News
Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee
Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds to streamline the process of compensation for residents so that each ward will know when they will be coming to their aid financially or materially.
The streamlining process being demanded will enable the 35 man committee to capture the entire residents affected and ensuring that justice is done to the myriads of people shouting to be included in the process which is looking almost like a selective jamboree weeks after it started.
The call was made by Hillary Ogbona senior Adviser (SA)to the executive secretary of the NHRC during a town hall meeting on the state of human rights during and after the maiduguri flood which took over the homes of over 200,000 residents within the state capital.
Hillary Ogbona stated recently that there was need for a timeline for the community to work with even as residents wait patiently for the Gujibawu led committee members to tend to their immediate needs.
Ogbona called on the numerous non governmental organizations (NGO’s) in the state to do more by engaging the committee to ensure all is well with the teeming residents waiting for their rightful compensations.
He regretted that it was sad that even the health sector and the information machinery in the state could not work together to fish out information from a common front instead of the piece meal approach employed in which residents were actually confused in certain instances of what to do to stay alive.
He regretted that many residents could not be reached in time for rescue because of the fact that they did not know who to call for help at such a desperately difficult period of their existence.
” I believe that the non governmental agencies would have done far better if they had engaged with the committee whose business it was to stabilize the people in the state capital.
” The values and approach to disaster management should be streamlined for effectiveness. This is because flood is not a respecter of people, creed, ranks or races. It is a leveler of all the people regardless of status.
“This is why is is important for the right thing to be done as at when due. People who earn daily wages are the most affected in such circumstances. Human rights inaction during flooding is key.”said Ogbona.
The SA stressed that there was need for the government to build a permanent and standardized camp for internally displaced people (IDP’s) with all the facilities so that all the principles of human rights based approach to disaster management will be employed without biases to anyone.
Ogbona emphasized that the usual discrimination based on status which is a common phenomenon in such circumstances in which some people are given compensation while others are not given was not permissible.
“It’s unfortunate that lots of discrimination was employed during the difficult period in which the flood was being managed but I feel this should not happen again because children should not be discriminated against at any time because major priority must be given to both women and children at such desperate circumstances.
“I had an experience in Germany which I wish to share with you people. While I was there, I observed that the selection of brains are placed above everyone during disasters, then the elderly and others may be considered later. This can equally be applied here whenever there is a similar disaster.” Said Ogbona.
Lessons from Community based human intervention in Borno were highlighted by barrister Okoro who insisted that leaders of religious groups have a very critical role to play in such trying times.
He posited that community and religious groups can be much more effective in handling such disasters if carried along when it occurred.
Okoro stressed that communication skills and the too much emphasis on the English language while encoding and decoding could also become a major challenge to the flood management approach.
Head of the Borno office Barrister Jumai Meshelia while welcoming stakeholders to the town hall meeting, called for the application of empathy while managing the people who have been traumatized by the flood.
She presented a summary on the state of human rights issues in Borno state from 2009 till date.
Stake holders present in the meeting highlighted the fact that some landlords have been coming to claim damages for the houses destroyed instead of first worrying about the fate of tenants who lost everything including lives to the flood.
One of them told stakeholders that his ten year old boy who was at home on that fateful night of Sept 10th lost his life in a fate of panic when on seeing the water pouring into the house, tried to get out but was swallowed by the raging flood from the dam.
On landlords who go to snap their homes while tenants are inside to claim damages and present same to the committees or coming to share humanitarian awards or compensations given to tenants, he called for a change of mindset by such shylock landlords.
Over 150 souls were reported as dead by the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Zulum approves additional 4 weeks for disbursement Committee
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum has approved a four-week extension for the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds for affected residents.
The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mallam Bukar Tijani, conveyed the approval on recently in Maiduguri to stakeholders when it became obvious the duration given to the committee was inadequate.
The SSG noted that Governor Zulum has approved the extension of their work to allow for a thorough assessment of the victims to ensure all those affected were reached.
Alhaji Bukar Tijani added that the state government had received an interim report from the disbursement committee, which achieved a substantial part of their terms of reference.
Many wards are yet to be reached by the committee which has not been able to touch over 50 percent of the areas affected because there has not been any programmed time tables
Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee
News
I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister
I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister
*says incidences avoidable
By: Michael Mike
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has lamented the losses of lives in Maitama, Abuja and at Okija, in Anambra State during food distribution drives by private institutions aimed at supporting the people as they celebrate the festive season.
The minister expressed deep grief describing the gestures of the donors as laudable, but condemned the crowd management approaches adopted.
In a statement on Saturday by her media team, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that they were avoidable incidences, and prayed for the repose of their lives, and speedy recovery for those injured.
While condoling with with the FCT Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, the minister called for thorough investigations into the incidences in order to forestall future occurrences.
The minister emphasized the need for crowd assessment which involves estimating the number of recipients and planning accordingly as a pre-event measure.
She also admonished Nigerians who are planning similar distributions to choose spacious, open areas with minimal obstacles, adding that distributions should be scheduled at a time when the crowd is likely to be smaller.
The statement reads in parts : “I am deeply pained by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija in Anambra State today. As a mother, I understand the pain of loosing anyone in death under such horrible circumstances. I join the families and governments of the FCT and Anambra State in this distressing moments, and feels the pains of those directly affected.
“These incidences are avoidable if adequate safety measures are put in place. I hereby call on security agencies to investigate these cases in order to forestall future occurrences.
“By implementing the above measures, the risk of stampedes during food distribution would be minimized.
I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister
News
Christmas: Gov Zulum Provides Free Transport To 710 Borno Non Indigenes
Christmas: Gov Zulum Provides Free Transport To 710 Borno Non Indigenes
By Francis Okoye
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has provided free transport to 710 non Indigenes living in the State to enable them travel home to celebrate the Christmas and the new year with their loved ones .
The free transport scheme which was flagg-off on Saturday at the Borno Express Bus Terminus saw about 285 persons traveling to the various parts of the country, of which the second batch of 285 would travel on Sunday, while the remaining ones would be leaving the State on Monday.
Speaking during the flagging off, the Chairman/ Zonal Coordinator Ohaneze All Progressives Congress ( APC ) support group, Chief Ugochukwu Egwidike , said each of the 710 travellers apart from the free transport scheme would receive a cash sum of N50,000, while about 250 widows who did not travel would be given N50,000 each to celebrate the Christmas.
Egwudike added that Governor Zulum has made significant strides in providing succour to the needy with various initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting social welfare, like very subsidised transportation services within Maiduguri metropolitan council, as well as sponsoring many Christians to Jerusalem for pilgrimage.
” Apart from enhanced reduced transportation in city, Governor Zulum’s administration has been offering free transport scheme for all the non Indigenes in every yulitide season like this to connect any part of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, with a total of 710 beneficiaries reached annually, thus bridging the gap in mobility and connectivity, and promoting economic growth and development.
“He provided emergency aid and resources to the non Indigenes affected by the recent flood incident in the State and thus showcased his ability to respond to crisis and prioritise the wellbeing of all residents. The Governor has been providing this free transport scheme to non Indigenes from 2020 to date, ” Egwudike said.
He said the Governor’s gestures demonstrate his dedication to creating a more just and equitable society where all the residents regardless of the their ethnic, religious and party affiliation, have access to resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
The Oba of Yorubas in Borno State, Alhaji Hassan Alao Yusuf who witnessed the flagging off ceremony in company of other leaders, appreciated Zulum for the gesture ,saying that the transport scheme to the non Indigenes has depicted the detribalised nature of the Governor.
” He doesn’t care about your religion, tribe or party affiliation. You can see that everyone of the travellers are happy with the Governor’s gestures. Many of them due to the present economic hardship wouldn’t have made the journey to go home and celebrate with their loved ones if not for the free transport scheme,” said Alhaji Yusuf.
In the same vein, a member of the board of trustees of Igbo Welfare Association/ Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Borno State, Pharm Napoleon Egbonu , commended Governor Zulum for his continuous support to the non Indigenes in the State,
Pharm Egbonu noted that the gesture of the Governor to the non Indigenes in the State is a unifying factor that needed to to be emulated by other Governors in building a trust and unity among ethic groups across the country.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Borno Express Transport Corperation, Grema Zanna, appreciated Governor Zulum for the gesture, saying the what the Governor has done is part of his programme of alleviating the issue of high cost transportation to the residents of the State.
He noted that those that are benefiting from the free transport scheme notwithstanding being non Indigenes have been contributing to the economic development of the State, and are part and parcel of Borno State
Christmas: Gov Zulum Provides Free Transport To 710 Borno Non Indigenes
News
Buni explains achievements in 2024
Buni explains achievements in 2024
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe state Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, has said in 2024, our effort in the health sector led the Yobe state government to win 500,000 US dollars in the primary healthcare leadership challenge for states in the North-East sub-region.
We have achieved 100% payment of hazard allowances and adjustment of CONMESS and CONHESS salary scales to healthcare workers, recruited 311 new members of staff, including doctors, nurses, and other cadres, and ensured the continuation of our free dialysis program for kidney patients.
Governor Buni disclosed this while addressing journalists at the End-Of-Year 2024 Media briefing at Cedars Recreation Center Damaturu, the state capital.
The governor, who was represented by his ever-loyal deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana Wazirin Fune, also said, apart from the achievements recorded in the education sector, such as the building of many model and mega schools, the award of scholarships to students undergoing various courses within and outside the country, ministries, departments, and the agencies (MDAs) legacies, which are not mentioned in the speech.
Idi Barde Gubana, who read the speech of the governor who was attending another very important meeting of the Northern Governor’s Forum in Kaduna, revealed that, “in the year under review, through robust and prudent management of score resources, we were able to turn around the fortunes of our people by making significant investments in education, agriculture, healthcare, and wealth and job creation, and road construction, among others.
In the recent Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) empowerment program we unveiled, a total of 52,997 households and 201,300 individuals were reached with a total sum of #3,907,387,056, while 456,205 other households with a total of 974,220 individuals were reached with food and non-food items support.
He said, “In the area of agriculture and food security, through our agricultural revitalization program, the sum of #15.3 billion was spent to provide farm implements and inputs to 5,340 farmers across the 178 wards of the state. The state government is also spending $1.7 billion in the procurement of assorted grains for our strategic grains reserve.
“Similarly, in the area of wealth creation, a lot was also achieved. These include the procurement of 475 modern sewing and embroidery machines, procurement and distribution of 350 disability tricycles, procurement of 712 nos. of cows and bulls to livestock farmers, provision of cash grants of #150,000 to 3,560 micro and small entrepreneurs across 178 wards of the state, and provision of cash support of #20,000 to 4,800 unemployed youths.
In addition, training of 85 youths on shoemaking and provision of start-up kits, distribution of 500 units of deep freezers to women in the ice-making business, procurement of 1,780 smoking stoves, 1,780 frying pans, 1,780 frying spoons, 1,780 sieving basins, and 1,780 bowls. Procurement of 100 units of pick-up tricycles for distribution to beneficiaries and the procurement and distribution of 340 work bulls, 170 ox-drawn carts, and 170 ox-drawn plows, among others.
In his welcome address, Yobe State Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, said this is the first time in as many years that His Excellency himself would avail us of the opportunity to address this kind of end-of-year gathering.
He said Yobe state, and indeed Nigeria as a whole, cannot thrive and make any meaningful progress without peace and security, and the participation of all citizens requires that the media always focus attention on what brings the people together rather than what sets them apart.
“I am confident that with your support, the Yobe state government under the charismatic and indefatigable leadership of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, in the months and years ahead, will continue to reach even more milestones and make an even bigger impact in the lives of the people of the state, he said.
“On behalf of the management and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, I want to express my deepest gratitude to His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, ably represented by his ever-loyal deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana Wazirin Fune, for sparing the time to address this distinguished gathering of our state’s press and media community.
Buni explains achievements in 2024
-
News9 months ago
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News9 months ago
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
ACADEMICS10 months ago
A History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns10 months ago
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions10 months ago
Tinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
National News10 months ago
Fraud and Mismanagement Rock INGO’s IDP Cash Assistance Effort in Bama