Month: August 2023

The Kwara Government has pledged to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the fight against illegal mining in the state.

Mr. Okanlawon Musa-Olarewaju, Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, made the pledge on Friday, when he paid a courtesy visit on the Ilorin Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Mr Michael Nzekwe.

Musa-Olarewaju, said that the state government was solidly behind EFCC in its efforts to rid the state of illegal miners operating at different locations within the 16 local government areas of the state.

He urged the anti-graft agency not to be deterred by the antics of some corrupt individuals benefiting from the illegal operations.

“We are following your activities closely, especially the latest arrest of some Chinese Nationals over alleged illegal mining in the state.

“The Chinese people have a company in Olayinka, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara. When I visited the place, I almost shed tears. The place is not developed, the roads are not motorable and yet the company is not paying royalty to the government”, he said.

According to him, no fewer than 230 mining operators are in the state, and none of them has come forward to revalidate operating licences.

“We have called them now to come to the ministry to bring their documents for regularisation and revalidation,” the permanent secretary added.

Responding, Nzekwe commended the ministry for pledging to support the commission in the fight against corruption, particularly its onslaught against illegal mining.

He said such support and collaboration from stakeholders is what the EFCC needs to stamp out corruption in the country.

The EFCC zonal commander further vowed to ensure that the operators abide by the rules of the game by paying royalties to government and also obeying the local content law.

He hinted on plans by the commission to set up a taskforce to tackle illegal mining across the state.

According to him, the task force will comprise representatives of all law enforcement agencies, while the EFCC will be saddled with prosecuting suspects arrested by the taskforce.

He added that the first task of the committee would be to meet all stakeholders to get supports for the fight against illegal mining business in the state.

Nzekwe further revealed that the zone within the last one year had secured the conviction of five illegal minners, aside the huge amount of money recovered from the sector.

He added that the commission would not slow down in its efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Jela’s Development Initiatives (JDI), an NGO, trained over 40 teachers and caregivers of young persons with disabilities on mental health to boost their wellbeing.

The Chief Executive Officer of JDI, Angela Ochu-Baiye, who spoke in Abuja said the two-day training would help to create a trauma sensitive environment for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) especially students.

According to her, the event jointly organised by JDI, the Leprosy Mission and Liliane Fonds for students in the FCT centered on basic mental healthcare and sexual/reproductive health and rights of students with disabilities.

Ochu-Baiye said: “We have started empowering teachers and caregivers that work with students living with disabilities in the two inclusive schools in the FCT.

“They include students with disabilities in GSS Kuje and GSS Kwali, JDSS Kwali, FCT. We have been funded by the mission to carry out unburden group therapy sessions for students with disabilities.

“We found out that there are certain issues that cause students with disabilities to have mental health challenges and part of them also have to do with their teachers.

“Therefore, this training is to empower the teachers to understand their mental health and to enable them create trauma sensitive environments for the students.

“Also, to let the teachers know that these students with disabilities have sexual and reproductive health rights as well.”

Also speaking, Mr Tayo Adefarasin, Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist, JDI, described women and children as being most vulnerable, especially those with disabilities.

According to him, it has become important to take sexual/reproductive health seriously.

“We believe it is pertinent to take into consideration women and girls living with disabilities by providing them with some basic healthcare amenities,

“It could be as little as disposable pads during the menstrual cycle, specifically educating them to gauge their body to know what changing signs are when experiencing puberty.

“We need to sensitise them to be sensitive when somebody touches them in a particular manner, know when to move away from and also know how and when to say no.

“These are the issues on the front burner concerning people living with disability,”Adefarasin said.

On her part, Mrs Zainab Nuhu, Senior Education Officer FCT Secondary Education Board, described the event as an opportunity to sensitise the teachers on the importance of mental health.

“I believe there should be more awareness for school teachers, because a lot of people do not know these things.

“Most of them do not have people living with disabilities close to them; I learnt a lot from this training and I will inform the board about the need for more awareness,”Nuhu said.

On his part, Mr Agada Aguda, Head of Department for Special Needs Education, Junior Day Secondary School, Kwali-FCT, appreciated the training.

He said that the event helped to promote teaching and learning about mental health, as well as proper ways to cater for the needs of students living with disabilities.

“I want to sincerely thank JDI for this initiative, because the workshop has helped me to know more about mental health.

“Also, in ways such could assist these students, in relation to their mental health and proper ways to handle them with care.

“This workshop also opened my eyes to know about how to protect the rights of the children living with disability and to fight for their fundamental right,” he said.

He decried challenges often faced by children living with disability, saying they suffer double tragedy of discrimination and stigmatization in the society.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Tensions remain high in the aftermath of a coup in Niger Republic as the military junta refused entry to a negotiating mission planned for Tuesday by the United Nations, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).

The military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso have called on the UN Security Council to prevent military action against the putschists in their neighbouring country Niger.

ECOWAS threatened this as a possible reaction to the coup d’état at the end of July in which the military seized power in Niger, suspended the constitution, and imprisoned the president.

In Tuesday’s letter, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and Burkinese Foreign Minister Olivia Rouamba addressed the UN’s most powerful body as well as the African Union.

