By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Sunday in Abuja called on the Sokoto State government and security agencies to stop alleged killings of innocent pastoralists in the state.

Its National Secretary, Malam Bello Aliyu-Gotomo, stated that wanton killing of innocent pastoralists was going on in Gwadabawa Local Government Area of the state.

The killings, which started about a week ago, have continued unabated and more than 16 pastoralists have been killed by members of an outlawed vigilance group.

Reports reaching MACBAN headquarters in Abuja indicate that the killings are continuing around Tsola Bale village and its surrounding areas.

Five pastoralists have been held hostage by the vigilance group in the last one month and all efforts to free them had been resisted, he stated.

He alleged that pastoralist communities were recently attacked by bandits in the area and four pastoralists were killed, making the communities vulnerable to activities of bandits and the vigilantes.

We alert the state government that activities of the vigilantes in the past had only resulted in heightened reprisals from bandits who have been unleashing terror in the surrounding areas.

Security agencies in charge of these areas should do more to protect innocent people who are continuously harassed by the criminal vigilantes or rural bandits.

We believe the security agencies have the wherewithal to put a stop to this dastardly act of cowardice against unarmed civilians, Aliyu-Gotomo added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

Muslim faithful performing the Hajj rites

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the 2023 Hajj carriers to brace ensure quality and timely transportation of intending pilgrims.

Ibrahim Muhammed, IHR national coordinator, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

IHR is a civil society organization that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

He said transportation of pilgrims differs from the routine international or local flights by the Airliners especially the new entrants Air Peace, Aero Contractors and Value Jet.

Hajj is tied to the day of Arafat and the day of is not amenable to change like other worldly events that can be delayed or postponed.

Airlift of Pilgrims forms the core aspect of hajj operations because Hajj takes place in Saudi Arabia as such all registered intending pilgrims must be flown to the holy land to performs the spiritual exercise, Muhammed said.

He urged the selected Airliners to realise that delays would amount to denying the intending pilgrims the opportunity to perform rituals of the hajj as and when due.

He called on NAHCON to ensure full implementations of all the service agreements with the airliners, adding that plans should be on ground to replace erring airliners.

NAHCON should understand that Nigerians and Hajj stakeholders will hold them responsible if they failed to act when service providers fail in delivering their assigned responsibilities, he said.

Muhammed also called on the traditional Air Carriers to avoid using one plane in carrying intending pilgrims from two or three countries during hajj operations.

They should know that no one benefits when the order of the day is cutting corners, struggling to ferry Tour Operators pilgrims within the allotted time granted to Hajj participating countries.

He commended NAHCON for increasing the numbers of hajj carriers for states Pilgrims and also adding a different set of airliners to ferry Tour operators pilgrims.

Such move will create an environment for healthy competition that will be in the interests of timely airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 2023 hajj exercises.

However, NAHCON, States Muslim Pilgrims Boards and Hajj and Umrah Operators should work together in order to streamline the airlift operations to avoid the confused mode of airlift witnessed in 2022 hajj, he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

DD/Website

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

By Cecilia Ijuo

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on Nigerians to disregard recruitment notice circulating online.

The NCS Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Maiwada described the notice as fake, noting that the NCS was not recruiting at the moment.

The notice is the handiwork of unscrupulous element and an attempt to defraud Nigerians.

The recruitment notice with the link https://recruitmentfile.net/nigeria-customs-recruitment/ is fake and should be disregarded.

There are lots of indices to show that the notice is not from Customs, particularly the domain.

Our Website is www.customs.gov.ng. We do not use .net, so it is totally fake.

Customs is currently not recruiting and if it is doing so, it will be on the official website only, he said.

The spokesperson said that those involved in such act should desist, adding that it was evil. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Joseph Edeh

Source: NAN News

Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II

By Imelda Osayande

Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II on Friday in Benin felicitated with Christians on the celebration of the 2023 Easter season.

He urged Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ and pray for forgiveness of sins and also pray for the country.

I pray that the Grace and the goodness of God be upon our dear country, Nigeria, the oba said in a statement issued by the palace. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

The Federal Government has called on authors and publishers to produce born accessible books to accommodate visually impaired persons.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), Mr James Lalu, gave the task at a news conference in Abuja.

Lalu spoke on the domestication (signing of the Copyright Act) and initiation of the the implementation process of the Marrakesh Treaty.

He noted the challenges faced by the blind, people with low vision and print disabled, calling for the production of books in worldwide accessible formats such as braille, audio, e-text and large print to address their challenges.

We cannot talk about inclusive education without providing learning materials in accessible formats. In our determination and commitment, we will make sure we make it accessible for the blind community, he said.

According to him, the commission has a mini printing press to produce any braille educational materials for free to ensure an inclusive environment for all persons regardless of their disabilities.

He said: We are inviting the public to make sure they use this printing press and every services they will get are absolutely free.

We call on all organisations that any programe that you are doing and will be inviting PWDs, make sure you provide them at an accessible formats because we are here at your service and will provide it for free.

He added that plans were on ground by the commission to revive the existing braille printing press in Lagos for the production and distribution of free braille school books for pupils in primary and secondary schools.

The Executive Secretary also called on prospective investors to establish braille printing press to carter to the needs of visually impaired persons.

We are calling on the general public, anyone interested in establishing a braille printing press, the NCPWD will provide appropriate license for the printing press.

And we will work closely with them to ensure that we maintain the standard and quality of documents to be produced to improve service delivery for our pupils to ensure education is accessible for disability community, the blind community.

Dr John Asein, the Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission(NCC), stressed the need for accessible educational materials for visually impaired to reduce rates of blind beggars on the street.

When you tell blind children to leave the street and go to school, and they get to schools and dont find their own books in those schools, they will go back to the streets.

Books should be made available to everyone in the manner, way and platform that can be used to learn.

And for the blind, that means providing the books in accessible formats and copies, he said.

Asein added that as strategy to implement the Marrakesh Treaty, NCC would collaborate with other stakeholders to make the Copyright Act, other funded government books in braille and other accessible formats.

Everytime government sponsors or funds the production of any book, it will be available in accessible formats because tax payers include both the blind and the sighted, as the blind are part of this nation, so should reap from the national resource, he said.

Mr Adamu Ishiyaku, the National President, Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), said the implementation of the National Copyright bill into law will ensure access to printed materials for visually impaired persons.

We urge all these partners to continue to partner with NAB and other stakeholders to ensure implementation of this act.

Particularly Section 26 of the National Copyright Law is successful and realistic for the visually impaired and otherwise print disabled, he said.

On his part, Mr David Okon, thevChairman, Education Committee for the Blind, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the copyright act and other policies affecting PWDs in Nigeria.

Okon, however, urged incoming governments to implement the Act to enable PWD gain necessary knowledge and literacy that will enable them contribute to national development.

He said: We should not go into retrospect, but we should progress. We are appealing that the new administration should take it up from there.

They should implement this act and other provisions that will make equality and equitability in the Nigerian society for PWDs. We want equal rights and equity.

Sightsavers Country Director, Dr Sunday Isiyaku, said the signing into law of the copyright act, 2022, and implementation of the Marrakesh treaty would promote greater cultural participation, education and social inclusion for PWDs.

Isiyaku, represented by Ms Esther Angulu, the Programme Manager, Social Inclusion, said: It is not enough for us to keep talking if we are not out there pushing and ensuring that this is done.

We will continue to support with the work NAB have started and also support to ensure that the bill is implemented.

He reiterated their commitment to partner stakeholders in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of the society, including education, employment and community life. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Bolanle Lawal

The Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) has called for 35 per cent affirmative action in political appointments at all levels of governance in Nigeria.

Its Executive Director, Ms Oluwatumininu Adedeji, made the call in the foundations request for 35 affirmative action in the political appointments in Ekiti, during a courtesy visit to Gov. Biodun Oyebanji.

Adedeji said that with the 35 per cent affirmative action the country would be able to get it right on Womens Political and Administrative Rights.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a letter titled: REQUEST FOR 35% AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS IN EKITI, was presented to the newly constituted political appointment committee in Ekiti.

A copy of the letter was also addressed to Gov. Biodun Oyebanji and other stakeholders in the political sector in the state.

Adedeji recalled that BIGIF had, through its campaign, secured the commitment of all candidates at the election to fully implement the Ekiti Women Agenda when elected, which Mr Governor, who was the then candidate of the ruling party, subscribed to.

She said: For our emerging democracy in Nigeria to be sustainable, all groups within the population must be actively involved in the governance process and their voices must be heard.

And, their experiences and expertise must be utilised for optimal growth and development of the country.

We must rise to break the bias that hitherto limit womens participation in politics and governance process.

The letter read in parts: In August 2022, BIGIF presented the Agenda to the transition committee on invitation and the Governor, in his inaugural speech, clearly committed to women empowerment, gender equality and inclusive governance.

Since inauguration, the Governor has not relented in the pursuit of his promises, particularly by enlisting qualified women into the service of the state through appointments.

We welcome the constitution of your committee as a single largest and right opportunity to achieve 35 per cent of political appointments for women in Ekiti.

In line with our mandate to promote womens rights, we are calling on the committee on political appointments to priotise and facilitate the reservation of a minimum of 35 per cent of political appointments in Ekiti State for women as the Governor has charged during the committees maiden meeting.

This is in consonance with the Governors electioneering and inauguration promises and to further implement the existing legal frameworks for gender equalit.

The executive director said that with this, Ekiti would further set an unprecedented feat, far ahead of other sub-national governments.

According to her, this is after recording another first in women political representation at the House of Assembly election of March 18 where Ekiti emerged with the highest number of female elected lawmakers in Nigeria.

NAN reports that BIGIF is a registered woman-led non-governmental organisation that focusses on enhancing healthy living and promoting the rights of women, youths and children.

It is also a frontline organisation in the advancement of human rights, promotion of women participation in politics and the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria committed to partnering with the government for development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Remi Koleoso/ Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By EricJames Ochigbo

Sir David Osunde Foundation, says no fewer than 1,500 Persons With Disability (PWD), drawn from across the country, will be empowered at its 31st Edition of Special Easter Monday celebration.

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Mr Ikem Uchegbulam, made this known at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that there would be skills acquisition programmes, scholarships and support materials like wheelchairs and crutches among others for PWDs.

The chairman said that the aim is to impact them spiritually, materially and meet their basic welfare.

The six-hour event will hold on April 10 at the Holy Family Society National Pilgrimage Centre at Gosa, Sabin-Lugbe in Abuja at noon.

The event will begin with a mass, to be celebrated by the Arch Bishop of Abuja Diocese, Bishop Ignatious Kaigama, and John Cardinal John Onayiekan.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, is the guest of honour and Mrs Geogiana Ogbutor is Mother of the Day, he said.

The Organising Secretary, Mr Mallam Muazu, said that the foundation is not a Christian institution.

He said though Easter is a Christian event, the celebration cuts across all religions, saying that 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are Muslims.

Muazu said that what has kept the foundation going in the past 31 years was consistency, truthfulness and togetherness. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba and Joan Odafe

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said that the proposed jetty project in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government (AOLG) area would create several opportunities when actualised.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr Gaji Omobolaji, said this at a meeting with stakeholders on the proposed construction of a Barge Jetty and Stacking Bay at Beachland Estate in Amuwo-Odofin.

He said the Barge/ Container Terminal would improve connectivity, create jobs, enhance commerce, decongest existing ports, increase government revenue and boost infrastructure development in the area.

The permanent secretary, represented by Mr Lasisi Adedoyin, a Deputy Director, said the project being handled by Beachland Consilium Ltd was to develop a Barge/Bonded Container Terminal at Beachland Estate, Ibafon.

He said an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been conducted and the meeting was to seek the input and support of the community toward the project.

Omobolaji said the meeting was organised by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to create awareness on the EIA report and encourage participation of the host community and the public on location of the project.

He said that the meeting was also to document concerns and observations of the communities and relevant stakeholders.

This is to assess the potential impacts of the project and to put in place measures to mitigate them as a way of ensuring that the project is implemented in a sustainable manner, he said.

The permanent secretary said the site is bordered to the west by Kirikiri Creek while to the south are Rhamaniya storage facility and Lagos Lagoon, and the project will occupy 342 hectares of land.

He said the project would ensure faster evacuation, storage, transfer of imports, exports and also act as an empty return holding bay for containers to/fro the Lagos Lagoon while also listing anticipated negative consequences.

The proposed Beachland barge terminal/integrated logistics park when operational will help minimise use of road transportation and decongest the existing Apapa roads by making use of inland waterways which offers faster delivery time to the various industrial and commercial hubs in Alaba, Tradefair complex and Agbara, he said.

The Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Mr Valentine Buraimoh, said the terminal would boost development and help decongest the roads within the community.

Buraimoh, who was represented by the Chief of Staff of the Council, Mr Segun Idris, said the project would also help reduce security risks in the community.

It will reduce the congestion on our roads and the lifespan will be increased.

We are not happy with the issue of tank farm; so if there is another way to convey petrol to various fuelling stations, we are happy with it, he said.

Mr Ajasa Oluwa, a representative of the Oluwa family landowners of the area where the terminal will be situated said the project was a welcome development to the community.

He, however urged the ministry of environment to ensure that members of the community got a good representation when staff were being recruited during and after the project.

Oluwa also urged the ministry to put the traders along the route of the project into consideration, so they dont lose their source of livelihood.

Another member of the family, Mr Oyebowale Oluwa, said the family would welcome the terminal, as long as the ministry followed through all proper and legal steps necessary for the project. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

DD/Website

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, has called on Christian faithful and Nigerians to take the opportunity of the Easter celebrations to pursue peace with one another.

Agba, in a goodwill message on Good Friday in Abuja, also urged Nigerians to love one another.

He pointed out that Christs love, which made Him surrender His life on the cross at Calvary for the remission of sin of man, was the essence of the season.

He said it was only in the atmosphere of peace and love, which the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ represented that we can unleash our creative potential for the development of our nation.

Agba urged Nigerians to focus more on issues that unite rather than divide us as a nation.

According to him, there is no limit to the amount of collective good that can accrue to a united nation. I urge us to be united in focus and in pupose.

I wish all of us a momentous Good Friday and celebratory Easter Sunday and Monday in the abundance of love, peace, and unity.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

DD/Website

Director-General, National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar with the agencys staff members and friends, during his first anniversary in office in Abuja

Director-General, National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar with the agencys staff members and friends, in Abuja on Monday.

By Abigael Joshua

The Director-General, National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar, has pledged more commitments to afforestation activities to curb the challenges of climate change in Nigeria.

Maina-Bukar gave the pledge while addressing newsmen to mark his first anniversary in office, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Since the inception of the agency, afforestation and restoration activities have been at the heart of its activities.

We have, therefore, focused on implementing afforestation and reforestation activities as well as land restoration and sustainable land management practices, and we have made notable achievements, he said.

Maina-Bukar listed some of the achievements to include: establishment of shelter belts, woodlots, orchards and more recently, institutional planting, social forestry and farm forestry.

Others, he said, were marketable gardens and large-scale restoration of degraded lands to ameliorate the challenges of the environment in the affected communities.

At the core of the Nigerian component of the Great Green Wall initiative is reversing desertification, degradation of land and the mitigation of the effects of climate change in the 11 frontline communities, he said.

According to the director-general, the communities were in Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa States.

He said that during his one year in office, the agency had been able to provide job opportunities for youths and women in rural communities, especially in the areas of training on land management technique and forest planting, among others.

The Acting Director, Department of Planning Policy and Coordination, NAGGW, Mrs Habibah Ibrahim, commended the director-general for his support to the staff members of the agency.

This has made our jobs easier and I urge him to continue to listen to us.

She also commended Maina-Bukar for his passion for the assignment before him, saying that this could help in driving the nations economy to success.

Mr Sotade Olayinka, Convener, Initiative for Ethics and Value Reorientation, a civil society organisation (CSO), lauded his organisations partnership with the agency, under the leadership of the director-general.

He urged the director-general to continue to operate an open door policy, assuring of more successes in his assignment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News