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An Open Letter to Governor Buni On Deplorable Gulani-Tetteba Road
An Open Letter to Governor Buni On Deplorable Gulani-Tetteba Road
By: Kolo Gulani
Let me call on the Executive Governor of our beloved Yobe state. It is good to note that you have already hit the ground running with many developmental projects in the state.
Your Excellency Sir, declaration of a State of Emergency in the educational sector and mass housing projects and other infrastructural in the state, this is really commendable.
However, sir, I want to quickly draw your kind attention to the lingering problems of the abandoned construction of Gulani-Tetteba Road as you’re our last hope.
Sir, since the day won the primary election, Gulani has been supporting your movement from the inception by producing 95% votes in both the first and your second election as the executive governor of the state. Our people were chanting “Buni is ours and we must provide him with all the necessary support”. And therefore, it’s expected that we will achieve our goal and there is no doubt our goal is completion of Tetteba-Gulani Road.
Your Excellency Sir, as we all know, roads networking contributions very immensely to economic development and growth by bringing social benefits to the people.
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In addition, it provides access to employment opportunities, health care and educational and other services that make up both intra and inter – state activities easier.
Therefore, it is important to emphasize that the few kilometres road that link Tetteba- Gulani was abandoned for over two decades after the contract for its construction was first awarded in the year 1999. It is disturbing and worrisome too, that work on these roads have stopped without any explanation.
Though, it is a federal government’s project, its stoppage has affected economic activities in the area as farmers can no longer transport farm produces, goods and services across the adjoining states very easily which would have actually boosted the commodity markets in that area.
The few kilometres of this road has not been liked up and has currently cut off the surrounding villages from the other parts of Yobe state.
Your Excellency Sir, we are fully aware that the contract for the construction/ rehabilitation of the Buni-Gari, Fikayel and Wade roads was re-awarded in the year 2003, but yet with little to show for it.
The continued neglect of these road projects by the federal government and subsequent previous administrations in the state, has brought untold hardship on our people.
Gulani Local Government Local Government Area is among the top in Yobe State that has the highest mineral deposits which include: Diatomite, Limestone, Kaolin, Gypsum, Quartz, Ball Clay, Shale, Bentonite, Spring Water, Amethyst, Granite among others.
It is also one of the Local Government Areas with arable lands that produces in large commercial quantity Agro raw materials such as Wheat, Sorghum, Rice, Millet, Cowpea, Groundnut, Gum Arabic, Sorrel (Zobo Fruits), Onions, Tomatoes, Pepper, Cotton, Livestock, Maize, Kenaf, among several others.
In addition, it is capable of producing large quantity of farm produce by local farmers at Dadinkowa Dam as well as the tributaries of River Ashaka at Ruhu and Kushimaga which is suitable for dry season farming activities.
Therefore, we wish to appeal to you, to use your good office and the opportunity that Allah has given you to do something about this road so as to bring succour to our people whose economic activities, livelihood and related developmental issues, have been hampered by the deplorable state of the roads.
An Open Letter to Governor Buni On Deplorable Gulani-Tetteba Road
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
By: Michael Mike
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Yemisi Asagbra debunked some allegations level against the agency by some non governmental organisations (NGOs) concerning negligence and compromise.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Asagbra said: “The negative statements circulating are misleading and lack credible scientific backing. The agency asks these organisations to present verifiable scientific evidence for their claims and we relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognized protocols to make informed decisions. It is part of the Cartagena Protocol with over 180 parties, our mandate is to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment. It will not compromise on this as it is an agency of integrity.
She added that: “The agency is transparent and accountable in its operations. It invites review of its processes and rigorous evaluations of GMO products. We are confident in our procedures that it’s meet global standards and it is a leader in effective regulation in Africa”.
On the source of the allegations, she said “over the years they have been advocating to have their presence in the board where all these products coming will be thoroughly Investigated, but it hasn’t been given. Most times we rely on the information given by Nigeria Custom Service to furnish them with needed information, which most time is not always easy if they have other things doing.
The Head planning, research and statistics National Biosafety Management Agency Mrs. Bello Scholastica said the agency is concerned with safety to our health and safety to our environment.
She further reiterated that what NBMA stands for is to establish first regulation from identification of the gene of interest, “of what you are interested in, from then till commercialization, and even after commercialization, they still follow suit to make sure that the approvals they gave hasn’t caused any harm, or those that were given approval to that they stay put to what they were asked to do”.
She further explained that the agency has put in effort to promote environmental conservation and biosafety in Nigeria.
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
By: Michael Mike
The House of Representatives has revealed that it is interested in the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill into law, saying that the bill has already passed the first reading and will soon be subjected to second reading.
The House also promised to take the necessary steps to ensure an improvement in the 2025 budget of the NHRC, pointing out that the N5 billion approved for it in the 2024 budget is inadequate considering the myriad of human rights violations in the country.
The Chairman House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Abiola Makinde made this disclosure during the oversight visit of Committee to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The Chairman, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Hon. Mudashiru Lukeman assured the NHRC that the Committee would continue to advance the course of human rights in Nigeria by ensuring that the House of Representatives passes critical bills on human rights issues as well as makes adequate budgetary provisions to ease the work of the Commission.
Makinde also stated that in a bid to improve some aspects of Civil and Political Rights, the House of Representatives had ensured the establishment of human rights desks in all police formations and Headquarters across the 36 States of the Federation.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu who received the lawmakers with his management staff told the Human Rights Committee that the Commission relies heavily on them for the enactment of human rights friendly laws and enhanced budgetary provisions to discharge it broad mandate of promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in the country.
He used the opportunity to commend the legislators for their role in the amendment of the NHRC Act 2010 as well as the support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the payment of compensation to victims of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
He equally informed the legislators who were on oversight visit about the recent report released by the Commission following the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East Nigeria , which he noted has saved the country from possible invitation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He noted that the aforementioned wide spread allegations of human rights infractions against some government institutions could result in the ICC extending invitations to some of the leaders to respond to the allegations, but the Commission has done the needful in compliance with the international principles of omplementarity.
He thanked the Committee for promising to improve the budgetary allocation of the Commission in the 2025 fiscal year.
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa
By: Michael Mike
The arrest of Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa in Finland has been confirmed by the federal government.
A statement on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested by Finnish authorities on Thursday.
According to the statement, Ekpa was
charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence.
The Finnish District Court of
Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.
The Finnish authorities alleged that Mr. Ekpa used social media platforms to spread
separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused
significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria. Finnish investigators had also linked
him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to had been fueled by his
online activities.
The statement said “the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic
pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities,
which were linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria. The request
for action featured during high level engagements between countries.”
The Ministry stated that the arrest of Ekpa, is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB, and also neutralizing the influence of transnational actors and “their impact on our national security.”
The Ministry promised to continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.
FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
Nigerian lawyers Ask to Collaborate with Chinese Colleagues in Law Relating to Investment and Dispute Resolution
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
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