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Tag: Bayelsa

  • Edo records lowest out-of-school children in Nigeria

    …as parents, teachers applaud Obaseki’s reforms in education sector on World Teachers’ Day

     

    Edo State has recorded the least number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with a number of international development partners, has shown.

    The verdict is contained in the Multi Indicator Cluster Survey 2016-17 released by NBS and signed by its Director General and Statistician-General of the Federation, Yemi Kale.

    The survey interpreted by Statisense, a data company, showed that Edo State had a total of 79,446 out of school children, the lowest in Nigeria, while Bauchi State with 1,239,759 leads the pack as the state with most out-of-school children in the country.

    The survey lends credence to the impressive efforts of Edo State in the education sectors.

    Some of the international agencies that partnered with the NBS on the survey are United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO), among other.

    Other states where the figures of out-of-school children are high are Katsina with 873,633, Kano with 837,478 and Jigawa with 784,391. Other states at the end of the curve with Edo include Abia with 86,124 and Bayelsa with 86,778.

    Meanwhile, as millions observe the teachers’ day across the world, parents and teachers in Edo State have applauded ongoing reforms by the Governor Obaseki-led administration to reposition the education sector in the state.

    Governor Obaseki has continued to initiate reforms to overhaul the state’s education sector, including the Edo Basic Education Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme, rehabilitation of the Government Science and Technical College, Benin City; restructuring the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen and the College of Education, Abudu, among others.

    Read Also: Obahiagbon, serving lawmakers pick APC tickets in Edo

    Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Mr. Lucky Osato, a parent, said, “The reforms in the education sector by the governor are highly commendable. These programmes will return Edo State to her pride of place in the country. I am aware of what is going in the primary schools as well as the revamp of the technical college.”

    Mrs. Judith Osifo, a teacher in Okaigben, Igueben Local Government Area, said “I am truly impressed with Governor Obaseki’s interest in improving our skills and boosting our capacity to deliver in the classroom. Where teachers in other states are complaining of not getting their salaries as and when du, we get ours and are still benefiting from the Edo-BEST programme. What more can we ask for?”

    “Governor Godwin Obaseki has proven to us that he has our interest at heart with the training of 7,000 teachers in the basic education sector transformation programme. For me, there is no better way of celebrating me as a teacher than assisting me to gain new skills,” Mrs. Osifo added.

    Commending teachers on World Teachers’ Day, Governor Obaseki said, “Teachers are special people and deserve to be celebrated for their immense contributions to human and societal development. Daily, they painstakingly groom, nurture and mould minds and equip generations with legally and socially approved practices, skills, norms and values.”

  • Ijaw professionals worry over ecological disasters in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa

    The Niger Delta region has been going through ecological challenges. These environmental teething troubles are fast snowballing into disasters that threaten human existence.

    The horrid situation has been a source of concern to the Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), a group of intellectuals championing environmental rights, justice and remediation. The group said it was piqued by the fact that despite obvious threats of extinction facing the region, relevant authorities are paying lip service to the life-threatening natural disaster.

    IPA raised the alarm over ecological disasters that threaten to wipe out many communities in the region after its general meeting recently.

    At the meeting IPA, whose activities cover Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states, unanimously agreed to bring the ecological emergencies and humanitarian crises in the region to the notice of authorities for appropriate actions.

    Leaders of IPA that attended the meeting were President, Homeland Chapter, Iniruo Wills; Vice-President, Stella Alaere Raine and Publicity Secretary, Marie-Therese Teibowei. The trio signed the communique issued after the meeting.

    In the communique, the group identified floods, looming earthquakes, toxic soot and continuous hydrocarbon pollution as major environmental challenges that needed urgent attention in the region.

    IPA lamented that massive floods that ravaged communities in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers displaced hundreds of thousands of residents of these areas. The situation has left the people with no shelter, food, water, medication and other necessities. It said the development heightened fears of disease epidemic that is capable of spreading beyond national and international borders.

    The group commended the “selfless and courageous efforts of the Ijaw Flood Control Unit (IFCU) Ijaw Women Connect (IWC), Ijaw Youths Development Association (IYDA) and various individuals and community-based organisations that mobilised resources and coordinated community self-helps in the last two weeks in the face of gross neglect by local, state and federal governments”.

    IPA called on governments of the affected states to immediately swing into action to provide adequate social reliefs and effective short, medium and long-term measures in order to control floods and other ecological catastrophes.

    The group expressed disappointment that the authorities didn’t learn any lesson from the human casualties and social consequences that resulted from the 1999 and 2012 floods, the annual warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Surveys Agency (NIHSA).

    It said the state and the Federal Government ignored the reports and recommendations by relevant authorities and committees and the several months of warnings by the agencies this year.

    The group said: “Neither the Federal Government nor the state governments took any action to protect our vulnerable communities from floods. They only resorted to fire brigade and cosmetic approaches after many people have been displaced.

     

    “We condemn the Federal Government’s typical attitude of burying its head in the sand whenever Ijaw and Niger Delta communities are affected by ecological disasters and the discrimination against our communities reflected in the difference between how much and how fast the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) responds to emergencies in other parts of the country and how little and slowly it responds to disasters in our homeland.

    “We equally condemn the utter neglect of the environment by governments in the Niger Delta states and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    “These governments and NDDC have been receiving billions of dollars (hundreds of billions of Naira) every year since 1999 by way of the 13 per cent petroleum derivation funds, the statutory NDDC Fund and the Ecological Fund, mostly for the protection of the Niger Delta.

    “Yet, they are culpable for the near-zero budget provision for environmental exigencies.”

    On other disasters, it said: “The rain of toxic soot, black particulate matter in and around Rivers State, has continued unchecked and unabated for over two years now; leaving the entire population increasingly at the risk of cancer and other terminal or debilitating diseases.

    “We are worried about the warning issued a few days ago by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) about impending earthquakes in five states, including Bayelsa State, especially around the petroleum-producing communities of Igbogene, Biseni and others, thus adding another troubling dimension to the mortal cocktail of environmental hazards faced by the Ijaw and the people of the Niger Delta.

    “There has been continued menace of hydrocarbon pollution of our communities, waters and forests; with grossly ineffective regulation or control for 60 years and counting.”

    But the group commended the action of the Bayelsa State government for setting up a committee to assess and respond to the damage caused by the floods. It, however, appealed to the state government to take proactive steps to prevent future occurrences.

     

    Solutions

     

    Beyond highlighting the problems, IPA proffered solutions. It called on the Federal Government to immediately deploy adequate relief materials, shelter and services to all the flood-affected and threatened communities in the region.

    The group also called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the environment in the affected areas and mobilise required personnel and materials to deal with the situation within international humanitarian best practices and law.

    It also urged the government to direct the Ecological Fund Office, NDDC, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Federal Ministry of Environment to work in collaboration with the concerned state governments to urgently commission an integrated ecological and water resources management master plan.

    IPA said such master plan must be backed by clear implementation time lines, a credible monitoring and evaluation framework, dedicated funding and sovereign/World Bank guarantees for service providers.

    The group further asked the Federal Government to adequately fund the Nigerian Geological Surveys Agency (NGSA) to commission or conduct, in consultation with concerned state governments, a thorough study to monitor and predict earthquake flash points and adequately prepare to avert or deal with any event or risk of earthquakes and tremors, to avoid the national threat and shame of being caught unawares.

    The group called on the government to promptly release all the held-up funds due to Bayelsa State and other affected states from the Ecological Fund, and avoid any politicisation or discrimination.

    It called on the governments of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers to co-operate with the IWC and IYDA to improve efforts of the Ijaw Flood Control Unit.

    Addressing the states, it said: “Demonstrate that charity begins at home by equipping, funding and deploying the respective State Emergency Management Agencies and Ministries of Environment to respond robustly to the scandalous humanitarian crises that our flood-ravaged communities experience.

    “Work with the states’ Houses of Assembly to present and pass a supplementary budget for the purpose, and declare and implement a constructive state of environmental emergency, as prescribed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Enact laws to establish and equip State Ecological Management Boards for effective protection, enhancement and economic benefits of the states,” it said.

    Also, the group called on donor agencies, including private sectors, such as the Red Cross to come to the aid of affected communities with medical support and other forms of aid and pay special attention to vulnerable persons, the aged, children, physically-challenged persons and women.

    IPA asked the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the Minister of Environment to take action to stop the toxic soot rain on Port Harcourt and its environs caused by petroleum operators and save peoples’ lives.

    It further urged the Ijaw and Niger Delta federal lawmakers to be alive to their responsibilities by working actively to ensure that respective federal and state authorities implement all the recommendations.

     

  • Bayelsa to assist flood-ravaged communities

    Bayelsa state will assist flood -ravaged communities in the state, Commissioner for the Environment, Ebipate Apaingolo has said.

    He gave the assurance during an on-the-spot assessment of affected communities in Yenagoa, Ogbia and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas

    In Yenagoa,  the team visited Agbura community heavily impacted by the flood.

    In Ogbia, most communities have been submerged in the flood. They include Ayakoro, Otuedu, Ayama, Otuobhi and Ologoghe while Ologi was moderately impacted.

    In Southern Ijaw, Ozezebiri, Kainyabiri, Ofonibiri, Oporoma, Angiama and Amassoma communities were all heavily flooded while Opuama, Pulo-Obubo, Ekowe, Oloma and Otuan were moderately affected.

    The commissioner urged victims in Agbura, Otuogori, Otuedu, Anyama and Ologoghe communities where property worth millions of naira were destroyed not to despair as the government is determined to bring succor to the affected communities.

    Apaingolo called on those residing in the coastal areas to take advantage of the internally displaced persons camps and shelters provided by the state government within the local government area and to keep faith with the restoration government in this trying moment.

    He described the devastating situation at Kainyanbiri, Ofonibiri, Otuebiri and some parts of Amassoma as unfortunate and worrisome and that the government would send relief materials to the people through the local government chairmen.

    The commissioner frowned at the federal government’s neglect of the Niger Delta region and Bayelsa State during emergencies despite its huge contribution to the nation’s coffers.

    Apaingolo appealed to the Federal Government to support the efforts of the state  government by urgently sending relief materials.

    He stressed that flood is a natural disaster but land developers need to be conscious not to erect structures on canals in order to avert disasters like this.

    The paramount ruler of Otuebhi community, Chief Ase Wilberforce and Vice Chairman Community Development Committee, Mr. Robinson Opuene, while narrating their ordeal, thanked the government team for visiting th community to assess their situation.

    Chief Wilberforce called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies to urgently assist them as the flood had rendered them homeless and destroyed their farmlands.

    He however added that they prefer to live in their flooded communities instead of moving to the designated IDP camp for their area because of the need to protect their property, which he said would be vulnerable to vandals if they leave.

    The environment commissioner was accompanied by Permanent Secretary SEMA Director of Operations, the Head Media and Events to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Ono Akpe and other officials from the Ministry of Environment

  • BudgIT ranks Edo high on ability to meet monthly recurrent expenditure

    …Edo leads in covering all expenditure without borrowing

     

    The frugal allocation of resources by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State which has enabled the state to meet her monthly recurrent expenditure commitments has been applauded by independent researchers, BudgIT.

    The organisation’s favourable ranking validates investors’ rating of Edo State as an emerging investment haven with sound reforms in critical sectors such as land administration, company registration and the positive disposition of the government to investment, domestic and foreign. 

    In its “State of the States 2018 Report on the ability of States to Meet Monthly Recurrent Expenditure Obligations for January – June 2018,” BudgIT, a civic organisation, said: “Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Ondo are among the top ten states in our Index.”

    The organisation in its fiscal sustainability index analysis explained that “Index A looks at the ability of states to meet their recurrent expenditure obligation with state-owned revenue like value added tax, 13 per cent derivation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). States like Rivers, Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo sit top of Index A.”

    On Index B which looks at the states’ ability to cover all recurrent expenditure without resorting to borrowing,  the organisation noted: “Interestingly about 16 states could cover the recurrent expenditure obligation without borrowing funds – a marked improvement over 2017.

    Read Also: BudgIT knocks NASS

    “In the first six months of 2017, only four states could effectively meet their recurrent expenditure without borrowing, selling assets or/and donor funds. States like Kano, Bayelsa, Edo, Rivers and Delta sit on top of the index.

    BudgIT added that “Edo State appears to have shown some initiative by trying to resuscitate its rubber and palm plantations in conjunction with the private sector, a move likely to increase earnings.”

    The plan is to “leverage on high-yielding varieties and long tradition of oil palm production to acquire about 100,000 hectares of land for the development of oil palm estates.”

    BudgIT advised that “the timelines in which this project will be achieved are crucial.

    It assured that “the Gelegele Seaport, which is to be transformed into a container port, holds great promise, if Edo aggressively revitalises her rubber industry – especially as the commodity trades at about $2,000 per ton.

    The organisation projected that “If Edo puts 400,000 hectares under rubber cultivation and invests in research to take yield above four tons per hectares, its rubber-based economy could top $3bn in the near term, on the back of efficient distribution through the seaport.”

    It further explained in the State of the States Report that “Despite increasing production capacity over the last seven years, Nigeria ranked 15 on the global production chart for rubber, as at 2016, with a capacity of 156,341 tons – a mere 1.19% of global output (at 13.15million tons).

    “This leaves a lot of market room, more so with the increasing application of rubber in the production of items such as stamp, shoes, mulch and roofing. Edo can therefore achieve increase output by putting the following measures in place: mechanised farming; standard storage facilities; stellar transportation systems; processing facilities and alternate point(s) of export/exit point from the country.

    “Formal trade agreements with any importing countries would also be a great advantage. Investment in rail infrastructure could also potentially open Edo’s economy to the Southwest and North-west corridor, ensuring smooth transfer of goods and services that in turn results in a larger transfer of funds into the public purse.”

  • Bayelsa gets head of Service as three perm secs retire

    BAYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, approved the appointment of Acting Head of Service Mr. Luca Obiri.

    A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Obiri’s appointment followed the retirement of former Head of Service Reverend Thomas Zidafamor.

    The statement said Dickson also approved the retirements of three permanent secretaries; Dr. Promise Ekio, Prekake Gede and Dr. Debian Opukiri.

    “The new acting head of Service, who served as permanent secretary, General Services in the Office of the SSG is required to round off the reforms in the public service within the next six months.

    “The reforms without doubt has yielded tremendous results, particularly in deepening and strengthening the public service and producing a disciplined and dedicated workforce with over N500 million monthly savings recorded in wage bill”.

    Dickson thanked the head of Service for his meritorious service to the government and people and wished him well in his future endeavours.

    He also thanked the permanent secretaries and equally wished them well.

    Dickson directed Obiri and chairman of the Civil Service Commission to forward the names of eligible directors in the service for consideration, as permanent secretaries.

  • 150,000 persons displaced by flood in Bayelsa

    ONE hunderd and fifty persons have been displaced by flood in Bayelsa State, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday.

    Mr Yakubu Suleiman, co-ordinator, Emergency Operation Centre E, Rivers/Bayelsa Territory of NEMA spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

    Suleiman said homes, farmlands, schools and churches were submerged in eight local government areas.

    He said the agency was taking inventory to ensure people were free from diseases.

    Suleiman said the displaced persons have been evacuated to the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Biseni, and some tents have been mounted at Egbebiri, all in Sagbama council.

    “We have carried out assessment on the affected communities, and we discover that no fewer than 150, 000 persons have been displaced and the number keep growing because the water is rising daily.

    “Several communities have been submerged; markets, schools, hospitals and churches are already under the water.

    “We have cleared some portions of lands for the IDPs at Biseni and we have mounted some tents at Egbebiri Community, all in Sagbama LGA.

    “We have over 110 tents to be mounted in different locations; the emergency monitoring team is working round the clock to ensure that every affected home is assisted.

    “The medical teams are on ground from the Federal and State Ministries of Health, to be assisted by members of the Red Cross Society, to avoid spread of diseases as a result of polluted water.

    “On potable water for the affected persons, we have brought water treated plants to be installed in the camp, so, that the people will have access to portable water,” he said.

    NAN recalls that communities affected are in Adagbabiri, Anibeze, Biseni, and Trofani in Sagbama LGA.  Governor Seriake Dickson has said over 70 per cent of communities have been submerged.

    The governor spoke to reporters while visiting these communities with officials of NEMA, state security committee, Police, Army, Air Force, the Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, and others.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, on Sunday, said the governor was in the middle of a road in front of his father’s compound at Toru Orua, with water rushing from the Forcados River into the community.

    The severity of the flood was such that some communities have been cut off.

    Those who came out on boats to meet the convoy said the road had been rendered impassible by the flood.

    Also, Dickson and his team visited other submerged communities.  People were  in need of shelter and relief materials at Sampou, Kaiama, Odi, as well as Sagbama, Bolou Orua, Toru Orua, and others in Sagbama and Kolokuma/Okpokuma councils.

    A substantial part of the state capital, Yenagoa, especially Tombia, Akempai, and others are affected by the flood.

    Dickson said the severity of the flood made the State Executive Committee and the State Security Committee to close schools in Bayelsa.

    He described the flood as a major disaster, which had rendered thousands homeless.

    The governor ordered public buildings not affected by the flood for immediate conversion be used as temporary internally displaced camps.

    He called on the Federal Government for support to  combat the humanitarian challenges.

    The governor, who urged the Federal Government to declare an emergency in the state, noted that Bayelsa was omitted when the government declared emergency in Kogi, Niger, Delta and Anambra.

    He argued that the flood situation in Bayelsa is inevitable as the state is below sea level with all major rivers and tributaries through which water flows from rivers Niger and Benue to the Atlantic Ocean.

    He said the government had set up a committee, comprising top officials and security services under Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, to manage the situation.

    “We have spent the day going from one local government area to the other; going from one community  to the other; assessing the situation and seeing first hand  the way our people are coping with this major disaster.”

     

  • Bayelsa partners Customs on cargo airport

    The Bayelsa government and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are set to deepen cooperation in ensuring a smooth take off of the state’s International Cargo Airport.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the cargo airport is located along Amasoma Road, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
    The Director General of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA) Mrs Patience Abah, made the disclosure on Wednesday, during a tour of the airport’s facilities by officers of the NCS in Amasoma.
    Abah described the services of NCS as critical in a cargo airport, while also disclosing that the State government was also collaborating with the NCS in the Agge Deep Seaport project.
    “We are forming the right partnership with key stakeholders to assist us in providing support services to investors and business persons and among the key stakeholders is the NCS.

    Read Also: Bayelsa, professionals fault minister on N800b debt

    “We are commissioning the cargo airport very soon, but we cannot operate cargo services without the involvement of NCS, because there will be export and import services.
    “So, their role is very critical to making sure that these operations run smoothly.
    “We also have the Agge Seaport project that we are working on as well. We intend to set up a terminal for movement of critical goods and provision of services,” she said.
    The Rivers/Bayelsa Command of the NCS, represented by Assistant Superintendent Dyako Tyavkase, said the role of Customs officers at the airport was critical, particularly in the area of revenue generation.
    Tyavkase assured the state government of the readiness of NCS to partner them when the airport became operational.

  • Bayelsa, professionals fault minister on N800b debt

    Stakeholders under the auspices of Association of Bayelsa Professionals  (ABP) yesterday called on the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, to prove his claims that Bayelsa’s internal debt was N800 billion.

    Lokpobiri and the Bayelsa State government have been trading words on the state’s debt profile.

    The minister claimed the state’s internal debts stood at N800 billion, instead of the N123 billion reported by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

    Despite the DMO’s report and clarifications by the government, Lokpobiri insisted he stood by his figures, threatening to make details of his claims public.

    ABP is concerned about  the conflicting figures and asked the minister to provide evidence of his claims.

    The association’s General-Secretary, Jasper Timiebi, said in a statement the body intervened because of the misleading dimension of the claim.

    Timiebi noted that while the state quoted a debt of N123 billion, which members verified and found to be the same as DMO’s, the body was curious that Lokpobiri insisted the state borrowed N800 billion.

    The secretary said challenged Lokpobiri to go beyond threats and give details of the N800 billion, and supply names of the financial institutions that gave out the loans.

    He noted that the association has a duty to prevent the people from a wild odium of misinformation peddled by the minister.

    According to him, the association’s findings showed that the government had not borrowed any foreign loan from 2012 to date, but had bilateral commitments with international finance bodies, such as World Bank.

    He said such commitments were for projects, whose funds were handled by internal finance agencies in accordance with their terms.

    Timiebi said Lokpobiri’s insistence on the N800 billion figure without additional information backing his claim amounted to peddling misinformation.

    He enjoined Lokpobiri to act in consonance with the ethical demands of his office to avoid feeding Bayelsans with falsehood because of desperation for political advantage.

    “The Association òf Bayelsa Professionals has observed with concern the needless controversy generated by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, on the Bayelsa State debt profile.

    The Bayelsa State government  yesterday announced the receipt of N24.16 billion from the Parish Club debt refund.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Markson Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, said Dickson had directed immediate payment of  two months out of outstanding three salary arrears to workers and fourth months out seven months pensioners arrears to pensioners in the state.

    The commissioner said that while the state government got N21.94 billion, the local government received N2.22 billion from the receipts from the Parish Club Debt refunds.

    He said: “The Debt Management Office, (a federal Institution) in its June 2018 report stated that the debt portfolio of the state was N123 billion. This figure includes contingent liabilities which included contract payments and pension obligations. We advise Lokpobiri to educate himself or engage a brilliant young graduate to assist him.

    “While the government is making every effort to achieve massive developmental strides in every area, government wish to condemn the unguarded statements of some highly placed individuals.

    “The recent unsubstantiated statement of the Minister of State for Agriculture that the State is owing N800 billion is disappointing for someone of his high office and its disgraceful. As a minster for agriculture, he needs to inform Bayelsans of the impact he has made even in his local government area.”

  • 2019: ‘Buhari is our strongest selling point’

    The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and gubernatorial aspirant in Yobe State Alhaji Mai Mala Buni has said that the All Progresssive Congress (APC) remains the party to beat with President Mohammadu Buhari as its strongest selling point.

    Alhaji Mai Mala Buni also noted that the APC, unlike the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is not used to rigging election results but has relied on the sterling leadership and the unquestionable integrity  of President Mohammadu Buhari that has made the party garner its national assistance.

    He disclosed that the defection of  some members from the party does not in any way threaten the chances of the party in the forthcoming election, adding that, “the APC still had a very good outing in Bauchi and Kogi even after the defection”.

    His words: “Our major  and strongest selling point is President Mohammadu Buhari for the fact that he has demonstrated to Nigerians that he is leader and he has provided that leadership by fulfilling all the campaign promises made to the people during the 2014/2015 electioneering  campaign.

    “The transformation that is ongoing in all sectors tells you why APC is the only party to beat. A Political party is an institution and you cannot extricate those periodic hick-ups but that does not mean that we have serious crisis or our chances are threatened or that we are really worried.

    “Don’t forget, even after the defections, we had bye elections in Bauchi and Kogi and  we won them all. This is a clear testimony that the people of Nigeria are speaking through the ballot and not on mere propaganda.

    “The APC is not known for arm-twisting or interfering into election process unlike the PDP that was use to rigging themselves into power. If APC had been known for rigging elections then  we wouldn’t have lost Bayelsa and Anambra. This implies that the APC allows democracy to flourish.

    Read Also: Buhari, Saraki and caustic electioneering

    “The successes recorded during this administration are unprecedented. You are aware that election is the only barometer to measure the acceptability of an administration, or a political party,  or an individual.

    “Take Kogi for instance, it used to be under PDP but we won. The same with Ondo, Ekiti . This  tells you that the people of Nigeria have accepted APC as a party that has come to stay under the able leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari who is tirelessly  sacrificing himself for the betterment of this country especially in the area of insecurity and infrastructure and war against corruption.

    “There are unprecedented discoveries and trials of  corruption cases that are ongoing. These are all clear indicators of the good leadership of our president which is our selling point. Any day, any time, we have no problem as a party. We will consolidate our gains by still committing ourselves to the betterment of the country irrespective of our states, regions, tribes or religion,” Mai Mala said.

    Commenting on the controversy of budget of INEC at the National Assembly, Mai Mala said the budget is a national duty, stressing that, “I don’t think any member of the National Assembly will abdicate the reason he was elected above selfish interest”.

    “We have asked the national assembly to reconvene. Particularly we have spoken to our APC legislators to reconvene and pass the budget. If I am not mistaken, we have seen the joint committee of the National Assembly interacting with INEC so I am sure they will reconvene. It is a national duty. I don’t think any member of the National Assembly will abdicate his duty that he was elected by the people to do. I don’t think any member will refuse that because the national interest supersede any other interest and consideration of this budget is a national issue  and a call to duty, so I believe they will resume soon to put that matter to rest”  he said.

  • NEMA’s impactful outings on disaster management

    These are indeed trying times. The floods are here again, and as usual, thousands are affected. Homes have been destroyed, farms have been washed away, and the list goes on. While it is succinct to state that just like in other climes where natural disasters such as hurricane, earthquakes, and floods have continued to wreak havoc, the responses of disaster management agencies come to bear in no small measure in cushioning effects and giving those affected a sense of belonging and a life afterward.

    And this brings us to the recent flooding experienced in some parts of Nigeria as a result of heavy rainfalls that causes rivers Niger and Benue to overflow. As at the last count, Niger Kogi, Anambra, and Delta states have been declared as National Disasters by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). It is also understood that Taraba Adamawa, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and Kwara states are being monitored carefully by NEMA.

    In this regard, I will start on a high note. The preparedness and responses by NEMA have been excellent in my opinion. I recall when the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency issued a warning that Rivers Benue and Niger had almost reached levels that resulted in flooding in 2012, NEMA issued a statement informing Nigerians on its preparedness for the flooding and it also consequently issued precautionary information to these communities.

    Now, this is why I decided to pen this article. Kogi state is among the worst hit states and as at the last time I checked, the director general of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja has somewhat relocated to Kogi state. This was aside from the fact that he had held series of meetings with stakeholders to assess the reports from the fact-finding committees that visited flood-prone states after the warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency. I was more than impressed, and in my opinion, this was indeed a proactive approach and a radical departure from that norm that placed so much emphasis on reactionary activities.

    I stand to be corrected, NEMA in the past two years had indeed shown how and what it meant to have a disaster management agency in a country. This is in line with the adoption of the preventive disaster management operations introduced into the agency by the director general, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja. I also recall that sometime in 2017, while addressing the 2017 General Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Cancun, Mexico, the DG was quoted as saying “support from the political leadership in Nigeria has enabled a giant stride towards ensuring appropriate actions on reducing risks, disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery in the country. He also said the Federal Government has empowered and equipped NEMA to comprehensively manage disasters in Nigeria, with a fully functional Department of Disaster Risk Reduction already created in the agency.

    Now, this was why I wasn’t surprised and also impressed with the responses of NEMA in recent times in disaster management in Nigeria. Hear what the DG has to say: “President Muhammadu Buhari approved N3 billion for the first stages of preparedness, response disaster mitigation and it was on that note that stakeholders under the coordination of NEMA had activated a National Contingency Plan, a policy document, which gives NEMA the power to establish operational structure. An operational structure has been put in place with a National Emergency Operational Centre domiciled at the NEMA headquarters and five Zonal Emergency Operational Centres (EOC).”

    I am left in awe whenever I hear the DG of NEMA speak on issues concerning disaster management. His grasp and understanding thrill me, so much so that I have told all that cared to listen that one of the best decision of President Muhammdu Buhari was to have appointed a highly detailed and competent individual to head NEMA. And why they would always ask me.

    The reason is simple. Which category of people is mostly affected by disasters? The answer is obvious, and that is mainly why I am in praise of President Muhammdu Buhari because he has demonstrated that this is a government that is concerned about the ordinary Nigerians unlike in times past where our inefficiency in disaster management results in loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties.

    Back to the crux of the issue, NEMA’s outings in disaster management in the past two years can best be described as impactful. It is instructive to state that DG has visited almost all parts of the country that has in one way or the other experienced any form of disaster, be it human-made or natural for on the spot assessment and also leading rescue and relief operations. For example, the DG of NEMA was on the ground during rescue operations when a building collapsed in Abuja recently. He was also in Benue during the September 2017 flood that affected scores of villages in the state. And the list goes on.

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    In my opinion, what this signifies or indicates is that there is a government that cares and holds that critical constituency so dearly and the need for them to feel the impact of his administration. This is even aside from the efforts of NEMA in assisting the Nigeria military in the resettlement of thousands of Nigerians that were displaced as a result of the insurgency in North East Nigeria. It also suffices to state that under this arrangement, thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have successfully returned to their communities. This is also commendable.

    The list can go on without end. But what is instructive and a takeaway from the activities of NEMA is that once there is a will, there would always be a way. This much the DG of NEMA has demonstrated with the support he has received from the political authorities. And if most political office holders exhibit this much patriotism, Nigeria would indeed be better for it.

    Adamu is a public affairs analyst and contributed this piece from Abuja