Month: June 2024

Search and rescue operations continue in the Buffalo City Metro in the Eastern Cape which has been hit by inclement weather.

‘The Buffalo City Metro is intervening in areas that have been impacted by floods… Rescue operations are continuous as emergency teams remain on high alert. Search and rescue teams are still searching for a missing 20-year-old who was washed away near Dawn in East London,’ the metro said in a statement on Monday.

The metro reported that a pedestrian was fatally knocked down in a flooded street in Westbank over the weekend while a 13-year-old was recued in Amalinda Forest.

In an update at 1:30pm, the metro said that 1300 people had been displaced by the floods.

‘Displaced residents have been accommodated in community halls in Mdantsane, Braelyn and Mzamomhle whilst others are being moved to chalets, old age homes and temporary housing structures.’

Eleven wards across the metro have been affected including areas like Ducats, Pefferville, Duncan Village, Cambridge Location, Mzamomhle,
Reeston, Stoney Drift, Mdantsane and Gompo.

The metro is also working with the Department of Social Development together with non-government organisations Gift of the Givers and Living Hope to assist with clothes, groceries, blankets and food parcels.

The metro’s executive Mayor Princess Faku visited Duncan Village, Mdantsane and Stoney Drift with Gift of the Givers on Monday morning.

In addition, the metro is engaging with the Department of Human Settlements to avail temporary relocation structures.

‘Thus far, 800 temporary structures are being verified to be included in the database.’

This as the metro is dealing with 379 electrical fault cases in various areas in East London, Mdantsane and eQonce.

‘All teams have been assigned to the different regions. The main challenge is fallen electrical poles leading to cables and transformers being dysfunctional.’

Rescue operations

In East London yesterday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), South African Police Services (SAPS), Police Dive Unit, Polic
e K9 Search and Rescue responded to a sailing yacht with a jetty saving a passenger barge from sinking.

Also, Priority Care Ambulance Services, Buffalo City Metro (BCM) Traffic Services and Emergency Services responded to 10 flood-related incidents at various locations around East London.

In one scene, six people (four adults, one aged 80, and two children) were rescued from a flooded home, where their two dogs drowned.

Roads and beaches

The heavy rains have posed challenges for the city’s storm water drainage systems resulting in the blockage of major roads such as Settlersway, Biko Bride from Westbank to East London CBD, Cambridge Cemetery, Duncan Village, Cc Loyd Township, Parkridge and Scenery Park.

The Disaster Management Service has conducted an initial damages assessment and the city’s Infrastructure, Traffic, Fire and Rescue Services have been instrumental in clearing of blockages.

‘The metro is advising motorists to be cautious around flooded roads and bridges. Communities and motorists are urg
ed to be extra cautious and report any incidents.’

The metro has urged residents to contact emergency services call centre on (043) 705 9000 and their respective ward councilors for assistance.

The city has set up a Disaster Management Operations Centre which is being chaired by the Mayor and includes disaster management, law enforcement, traffic, fire, police lifesaving, EMS Ambulance services and the NSRI.

Meanwhile, all metro beaches remain closed.

The metro is still urging residents to be on high alert as more disruptive rain is predicted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the floods. This as seven lives have been lost in the Eastern Cape.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones due to severe flooding in the Eastern Cape.

By Monday morning, at least seven people had lost their lives in the floods with reports of some 1200 people displaced.

Areas most hit by the inclement weather are Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and Kariega.

‘The loss of life, destruction of public infrastructure and the loss of personal property brought about by the forces of nature saddens all of us as South Africans.

‘The aftermath of these occurrences is best overcome when we work together in the way we are seeing in the Eastern Cape,’ President Ramaphosa said.

In a statement, the Presidency said the President urged South Africans to heed weather warnings

‘President Ramaphosa commends the way in which authorities, communities, non-governmental organisations and individuals are dealing with rescue and recovery efforts, including the rehousing of a significant number of families who have been displaced.

‘Given
the potential impacts of the winter season on various parts of the country, President Ramaphosa urges the public to keep safe by heeding weather alerts and exercising greater care and restraint on our roads in poor weather conditions.

‘The President also calls on citizens to reach out to vulnerable members of their families and communities, to make this season as comfortable and safe as possible for people who have limited resources or live on their own,’ the statement read.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Nigerian Army on Monday handed over eight students of Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara, Kogi State, who were rescued on Sunday, to Gov. Ahmed Ododo, at Army Headquarters Abuja.

The handing over was conducted by the Deputy Chief of Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

Emekah said the troops of the Nigerian Army in synergy with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, successfully rescued the abducted students who were taken hostage by terrorists.

He said the rescue operation took place in a dense forest near Oro Ago Village in Kwara following an intense clearance mission.

He added that the operation was still ongoing to apprehended the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to book.

In his remarks, Gov. Ahmed Ododo thanked God Almighty for making it possible for the rescue of the students, adding that it was a mixed feeling for him as two of the 31 abducted students
were murdered.

Ododo said that 29 of the students were successfully rescued while appreciating the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the military for the fight against insecurity in the country.

