicles in order to prevent crashes on the road,” he said.

The Governor gave the theme of this year’s zero-tolerance to road traffic crashes campaign as “Maintain Safe Speed, Avoid Night Travel and Enjoy Quality Road Experience.”

He described the event as apt and urged all road users to ensure they operate within the acceptable speed limit because of security concerns and poor visibility.

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He said: “This administration will ensure sustainable collaboration with the FRSC in its programmes to ensure safety and security of lives and properties of road users in the state.”

Chief Press Secretary to the Kano Deputy Governor, Hassan Musa Fagge, added that road users were advised to avoid illicit drugs and ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy.

Corps Marshal of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, said the operation zero- tolerance to road traffic crash campaign which was successfully carried out early in the year at Asaba and Ilorin and now in Kano, targets the mass sensitisation of road users and collective agenda-setting for improved road traffic and crash management during the end-of-the-year and New Year seasons usually known for an increase in the volume of traffic.

Oyeyemi noted that the responsibility of each society is to identify the root causes of road traffic crashes in each environment and work towards eliminating them.

“The zero-tolerance campaign in Kano State was launched as the Corps is simultaneously carrying out ‘operation show of readiness and simulation exercises’ at 16 locations across eight states in the country.

“The intention is to show our readiness for improved traffic management in partnership with other security agencies,” Oyeyemi said.

With the continued sealing of the Langtang North Local Government secretariat by the Plateau State Police Command, some registered groups within the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to call the state Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka to order.

The groups, in the petition, also demanded that he prevailed upon the state Commissioner of Police, CP Onyeka, to obey the rule of law with respect to the issue concerning the Chairmanship of Langtang North Local Government Area.

The petition, dated November 25, 2021, and signed by one Makshwar Kurmtok, as Chairman of the Coalition, was copied to the AIG of Police (Operations), the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Judicial Council (NJC), Falana’s Chamber, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Director-General, Department of State Security (DSS), the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, PDP National Chairman and the Plateau State PDP Chairman. Among its demands was a seven-day ultimatum for the Council Chairman, Laven Joshua Ubandoma, to be allowed to take over his office.

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The demands read in part: “The Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka should withdraw the police from the secretariat that is stopping Dr Laven Ubandoma Joshua from working and provide security for him to work as ordered by the court immediately.

“The Commissioner of Police should be called to order and allow the rule of law to prevail. The Council Chairman Laven Joshua Ubandoma should be allowed to take over his office within seven days to perform his constitutional function as the office cannot remain vacant.

“If our request is not met within seven days, we shall sue the Nigeria Police Force for an act capable of deriding the rule of law and democracy. “We know our IGP is a man of impeccable character and we do not want to take the laws into our own hands because, we know that you will preserve the rule of law in your time, as the Inspector-General of Police and posterity will remember you.”