News

Make Laws to Ensure Gender Parity, Nigeria, Other West African countries Asked

Published

2 years ago

May 5, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Make Laws to Ensure Gender Parity, Nigeria, Other West African countries Asked

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region has been asked to make laws that would ensure gender parity.

The call was made on Friday at the Opening of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Town Hall Meeting in Abuja.

Speaking while declaring open the meeting, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis said it is pertinent to create an atmosphere of gender equality in the countries of the sub-region for growth and harmony.

Tunis who appreciated the demonstration of commitment and political will exhibited by President Julius Maada Bio of the Republic of Sierra Leone, who recently signed into law the landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill 2022, guaranteeing the principles of inclusion, representation, participation, and a more responsive posture on gender, said: “We are hopeful that similar action will be replicated in all our Member States.”

The Speaker also acknowledge and commend the very important steps being taken by ECOWAS Member States to address Gender issues.

On the townhall meeting, he said: “My sincere anticipation is that the days that have been allocated to this event would no doubt open a vista of hope for democracy in our region.”

He said: “I am optimistic that the lessons learned at the end of this townhall meeting, would transcend our region. With our ambitious and vibrant young population, we have good reasons to look up to the future.”

He noted that the substance of the meeting, which is adequately captured in
the theme “Rejuvenate Democracy by giving voice to the young people”, is particularly timely, stressing that: “It is coming at a time when the gains we have made towards strengthening democracy in the sub-region is being eroded by the sudden and unfortunate resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Government in some Member States.”

He disclosed that the meeting was strategically aligned with the current ECOWAS Vision 2050, which places more emphasis on women and youth
development in the sub-region, and is aimed at maddressing some of the issues that have contributed to gender inequalities in the region, despite the progress made by most countries regarding women’s participation in the
economic and social sectors.

He said: “I am happy to note that the ECOWAS Parliament, through the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), has been a strong promoter of scaling up the number of female representations in politics and decision-making bodies in the subregion, by emphasizing the importance of shared values and common policies as a basis for peace and sustainable development.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ann Iyonu urged the West Africa region to prioritize women and youth representation in governance as a way of improving the sub-region.

Iyonu empathized that democracy cannot thrive and function well if it is not inclusive, stating that Women and Youth are major components of the society who should play critical roles in leadership and governance.

She said that the townhall meeting aimed at giving voice to women and youth is timely but expressed disappointment over the low percentage of women elected into the next Assembly of Nigeria.

She also pointed out that women and youth representatives especially in the Parliaments of the West Africa region is very low compared to other regions in Africa where the gap has increasingly and progressively narrowed.

She narrated that in West Africa, only 15.7 percent of the average proportion of seats held by women in the national Parliaments which means the region is lacking behind other Parliaments in Africa like East Africa with 30.8 percent, Central Africa 21.7 percent, North Africa with 20.3 percent.

She however urged that there should be a conscious deliberate effort in changing the status quo of women and youth through education programmes that will boost the knowledge and skills of women and youth in the civic engagement, politics, leadership and public speaking through mentorship and networking opportunities.

She advocated for special seats to be dedicated to women and youth to increase the numbers, noting that “this might not be something we like to hear, out various governments will not like to hear it but one of the measures which we can use to increase the participation of women is to dedicate special seats to increase representation of women and youths in political positions especially in parliament to inspire and encourage more women and young people in politics.”

In her goodwill message, the Country Representative of UN Women, Beatrice Eyong thanked the Speaker for giving a budget for the activities of ECOFEPA. She emphasized the point of low representation of women in politics stating that the domination of the political space by one gender cannot continue to be encouraged especially with the increase number of women and youth in the region.

Make Laws to Ensure Gender Parity, Nigeria, Other West African countries Asked

News

NAF Airstrikes killed Scores of Bandits, as troops recover large numbers of rustled cows in Zamfara

Published

4 hours ago

February 23, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NAF Airstrikes killed Scores of Bandits, as troops recover large numbers of rustled cows in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have successfully neutralized scores of bandits in Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, Zagazola report.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the successful operation was as a result of a coordinated intelligence which revealed that a large number of bandits suspected to be relatives of notorious bandit leader Ado Aleiro, along with other unidentified individuals, left Zamfara State/Tsafe LGA to rustle cattle from nearby communities.