He also thanked the National Security Adviser (NSA) for making the country’s security apparatus more effective, efficient and technology driven.

‘At this level, I have come to realise that the Nigerian army has all it takes to stamp out kidnapping, banditry and all forms of criminal activities from our land.

‘Because the level of synergy, the level of understanding, collaboration and coordination carried out by them professionally is highly commendable and I sincerely appreciate you and your men.

‘I want to promise that Kogi State will always be there to partner with you and we are ever ready to answer your call at any point in time and fighting crimes and criminality in our land.

‘We have all it takes in terms of equipment and we will continue to collaborate and synergise with your agencies to make sure our
land is free of all these criminalities,’ he said.

Ododo assured the student that the government would continue to support them to ensure that they succeed in their aspiration and educational pursuits.

According to him, Kogi is a state that is well known to be well blessed with mineral deposits and that deposit must work for the state.

He said the criminals had now known that Kogi was not a safe heaven for them, assuring that no criminal that entered the state would be spared.

The governor commended the army for its efforts and display of professionalism in carrying out the rescue operation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), has reiterated its commitment to sustain its move towards process improvement, regulatory compliance and performance excellence.

This is coming as the NNPC Ltd. bagged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) Compliance Certification on Ship, Port Security.

Mr Inuwa Danladi, the Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Ltd. said this while speaking on the recent certification of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Compliance obtained by the Company, from NIMASA.

The ISPS certification, issued in April 2024 and covering all NNPC Ltd. jetties nationwide, is crucial for the Company’s business continuity as it prevents potential operational disruptions and financial losses.

Danladi on Sunday in a statement issued by Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. said the certification also granted the Company entry into the Global Integrated Shipping Information Syste
m (GISIS).

This, he said would enhance its reputation as a safe and reliable business destination and potentially reducing the company’s insurance premiums.

He listed some of the rigorous processes followed in obtaining the certification to include the upgrading of relevant security facilities at the nation’s ports and jetties and the establishment of the ISPS Code Command Centre.

He also included the engagement of NIMASA Recognised Security Officer (RSO), who played a crucial role in managing key regulatory processes.

‘The development of Port Facility Security Assessment (PFSA); Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP), coupled with the meticulous Verification Inspection Exercise (VIE) from NIMASA.

‘It also underscores NNPC’s commitment to ensuring adherence to the highest standards of maritime security in the Company’s operations.

‘This achievement is a testament to our consistent dedication, and we pledge to continue striving towards attaining regulatory excellence in all our operations,” Danladi said.

S
ource: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, says that the student loan scheme is for youths to access interest-free facility for their educational pursuits in tertiary institutions.

Olawande told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that it was part of President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to carry the youths along.

He said that with the scheme, undergraduates would no longer drop out of school because of financial difficulties.

.’If the president said a child will not drop out of school because he or she is not able to pay school fees, I think that is a very big plus for the ministry.”

Olawande advocated for enabling environment for young people to thrive and achieve their goals in life.

According to him, the country has more than 60 per cent of young people; hence, with enabling environment much can be achieved.

The minister said that the ministry was making critical decisions and suggestions while the president made sure they were put into action.

Olawan
de said that the scheme had an agency and a chairman.

He said that students could access the portal at https://nelf.gov.ng

‘You don’t need to know anybody; just go and apply.

‘They will put it together; send it to the school and it will be sorted out so that one can study properly and pass the exam.”

According to him, the loan is for students in public tertiary and technical institutions.

Olawande said that everything must not be just education because the country had gotten to the stage were skills was needed.

‘China, India, U.S. and others are successful because of the skills the citizens have.

‘The government is not saying that everything must be university, polytechnic tertiary institution, it must also go to the technical schools so that the person can have one or two skills.

‘Most of the foreigners they bring to Nigeria to come and work which we call graduates are not graduates; they are technicians,’ he said.

According to him, in every ministry and parastatals, young people are found there;
so, most of the decisions government makes still boils down on the youth.

NAN reports that the student loan, which is being implemented at present, is part of the Higher Education Access Act, assented to by Tinubu in June 2023.

In February, the Act was returned to the National Assembly for a complete overhaul and was passed again and assented to by the president.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has warned the public in the south coast of the province of level 4 disruptive rains, which could result in disaster.

According to the South African Weather Service, the predicted level 4 alert indicated persistent rainfall over the south-eastern parts of the province from Sunday night until Monday midnight, which may lead to flooding of roads and settlements, including damage to infrastructure and mud-based houses.

‘This weather system will lead to widespread showers and rain over the province. Rainfall accumulation of at least 40mm is expected along the south coast, which could cause significant impact,’ the weather service warned.

The department said areas that are likely to be affected include Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni, Umuziwabantu and Umzumbe Local Municipalities.

The department said disaster teams have been activated in all the municipalities that are likely to be affected during this period.

‘We advise communities t
o seek shelter in safe places. Public facilities, such as community halls, are open as safe havens for those in need of shelter.

‘Our teams may have to evacuate people should they foresee high risk of danger due to inclement weather. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid travelling during this period, as bridges may become flooded, posing a risk to life,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency