Humanitarian ministry inaugurates committee on implementation of strategic roadmap

 

 

By Ere-ebi Agedah

 

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has inaugurated the Committee on the implementation and institutionalisation of its Strategic Roadmap and Coordinating framework.

 

The Committee with members drawn from departments and Agencies under the Ministry was inaugurated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, in Abuja, recently.

 

According to the Permanent Secretary the Roadmap aptly themed "Mapping out a life of dignity for all " was conceived from the mandate given to the Ministry on its establishment in August, 2019 which is "To develop humanitarian policies, coordinate National and International humanitarian interventions, ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response and manage the formulation and implementation of fair focused social inclusion and protection programmes in Nigeria".

 

He said in order to achieve this Mandate, the Ministry developed it's Strategic Roadmap outlining its initiatives, action plans and strategies. This he said is contained in its seven (7) strategic pillars enumerated as follows: strengthening policies and Institutional Frameworks, Building Evidence-Based systems for Transparency and Accessibility, Enhanced Programme Delivery through Effective Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism, Optimizing Funding and Resourcing Opportunities, Strategic Partnership, Collaborations and Disability Inclusion, Implementation of a robust Humanitarian Coordination system for improved strategic Communication & Governance and Mainstreaming of sustainable Development Goals and Integration of Social Initiatives and Investment Programmes.

 

Dr. Sani-Gwarzo explained that the Ministry in  actualising the seven pillars of the Roadmap identified the need for an effective coordination and synergy of actions. For this reason he said a standardized Coordination Frameworks was developed to enable the Ministry to "Lead an Inclusive Innovative Future-Thinking Ecosystem (L.I.F.E), this Framework focuses on collaboration between the Ministry, its Agencies and programmes so as to have a central task of aligning all Independent Mandates to execute the overall Ministry's vision which is "To create sustainable and inclusive systems that promote human dignity in Nigeria.

 

He said that the Roadmap was launched on 14th February, 2022 and the constitution of a Committee and Institutionalizing the strategic Roadmap and Coordination and Framework is long overdue because the document will help serve as a supportive blueprint for the Ministry and Agencies under its supervision in conceptualizing and driving all its activities, initiatives and programmes in line with the objectives of the National Development plan 2021-2025 of the Federal Government.

 

He urged all departments and Agencies under the Ministry to take the task of implementing the contents of the document seriously. He urged the members of the committee to move into action immediately, harmonies the work and put up a time line of action.

 

 He also stated that the Ministry will be organising the first Nigeria International Humanitarian Summit on the 9th of February 2023 and encouraged all stakeholders to key into the event.

 

Also, in his opening remarks, Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr.Peter Nwakpa, said the Roadmap is a five year strategic plan of action built on seven pillars and developed to provide policy direction for the Ministry and its Agencies with the aim of achieving the  Mandate, vision and mission of the Ministry in Coordinating the activities of the humanitarian sector.

 

He said the Roadmap is such an important document in the life of the Ministry that the Committee should give it all the desired attention, urging the the Committee to work seriously to achieve the aim and also do their best in achieving their target.

 

In an overview on the Strategic Roadmap by the Deputy Director (PRS), Hajara Ahmed, she said the Roadmap was born out of the National Development Plan which was launched in December 2021, by His Excellency Mr. President, and the roadmap is a follow up of that National Development Plan and it has specific strategic pillars.

 

She said "some may be aware and some may be seeing the document for the first time, the whole idea is for everyone to key in. As we are aware, the vision of the Ministry is to create sustainable and inclusive social systems that promote human dignity for all, that is why we're all here to be able to achieve this vision.

 

The Implementation plan could be done according to the seven pillars so the coordination of this Implementation exercise will be done quarterly. I urge the members for full compliance because this is what is going to drive all the activities of the Ministry going forward".

 

The Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Mrs. Emem Omokaro, PHD, in her contribution said she was privileged to have the document during the Launch and have studied it. she said it came at the appropriate time because they had just been inaugurated as an Agency and being newly inaugurated, the strategic Roadmap was very important to them.

She said they could not have started without using the document to develop the Agency's specific strategic Roadmap that the document guided the Agency in developing it's Roadmap.

 

In attendance were Directors of the Ministry, National Coordinator NSIP and Heads of Agencies of the Ministry.

NSF: Diri Rewards, Offers Automatic Employment To Medallists

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has announced a reward package for athletes that represented the state at the 2022 National Sports Festival held at Asaba, Delta State.

Bayelsa placed a historic second behind Delta, surpassing its earlier best position of third recorded at the 2020 festival hosted by Edo State in 2021.

Governor Diri, who received the state’s contingent on Wednesday inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, recalled that Bayelsa won 109 gold, 104 silver and 87 bronze medals.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor announced one million naira each to individual gold medallists and N750,000 each for team gold.

He also rewarded individual silver medallists with N500,000 and N300,000 for team silver medallists while individual bronze medallists got N300,000 and N150,000 for each team bronze medallist.

 

Coaches and secretaries of gold medal teams got N500,000 each while their assistants got N300,000 each. Those in silver category N300,000 each and their assistants N200,000. 

The governor also rewarded non-medallists with N50,000 each.

He equally announced automatic employment for those yet to be employed in the state sports council and directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to work out the modalities.

His words: “You have broken your own record and now Bayelsa is the number two sporting state in Nigeria. Your record and the state’s exploits in football and other sporting activities have resulted in my being nominated as the Best Sports Governor in Nigeria. That award will be dedicated to all of you. Let us continue to raise the image of the state like you did in Asaba.”

Earlier, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Daniel Igali, said Bayelsa was the only state that rewarded its athletes instantly at the games, which inspired them to exceed their target.

While thanking the governor for approving funds for the contingent, Igali stated that the team broke six records in swimming in  the men and women categories as well as in weightlifting.

He stressed that as one of the premier sporting states in the country, there was need to upgrade its sporting facilities in order to be able to host the National Sports Festival in no distant time.

Gov Diri Promises Soft Loans, Urges Bayelsa Women To Form Cooperatives

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has urged women in the state to form cooperative societies in order to take charge of the local economy.

To this end, the governor said his administration will provide soft loans for women without stringent conditions to encourage them to own businesses and boost the state's economy.

He noted that this is in furtherance of the government’s grants to 210 small scale business owners in the 105 wards of the state monthly.

Senator Diri stated this yesterday at this year's Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area (KOLGA) Annual  Thanksgiving Day in Sampou.

He said the initiative was among several other empowerment schemes put in place by his administration to enable Bayelsans, particularly women become self-reliant.

Governor Diri explained that the soft loan was in addition to the N100 million monthly grant to small and medium scale entrepreneurs across the 105 wards in the state.

According to him, other empowerment schemes of the government include the ICT empowerment programme for 8,000 Bayelsa youths in the eight local government areas under the Diri Digital Entrepreneurship Empowerment Programme (D-DEEP), more than 400 youths already trained in integrated farming at the CSS Global Farms in Nasarawa State, presentation of start-up packs to 366 youths trained under the Sustainable Development Goals programme as well as about 2,000 trained under the Douye Diri Skills Acquisition Programme.

His words: “Development is two-pronged - infrastructure and human capacity development. Under my government, we are doing something in infrastructure development. We are also doing something in the area of human capacity development. 

“We want our women to form cooperatives. Government will give them soft loans so that dependence on government will reduce.

"Let us think along economic indices as a people. The moment you are free to do your own business, you will become free economically. We are poised to ensure that our people will not continue to live in poverty."

Diri, who also spoke on the importance of thanksgiving, implored the people to re-dedicate themselves to God. 

He expressed gratitude to the General Overseer, Royal House of Grace Church International, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey, for instituting a special thanksgiving day for the KOLGA people.

He said January 17 was set aside annually for the thanksgiving, noting that the programme would continue to be a part of the KOLGA people.

Diri also expressed appreciation to people of the state for their support to his administration and urged them to continue to pray for the progress of the state.

In a sermon, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey gave a brief historical perspective of KOLGA, recalling the exploits of some of its heroes such as late Maj. Isaac Adaka Boro.

He stressed the need for people to know their history as well as sacrifices made by founding fathers for the growth and development of the area.

While applauding Senator Diri for his administration's infrastructural transformation of the state, Apostle Zilly-Aggrey equally underscored the need to nurture the youths across Ijaw nation to become leaders of tomorrow.

Jonathan Cautions Politicians Against Judicial Blackmail

 

...as Diri, Wike, Obaseki, Legal Titans Bid Retiring Bayelsa CJ Farewell

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has admonished the political class to allow the judiciary perform its constitutional functions, saying society is dynamic.

Dr. Jonathan gave the admonition on Friday during the book presentation/reception that culminated week-long activities marking the retirement of the Bayelsa State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The former president acknowledged the critical role Justice Abiri played when she swore in the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, thus averting a constitutional crisis and advised  politicians not to be blinded by the power they wield.

Jonathan equally cautioned judicial officers to strive to be impartial and courageous in upholding the rule of law, which he noted was significant in the delivery of justice.

His words: “I advise politicians that while in office, let us not try to blackmail the judiciary because it is conservative. When we get political power, we get so blinded. Politicians should know that society is changing.

"Today, we are celebrating our retiring Chief Judge because she has served meritoriously. In 2015, she left Bayelsa for Rivers to perform the swearing-in of the governor thereby averting anarchy. It appears that the judicial arm is more functional than the executive."

 

In his remarks, the Bayelsa governor, Senator Douye Diri, hailed Justice Abiri for her outstanding achievements, noting that during her 15-year term as Chief Judge, she swore in three governors in Bayelsa and one in Rivers.

They are Chief Timipre Sylva (2008), Senator Seriake Dickson (2012), Senator Douye Diri (2020) and Nyesom Wike (2015).

Governor Diri described Abiri as a legal icon, who rendered unblemished and meritorious service in three decades of legal practice.

He said the state would still require her services due to her commitment and wealth of experience.

Chairman of the occasion and chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), lauded Abiri as an elegant, brilliant and hardworking jurist, who represents the very best in the legal profession.

Chief Olanikpekun also commended the Diri administration for supporting the judiciary, expressing belief that in a few days a substantive CJ would be appointed for the state judiciary.

Responding, Justice Kate Abiri expressed appreciation to the Bayelsa governor for his support and encouragement.

Three books were unveiled at the event, which include “Kate Abiri: Footprints on the Bench,” “Judges and Judging in Nigeria” and “Bayelsa State Law Reports: Volume One.”

The chief launcher and president of the De Wayles Group, High Chief Emonena Wayles Egukawhore, donated the sum of $100,000 and N20 million for the books while the Rivers State government donated N200 million, the Bayelsa government gave N250 million and Chief Gesi Asamowei N5 million among other donations.

Dignitaries at the colourful event included wife of the former president, Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of the Bayelsa governor, Justice Patience Diri, wife of the first civilian governor of the state, Mrs Margaret Alamieyeseigha, Governor Nyesom Wike represented by the Rivers State Head of Service, Rufus Godwin, and the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwale Iyamu (SAN).

Others were the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, his predecessor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), members of the National Assembly from the state led by Dr. Fred Agbedi (Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency), state lawmakers, first military administrator of old Rivers State and immediate past chairman of the state traditional rulers council, King Alfred DieteSpiff, chairman of the state traditional rulers council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, and other royal fathers.

Some of the legal icons in attendance were Justice of the Supreme Court,  Justice Chima Centus Nweze, retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Francis Tabai,  Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, President, National industrial Court, Justice  B. B Karnyip, the Chief Judges of Rivers, Edo, Cross River and Zamfara states as well as Justice Daniel Ayah. President, Bayelsa Customary Court of Appeal, and his counterparts in Rivers and Edo states.

Earlier, at a special parade and valedictory court session in her honour, different speakers extolled her virtues and her contribution to the growth of the judiciary in Nigeria.

Governor Diri said her retirement was the beginning of a fresh chapter for the renowned judge, who displayed exemplary character and attracted dignity to the Bench.

He noted that Abiri was soft-spoken and humble but also a personality that carried the full weight of the law, with a balanced approach to leadership.

He assured that his government will continue to respect the rule of law as well as partner the judiciary in delivering the dividends of democracy to all Bayelsans.

Speaking on behalf of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Thompson Okpoko stated that Abiri served well in honour and character, having witnessed her emergence as the third substantive CJ of Bayelsa. 

Chief Okpoko said lawyers in the state attest to the fact that she exhibited the true qualities required of a judge while presiding over cases as well as in the administration of justice. 

Also, the Chief Judge of Zamfara State and Chairman, Body of Chief Judges, Justice Lulu Aliyu, stated that Abiri had great qualities in temperament, legal knowledge and its appreciation

Responding, Justice Abiri expressed appreciation particularly to Governor Diri for making her experience under his administration seamless, owing to the financial autonomy introduced as governor of the state.

She stressed that the state judiciary now executes quality projects without external supervision or stifling of funds.

Ugochinyere: Right activist condemns attack on CUPP spokesperson

... Describes act as barbaric, reprehensible

 By Our Correspondent

Human Rights activist, Barr Chukwudi Ezeobika, has condemned Saturday's attack on the residence of spokesperson of Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, Barr Ikenga Ugochinyere, describing it as barbaric and reprehensible.

Barr. Ezeobika, who is the Chairman Media Committee of CUPP, stated this in a press statement issued Saturday in Abuja while reacting to the brutal invasion of the premises of Barr. Ugochinyere in Umukegwu, Akokwa in Imo State which led to the killing of one of his relatives.

He said: "I condemn in the strongest terms possible, the illegal Invasion of the premises of the Spokesperson of the  CUPP, Mr. Ikenga Imo Ugochintere in Umukegwu, Akokwa,  in Imo State by unidentified assailants and call on all Security Agencies especially the Department of State Security, to investigate and bring to justice, the perpetrators of this dastardly act. 

"It is important to state that the primary responsibility of any democratically elected government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens."

Marine Conservation: Norfolk sunfish find important for research - expert

 

By Kolawole Yemisi Victoria

The discovery of a dead sunfish on a Norfolk beach is "incredibly important" to scientists studying the biggest bony fish in the world and potential climate change links, an expert said.

The juvenile fish, measuring about 1.5m (5ft), appeared on North Beach in Great Yarmouth last weekend.

Adults can grow to 4m (13ft) and weigh up to two tonnes.

Dr Ben Garrod, from the University of East Anglia, said four had washed up in a year but the reason was unknown.

"Sunfish are one of the most weird but iconic fish in the sea," the professor of evolutionary biology and BBC science presenter said.

The species - Mola mola - is the largest bony fish and generally lives in temperate and tropical waters.

Katherine Hawkes photographed the sunfish on the Norfolk beach on New Year's Day and said at first she did not know what she was looking at.

"Then I realised I'd once seen a sunfish swimming but they are rare at this time of the year," she said.

The fish swim down to depths of between 50 and 200m (164ft and 656ft)

They feed mainly on jellyfish

Their name refers to their habit of lying at the sea surface on their side as if sunbathing

At about 1.5m from the top to bottom fin, Dr Garrod said this was "the largest we've seen... in the last few years".

"But it's still a baby compared to the size of the adults," he added.

This is the fourth he had been told had washed up on Norfolk's beaches in the past 12 months, three of which have been examined at the UEA.

"We don't know why they died and this is an ongoing research project, but it's incredibly important as we know so little about them," he said.

"I know they have washed up on the Norfolk coast - maybe once every 10 years - but to have four in the last 12 months is really interesting.

"We don't have the evidence to say it's related to climate change but no-one's denying the oceans are changing."

Strong marine protected areas credited with manta ray surge in Indonesia

 

By Kolawole Yemisi Victoria

A new population assessment has shown that Manta ray populations are thriving in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago.

This has underscored the importance of marine protected areas to the species’ conservation.

The study showed that reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) populations saw up to 10.7% compound annual increase from 2009-2019 in the region, even as global ray and shark populations undergo a sweeping decline.

The study authors attribute this to well-planned and -implemented conservation measures by Indonesian authorities, conservation groups and local communities.

The finding chimes with the discovery earlier this year that manta ray populations are also flourishing in Komodo National Park, another tightly regulated protected area in Indonesia.

Ocean-dwelling sharks and rays, including the majestic reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi), have declined globally by an estimated 71% since 1970 due to fishing. 

But a new study of reef manta rays in eastern Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago, combined with an exciting discovery from Komodo National Park further west earlier this year, suggests reef mantas are following a different — and more encouraging — trajectory in the Southeast Asian country’s waters.

In May 2022, researchers announced they had identified an aggregation of nearly 1,100 reef manta rays in Komodo National Park, likely catapulting the park’s waters into the list of top locations for mantas in the world. A new study led by University of Auckland doctoral candidate Edy Setyawan heralds more good news for Indonesia’s manta rays and highlights how the country’s conservation efforts have established a safe haven for reef and giant manta rays (Mobula birostris) in the Raja Ampat Islands.

Ray conservation efforts in Raja Ampat began in earnest in 2007, when the local government and other stakeholders began to implement a series of marine protected areas (MPAs) across the islands. In 2012, the area was announced as Southeast Asia’s first shark and ray sanctuary. Two years later, the Indonesian government declared the reef and giant manta rays nationally protected species.

In May 2022, researchers announced they had identified an aggregation of nearly 1,100 reef manta rays in Komodo National Park. 

Anecdotal reports indicated these conservation efforts had shielded Raja Ampat’s reef mantas from fishing. 

Edy and his colleagues assessed the accuracy of those reports by quantifying reef manta population trends in the Dampier Strait and South East Misool, the two Raja Ampat MPAs where they had the most ray survey data. 

They identified individual rays in photographs and put the data into a mathematical population model that accounted for repeat visits from the same manta rays and the transitory nature of this highly migratory species. With this model, they estimated the number of resident reef mantas and annual population growth rates in each MPA between 2009 and 2019.

Edy’s team identified 1,041 individual reef manta rays from the photographs from Dampier Strait and South East Misool. They determined the resident population in Dampier Strait had increased from 226 rays in 2009 to 317 in 2019 (a 3.9% compound annual increase). They discovered an even greater increase in ray populations in South East Misool, from 210 to 511 individuals, a 10.7% compound annual increase. “Despite the global decline in oceanic sharks and rays because of overfishing over the past 50 years, the reef manta rays in Raja Ampat have been recovering and thriving,” Edy said in a statement highlighting the results.

Stephanie Venables, a senior scientist at the Florida-based Marine Megafauna Foundation, who was not involved in the study, said being able to scientifically demonstrate that mantas are increasing in areas with established MPAs is extremely important.

“Not only because it justifies having that protected area, but also because it’s a really good comparison for the threatened populations that are showing a decline,” she said. “Then it’s something to aim towards in other locations.”

Venables studies manta rays off Mozambique, where their populations are decreasing. She also co-managed the Marine Megafauna Foundation’s Raja Ampat program, though that work has been on hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A giant manta ray (Manta birostris) filter feeding in Raja Ampat. Researchers say that despite the global decline in oceanic sharks and rays because of overfishing over the past 50 years, the reef manta rays in Raja Ampat have been recovering and thriving. Image by Arturo de Frias Marques via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Mother Nature specifically, a strong El Niño event in 2015-16 that created favorable environmental conditions in the southern end of Raja Ampat  likely played a key role in the population increase in South East Misool. During El Niño events, sea surface temperatures in the area are relatively cool and the top ocean layers are mixed by winds. 

These cool waters hold more nutrients, encouraging the growth of tiny marine plants, which, in turn, attract microorganisms called zooplankton that eat the plants. This turns South East Misool’s seas into a veritable buffet for reef mantas, which primarily feed on zooplankton.

Edy and his colleagues observed a pregnancy boom among female reef mantas during and soon after the El Niño, which they hypothesize is due to the abundance of food during the event. Yet, they didn’t see many juvenile rays in the following year’s photographs.

This, too, can be explained by reef manta ecology. Most of the photos in Edy’s data set were taken at feeding and cleaning sites, the places on a reef where rays and other animals get parasites and dead skin cleared from their skin, gills and teeth by cleaner fish. Adult rays, large enough that they’re relatively safe from predation, frequent these areas. Young reef mantas occupy safer “nursery” sites in West Waigeo, areas near the Dampier Strait, and the Wayag Lagoon.

“In the past three years, we have identified more than 300 new manta rays. Not to mention the newborns and juveniles living in the Wayag Lagoon and Fam Islands nursery areas we discovered recently,” Edy said. Juvenile reef mantas stay at nursery sites for up to 28 months before joining the adults.

A manta ray swimming with remoras in Raja Ampat. The research team attributes the increases in reef manta ray populations in South East Misool and Dampier Strait to the strong marine conservation and management policies Indonesia has set over the past 15 years.

The research team attributes the increases in reef manta ray populations in South East Misool and Dampier Strait to the strong marine conservation and management policies Indonesia has set over the past 15 years. These include the establishment of Raja Ampat’s network of MPAs, the declaration of national protected status for manta rays, efforts to reduce fishing bycatch, and tourism regulation. Nearly all known sites in Raja Ampat where adult and juvenile manta rays congregate are within the MPA network, which is actively patrolled to ensure fisheries regulations are being followed.

“When people ask me, ‘Do you have examples of protected areas that are working, or nations that are doing a good job?’ I usually bring up Palau and also Raja Ampat,” Venables said. “The way that the MPAs were designed, it was well thought out and considered, and there was a lot of capacity built.”

These protected areas aren’t just good for reef and giant manta rays, but also extend to the thousands of corals, fish, mollusks, and other species that inhabit Raja Ampat’s highly diverse seascape.

The success story of these reef manta populations drives home not only the importance of solid marine and fisheries management, but also the value of long-term population monitoring and the dedication of the scientists, those like Venables and Edy, who collect data on these iconic animals day in and day out. Edy, who has studied manta rays for nearly 10 years, told Mongabay in an email, “Knowing that they are doing so well in Raja Ampat surely gives me personal satisfaction that I can contribute to protect this species, knowing that their populations are in decline in many places.”