Niger Delta: Group Urge PMB To Score Valid Points Before Its Tenure Elapses

The League of Niger Delta Elders has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC government to salvage its administrations and as a matter of urgency to score some valid points before its tenure elapses.

In an Open Letter, on Friday to Solomon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State and Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign, the group bewailed the APC government for failing to deliver on its many promises made to the Niger Delta region noting that this sad development has taken the region backwards in terms of development. 

"As the 2023 general election draws nigh, it has become crucial to express our displeasure with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on their failed promises to the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

"The alarm raised by Godswill Akpabio, the erstwhile Minister of Niger Delta Affairs that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC is on "life support", is a reality which has taken the region aback, and is disrupting the developmental story of the region that is begging to be written in gold.

"The deliberate failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to constitute a substansive NDDC Board is a minus in their achievements, especially as they leave office in a few months time. 

"This Gestapo-like decision, has left the NDDC leadership in the hands of a Sole Administratior for too long. This has in turn botched the working relationship between the NDDC, International Oil Companies, IOCs and the Niger Delta Ministry. 

"These bureaucracies are largely responsible for the trapping of funds which would have been used to fast-track payment to contractors for projects executed in the region.

"The East West Road still lies uncompleted. The report of the NDDC Forensic Audit which revealed that as much as 13,000 projects remain uncompleted across the region, is yet to be made public.

"To this end, and as a matter of urgency to score some valid points before leaving office, the current administration can still salvage itself," the letter written by Oyintari Peretimi, the group's spokesperson read.

Bayelsa Gov Meets President Over Medical University, Road Projects

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Governor Diri, who was accompanied to the meeting by his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, former Military Governor of Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama, King Bubaraye Dakolo, sought the President’s intervention and the support of the Federal Government in addressing some critical infrastructural and developmental issues in the state.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that in pursuance of the President’s policy to establish six new federal universities of medical sciences and bio-medical technology in the country, the state was willing to hand-over the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) to the federal government to cover the South-South region.

The governor noted that the medical institution was equipped with a 300-bed hospital and had all its programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The governor equally sought the support and collaboration of the federal government on the ongoing three senatorial road projects in the state. They include the Yenagoa-Angiama-Oporoma-Ukubie road in Bayelsa Central, the Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge road (Bayelsa West) and the Yenagoa-Ogbia-Nembe-Brass road (Bayelsa East).

According to the governor, Bayelsa, being the most littoral and riverine state in Nigeria, grapples with very peculiar environmental challenges that place greater burden on the cost of infrastructure development.

“This notwithstanding, successive administrations have made spirited efforts to connect the state through massive investment in roads and bridges. Yet we have the least road coverage in the country, which makes most communities inaccessible by road.

“To take advantage of the Blue Economy, my administration has continued the construction of the three senatorial roads designed to terminate at the Atlantic Ocean.

“These roads, which are long-conceived federal projects that have suffered lack of attention, will provide enormous benefits to our communities and enable easy access to our nation’s oil and gas assets.”

The Bayelsa governor also solicited the President’s intervention to resolve the controversy surrounding the revoked Atala Marginal Oilfield (OML 46) licence, which is owned by the state government.

He explained that state government acquired the marginal field through the Bayelsa Oil Company Limited (BOCL) since 2003 but was surprised that in April 2020, a few weeks after he assumed office, the federal government through the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) revoked the licence.

Diri stated that the oilfield was reallocated to “a private company based on wrong information supplied to the relevant authorities.”

President Buhari, in his brief response, assured the delegation that he will urgently look into the requests and act on them.

NDLEA, Interpol sign MoU on access to global criminal data records

By Gowon Emakpe

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL , have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU that will enable the anti-narcotics agency contribute to the pool of global criminal data and also access such records of 195 countries around the world for its use.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA,  Mohamed Buba Marwa, signed for the Agency while the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the National Central Bureau and Vice President, Interpol Africa, Garba Baba Umar, endorsed the document on behalf of the global body.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy of the Agency said speaking at a brief ceremony at the NCB secretariat, Force Headquarters Abuja on Wednesday,5th October 2022,  Marwa reminded the audience that drug business is international in scope while the scourge of drug abuse has continued to destroy lives, youths, families and communities, stressing that it also fuels criminalities because perpetrators either consume illicit substances or use proceeds to fund their nefarious criminal activities.

“As we are after the drug cartels and barons, we are not under the illusion that they won’t be after us but we are always steps ahead of them. This is why all security agencies must collaborate to fight the cartels, whether in Nigeria or anywhere in the world. We are therefore happy that the signing of this MoU allows us access to contribute and benefit from criminal data records of 195 countries globally”, 

Marwa, commended the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman for providing good leadership for the Nigeria Police and his commitment to partner with NDLEA in the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria, citing the IGP’s memo to all police formations across the country to always transfer drug cases to NDLEA across the states for investigation and prosecution, as a mark of such collaboration.

Speaking earlier, AIG Garba Umar commended Marwa for transforming NDLEA to a ground breaking agency within a short time of his assumption of office. He called for more support for the anti-narcotics agency from all relevant stakeholders especially security agencies.

He highlighted the significance of the MoU to the success of NDLEA operations and assured of the full support of Interpol at all times.

 

Nigeria @ 62: Medicliq Provides Free Medical Checkup For IBB Golf Club Members

In commemoration of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence anniversary and the 82nd birthday of elder statesman and former military governor of Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, a healthcare technology organization, Medicliq Health Care has taken free medical services to members of IBB Golf Club in Abuja.

The group which deploys technology such as telemedicine, emotional intelligence, virtual consultations with doctors from across the globe and others in administering to the health care needs of millions of people in Africa said it is poised to making access to decent medical care affordable and easy to everyone irrespective of age and status.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend in Abuja, the CEO Medicliq Health Care, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim said the decision to choose the Golf Club, which he said is a game novel among senior citizens is borne out of the need to reach the elderly in its free medical campaign, stating that it is poised to touch the lives of more people with the right support from relevant agencies of government.

According to Dr. Ibrahim, similar outreach has taken place outreach in Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt and more cities across the federation, adding that the organization is in consultation with a lot of government agencies in its effort to make health care affordable and accessible to all Nigerians.

“We have several kinds of innovations that we are working on, currently we have a device which is like a mobile clinic that has everything, it is a box which is mobile and can be taken to any rural community and can perform treatment care just from our box without  going to a hospital.

“You have access to international doctors from that box, you can speak to a doctor across the world, it has internet access, it connects directly to the satellite, and we can reach any community wherever ” he said.

While noting that many Nigerians no longer pay attention to critical health concerns since post COVID-19, Dr. Ibrahim expressed optimism that this innovation will go a long way in providing answers to health issues such as depression, mental health, communicable diseases and others affecting individuals because of change of lifestyle.

“It is an innovation that can change all these, just the same way the mobile communication evolved, it is time we moved from mediocrity in health care to technology where we can now start saving lives.”

According to him, the reception has been impressive despite the little distraction associated with the charged political atmosphere ahead of Nigeria’s major election in 2023. He appealed to the government to activate relevant agencies to raise awareness about the decaying mental health care in the country.

In his comment, CEO Red Saphire Mr Ono Akpe while saying that Medicliq is spending a lot of money to sponsor the outreach noted that there was no religious and tribal sentiments in various states it has covered.

He said the mobile app introduced by the organization assists patients in having access to medical care irrespective of their location.

“We have a wonder-kit, a whole clinic on the go and that box is a magic box that can check you up for most general issues you would have including cardio, ECG, ear , nose and throat issues and amongst others.

“It can be used in any community, rural and urban to treat patients and all they need to do is to connect it to the satellite and you can get international doctors that will appear on the screen and consult with the patient directly, all you need to do is put up the box set it up and with the screen you can be linked up to a doctor that has been programmed” he added.

Medicliq has other Medical Outreach programmes in Abuja planned for the month of October to commemorate Nigeria's 62 Independence anniversary.

Gov. Diri Queries Bayelsa Population Figures

Says Nigeria Lacks Adequate Census Data

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has faulted the population figures attributed to the state by the National Population Commission (NPC), saying they were grossly under-estimated. 

The Bayelsa governor also said the current population data for the country were inaccurate and called on the NPC to correct past census figures in the 2023 national census exercise.

Governor Diri stated this on Tuesday during the Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Government House, Yenagoa.

Buttressing his claim, the governor stressed that the state had grown beyond the current structure of eight local government areas, noting that, for instance, the projected population of Yenagoa, the state capital, points to the fact that the state’s population was misrepresented.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that such faulty census figures were responsible for the under-representation of Bayelsa in the House of Representatives with only five members.

Senator Diri emphasised that due to its tremendous growth and contribution to the national economy as a result of its oil resources, Bayelsa deserved more federal presence.

He said: “By the 2006 census figures, Bayelsa had a population of 1,704,515. That figure was not correct. But we  are hopeful that the next exercise will give a more reliable and acceptable figure.

“Our government is convinced that the National Population Commission has the commitment and capacity to deliver to Nigerians and, indeed, to Bayelsa State very credible, reliable, valid and acceptable population figures.

“As a government, we are deeply concerned that Bayelsa has grown beyond the current structure of eight local governments. Clearly, we are under-represented in the House of Representatives with only five members. And the current projected population of Yenagoa points to these facts. Due of our exponential growth and contributions to the national economy from our oil resources, we deserve more federal presence.”

Diri said the NPC needed to realise that an accurate census was critical to the nation’s democracy and economy because it underpins fair representation in government and enable those in authority make appropriate funding for healthcare, schools, roads and other critical infrastructure. 

The state’s helmsman added that population figure was one of the basic parameters in the sharing of revenue, particularly in Nigeria. 

In her address, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission in charge of Bayelsa State, Mrs Gloria Izonfuo, hinted that the 2023 census would be fully digitalised in line with United Nations principles and recommendations for the 2020 Round of Population and Housing Censuses.