“The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Mali appeal to the primary responsibility of the (UN) Security Council as guarantor of international peace and security to prevent, by all means at its disposal, armed action against a sovereign state, the consequences of which would be unforeseeable in their magnitude,” the letter reads.

The aim is “to avoid, in addition to the deterioration of the security situation with the multiplication and spread of terrorist groups, a humanitarian tragedy, which would add to the difficulties of a population legitimately waiting for support.”

Both Mali and Burkina Faso are currently suspended from ECOWAS following coups and have clearly sided with the military rulers in Niger.

They declared that they would not support the ECOWAS sanctions and that any military action would be seen as a “declaration of war” against their own states.

Mali’s Diop caused a stir at the UN Security Council in New York in June when he called for the immediate withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission that has been stationed in Mali for a decade.

Coming from Libya and northern Mali, Islamist terrorist groups have been spreading in the three bordering countries since 2012.

The U.S. government said it continues to hope for a diplomatic solution after the coup in Niger but at the same time it is realistic, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in Washington on Tuesday.

U.S. diplomat Victoria Nuland spoke with members of the junta in the capital Niamey on Monday, but was not allowed to meet either the detained President Mohamed Bazoum or the military ruler General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Tchiani received a delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso on Monday, who assured him of their support.

The junta announced a prime minister and other posts late on Monday night.

Ahead of the special ECOWAS summit on the coup in Niger, Nigeria has underscored its hope for a negotiated solution.

President Bola Tinubu believes “diplomacy is the best way forward” to resolve the crisis, his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said on Tuesday.

“This represents “the consensus position of the ECOWAS heads of states,” he said.

Tinubu is currently ECOWAS chair. At the summit, “far-reaching decisions will be taken concerning the next steps the regional bloc will take,” the spokesman said.

He added that “no options have been taken off the table.”

The federation of currently 11 states plans to meet in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Thursday.

The military chiefs of the ECOWAS countries had presented a plan for a possible intervention last week.

Besides Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, and Ivory Coast have declared their readiness for military intervention.

The French broadcaster RFI reported on Tuesday that the plans included a force of 25,000 soldiers.

The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, which were suspended by ECOWAS after coups, support the putschists in Niger.

Malian Minister of Territorial Administration Abdoulaye Maïga reaffirmed after his meeting with General Tchiani in Niger on Monday “the active, effective and full participation of Mali and Burkina Faso in legitimate defence operations in the event of an ECOWAS attack on Niger.”

On July 26, officers of the presidential guard in Niger ousted the democratically elected Bazoum.

The commander of the elite unit, Tchiani, subsequently appointed himself the new ruler, then the putschists suspended the constitution and dissolved all constitutional institutions.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu rejoices with the doyen of accounting in Nigeria and Africa, Chief Akintola Williams, on the joyous occasion of his 104th birthday, on Aug. 9, 2023.

This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday in Abuja.

“Tinubu shares in the special moment with all friends and professional associates of the elder statesman, whose vision and resilience has altered the history of Nigeria for the better,” Ngelale said.

He said Tinubu noted that the celebrant established the first indigenous accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co., in 1952, which has extended services to many countries.

According to Ngelale, the President affirms the historic role of Williams in the establishment of several private and public institutions in the country as well as his contributions to democracy and good governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institutions include the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAN).

Ngelale indicated that the President noted that Williams began his impactful journey early on as a founding member of Egbé ?m? Odùduwà, along with late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others.

Egbé ?m? Odùduwà was at the forefront of the struggle for Nigeria’s Independence, which eventually transited into one of the first political parties, the Action Group.

As the chartered accountant turns 104, Tinubu said his presence and wisdom would continue to inspire the younger generation towards imbibing the timeless values of integrity and hard work as it concerns national development.

The President prays for the continued excellent health of Williams and his beloved family.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

No fewer than 300 world-rated marathoners are expected to take part in the second edition of the Onitsha City Marathon (OCM), billed for Sept. 30 this year.

Prof. Segun Sogbesan, the Director of Onitsha Business School, organisers of the OCM, gave this indication in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Friday.

Sogbesan said the elite runners were expected from America, Asia, Europe and parts of Africa for the 21-Km race around the commercial town of Onitsha.

He said this year’s edition of the marathon was bigger and better with an estimated total of 10,000 participants, a huge improvement over the first edition which featured only about 1,500 marathoners.

“Preparations are in top gear. We are mobilising stakeholders and it promises to be a bigger and better Marathon event this time.

“We are expecting 10,000 participants and about 300 of them will be top-rated, world-class marathon runners,” he said.

Sogbesan said the event would be an opportunity for visitors to experience the hospitality and rich cultural heritage of Anambra and Onitsha in particular.

He thanked Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra and Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, for their political and royal blessings respectively.

“It is not only about marathon. It is also going to be a rich tourism experience with lots of historical sites that visitors can visit.

“Registration is ongoing on www.onitsha city marathon.com, and the subscription so far is impressive. We are ready to host the world,” he said.

NAN reports that the first Onitsha City marathon was held on Oct. 5, 2019.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria