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Christmas : Non- Indigenes Laud Zulum For Free Transportation , Donation To Widows

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Christmas : Non- Indigenes Laud Zulum For Free Transportation , Donation To Widows 

By Francis Okoye

Non- indigenes resident in Borno have lauded the State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum for providing free transport for them to go and celebrate Christmas and new year with their loved ones, as well as donation of cash to widows for the Christmas celebration.

Over 645 persons from 10 communities comprising the Igbo, yoruba, Hausa, Tiv, Tangele, Ngas, Eggon , Igala, Ibra and Niger Delta Peoples Forum benefitted from the Zulum’s Christmas free transport scheme. 

Speaking on Friday in Maiduguri, the Zonal Coordinator of Ohanaeze APC Support Group, Chief Emmanuel Ugochukwu Egwudike (Go-Easy), said the Governor’s gesture is coming at a time when many had lost hope of travelling to celebrate the Christmas with their loved ones due economic realities facing the State and the country at large.

Chief Egwudike who is also the zonal Coordinator Northeast of Omaluegwuoku , a support group promoting the election of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) presidential Candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice presidential running mate , Sen. Kashim Shettima, assured that the votes of all non-indigenous ethnic groups in the state will go for Zulum and other APC candidates to the upcoming election.

He noted that since the assumption of office of Governor, he has been providing free transport to non- indigenes every Christmas to travel home and at the same time giving palliative to widows who are not travelling for the celebration of the Christmas and new year.

“Come 2023 , we will support the APC from top to bottom.  We urge other Governors to emulate Zulum. About 10 communities of non- indigenes in the State benefitted from this transport scheme while 645 persons travelled with feeding allowance and return given to them. The 645 travellers began the journey to their respective homes from 20th to 23rd of this month,” Chief Egwudike said. 

Also, the President of the Niger Delta Peoples Forum in Borno State, Chief John Azimeye , described Governor Zulum as a detribalised man who is doing his best to ensure that everyone is carried along in his administration. 

“Despite the meagre resources at his disposal, he still go out of his way to provide free transport to the non- indigenes in the State to ensure that they celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. It is a wonderful gesture, we are indeed going to give him every support for him to continue the good work he is doing,” Azimeye said. 

Hon. Asiwaju Olusegun Alabi, the Secretary General Ohanaeze APC support group appreciated Governor Zulum for the wonderful gesture,  noting that it is a gesture that the Governor has been providing since 2020 to date. 

Alabi said the gesture is a clear evidence that Zulum projects are not paper projects and his promises not paper promises but reality. 

In his remarks, the President Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Borno State Chapter, Chief Sunday Okonkwo, thanked God for Governor Zulum for providing free transport to the lesprivilleged who wouldn’t have travelled if not for the gesture. 

He assured that non- indigenes in the State will work to ensure that the Governor returned for the second time to continue his good work. 

Abraham Kaanti, the President of Tiv community in the State , said the Governor has exhibited his love for the downtrodden and less privileged by this gesture. 

“So we the internal diasporas have resolved that we are going to throw our  full support to Governor Zulum’s second term bid,” he said. 

Christmas : Non- Indigenes Laud Zulum For Free Transportation , Donation To Widows

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NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

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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

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House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

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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

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FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

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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

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