Mrs. Izonfuo, who was a former Head of Service in Bayelsa, said the Commission had deployed technology to conduct the exercise and enhance data quality.

She expressed the Commission’s commitment to deliver credible and reliable census as well as ensuring that the results of the exercise are acceptable to Nigerians and the quality of the data to be generated meets international standards for planning and developmental purposes. 

Izonfuo added that the stakeholders summit was the first of several meetings to be held on the state and thanked the government and people of the state for the support to the Commission.

In their goodwill messages, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Ben Okolo, and Chairman, Bayelsa State Founding Fathers, Chief Benedict Gwembe, said population census was strategic to enable government plan for every sector, including creation of more voting centres in the country.

They also stressed the need for more census enumerators to be deployed in the rural areas as well as provide sensitisation on the need for people to participate in the process.

They assured the Commission of their support to assist it conduct hitch-free and successful 2023 national population and housing census.

FG, Republic of Bulgaria Sign Protocol of Cooperation In Bilateral Breakthrough

 

By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi

 

At the just concluded 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Federal government has recorded a bilateral breakthrough through the signing of a Protocol of Cooperation with the Republic of Bulgaria.

 

The signing ceremony was performed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and his Bulgarian counterpart, Nikolay Milkow.

 

According to Onyeama, the protocol was aimed at contributing to the development and consolidation of the friendly relations between the two countries adding that the protocol was based on the Principles of Mutual Respect for each other’s sovereignty, independence and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

 

He said that the Protocol of Cooperation would enable both countries to maintain regular consultations and mutual efforts in the peaceful settlement of conflicts and relief in humanitarian crises.

 

The minister stated that the protocol covered bilateral consultations, regional and international issues of mutual interest, and bilateral collaboration with international organisations.

 

Others are activities relating to the implementation of projects through the Official Development Assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria, and any others.

 

“This is an excellent initiative and it shows a close cooperation between Bulgaria and ourselves. I undertook a visit to Bulgaria a few months ago and we had an invite to their president.

 

“We feel that Bulgaria is a very important member of the European Union and there are many areas in which we can increase our cooperation, especially in the field of education,” Onyeama said.

 

Also, Milkow said that Nigeria and Bulgaria had a good momentum in their bilateral relationship recently, adding that they needed to keep it.

 

“So, this is why we are thinking about signing a number of agreements that will pave the way for sectoral cooperation in many branches of the economy, political consultations and in every area of mutual interest.

 

“This is the first signing of the agreement. We expect to further sign in the field of economy, commerce, finance etc.

 

“Hopefully, during the forthcoming visit of the Bulgarian president to Nigeria, we will deepen this cooperation,” Milkow said.

 

US Sending 'Dangerous Signals' On Taiwan China Tells Blinken

By Erhirhie Julius Otadafe

The United States has been accused by China of sending "extremely erroneous, hazardous signals" about Taiwan. Beijing has informed Washington that it has "no right to interfere" with Beijing's efforts to "resolve" the Taiwan problem.

On the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had 90 minutes of "direct and honest" discussions about Taiwan, a US source told reporters.

The senior US administration official stated, "The secretary made crystal clear that, in accordance with our long-standing one-China policy, which again has not altered, the maintenance of peace and security across the Strait is absolutely, vitally crucial."

In a statement on the meeting, China's foreign ministry claimed that Washington was sending "extremely erroneous, dangerous signals" regarding Taiwan and that the more aggressively Taiwan pursues independence, the less likely it was that a peaceful resolution would be reached.

The ministry quoted Wang as saying, "The Taiwan issue is an internal Chinese affair, and the United States has no authority to interfere in how it will be resolved."

According to Chinese official media, Wang and Blinken discussed China's position on the "wrong behaviour" of the US towards Taiwan during their meeting.

Wang told Blinken, according to a report in China's Global Times, "We must emphatically reject and prevent "Taiwan independence."

Since Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in August and large-scale military exercises were held there in response, tensions over the island have risen. Additionally, US President Joe Biden recently vowed to defend the democratically-run island.

The commitment of US soldiers to defend Taiwan was made explicit in Biden's comments for the first time.

In a meeting earlier this week, also on the fringes of the UNGA in New York, Wang delivered a similar message to James Cleverly, the foreign minister of the United Kingdom.

According to a statement from China's foreign ministry, Wang said the UK should "honour its one-China pledge and resolutely oppose 'Taiwan independence'."

The White House has stressed that its stance on Taiwan has not changed, but China claimed that Biden's comments sent the incorrect message to those who want an independent Taiwan.

Taiwan is regarded by China as one of its provinces. Beijing has long pledged to annex Taiwan and hasn't ruled out using force to accomplish it.

The government of Taiwan vehemently rejects China's claims to sovereignty and maintains that only the 23 million residents of the island can decide its future.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a warning over Taiwan in a phone conversation with Biden in July, stating that "those who play with fire will perish by it."

Blinken's meeting with Wang on Friday, according to the State Department's earlier statement, was a component of US efforts to "keep open channels of communication and manage competition appropriately."