The sources said that the bandits succeeded in stealing several livestock and were attempting to escape when they encountered resistance from local the security forces.

The troops tracked the rustlers and waited until they reached a mountainous area before surrounding them. Upon confirming their location, they alerted the Nigerian Air Force, which swiftly deployed air assets to engage the fleeing bandits.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that several bandits were eliminated in the operation, though he said that the exact number is yet to be determined. The second sources said that at least 23 bandits were killed as well as several others injured

The sources said that the troops also recovered a large number of rustled cattle.

This operation is part of ongoing efforts by the military to dismantle terrorist strongholds and curb cattle rustling, a key source of funding for bandit groups operating in Zamfara and neighboring states.

NAF Airstrikes killed Scores of Bandits, as troops recover large numbers of rustled cows in Zamfara

News

FG unveils 39 inmate transport vehicles, armoured booths for prison security

Published

1 day ago

February 22, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

FG unveils 39 inmate transport vehicles, armoured booths for prison security

By: Our Reporter

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, has inaugurated 39 mini-green Maria vehicles to ensure the safe transportation of inmates to courts during trials.

In a statement on X, the ministry said the commissioning took place at the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The minister also unveiled four armoured security guard booths to protect correctional facilities from external aggression by non-state actors.

“The Hon. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, today inaugurated four armored security guard booths at the Nigerian Correctional Service headquarters to enhance the defense of correctional facilities against external threats,” the statement reads.

“He also unveiled 39 mini-green Maria vehicles designed to ensure the secure transportation of inmates to court during trials. These efforts reflect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to the safety and welfare of officers and inmates.

FG unveils 39 inmate transport vehicles, armoured booths for prison security

News

Damaturu Flyover: The Making of A Befitting State Capital

Published

1 day ago

February 22, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Damaturu Flyover: The Making of A Befitting State Capital

By: Mamman Mohammed

Since the news about the signing of the Damaturu fly over contract filtered the air, it attracted accolades in many quarters and of course, reservations in some quarters. This is very normal and usual with every human endeavour.

It is pertinent to note that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, while presenting the 2025 budget to the state House of Assembly, emphatically said “The widespread of road projects is intended to give a facelift and accessibility to our communities. Government is committed to the completion of the seventeen ongoing road projects, and to embark on eleven new ones. The completion of the township roads and drainages in five Local Government Areas is very dear to the government. I am also pleased to inform you that work would soon commence for the construction of the Damaturu flyover. We would also commence work on the Damaturu Green Economic City”.

Similarly, the budget allocated funds to other sectors to run simultaneously to improve the lives of the people without obstructing the execution of other projects and programmes in other sectors.

Importantly, the budget went through open process of careful and critical scrutiny, with Civil Society Organizations, individuals and groups in attendance.

Throughout the public sitting, none of the interest groups and individuals identified any project including the Damaturu flyover road as a misplacement of priority that would be at the expense of another, and as they may say, it is robbing Peter to pay Paul.

There is no doubt that the Damaturu flyover project will not only check the numerous congestion and accidents in the metropolis but, also beautify Damaturu, from a glorified local government headquarters to a beffiting state capital that is comparable to its peers, and a pride of every Yobean.

This takes us to the Muhammadu Buhari lnternational Cargo Airport as a reference point. When Gov. Buni took over the leadership of the state in 2019, there was an argument for and against the completion of the airport.

Many people described it as a wasteful project while others urged the new administration to ensure its completion. And when Gov. Buni finally announced the completion of the airport which was still at skeletal stage, it put such arguments to halt.

Gov. Buni’s argument was that, abandoning the project at that level would be a monumental loss to the state that would only attract untold inflation whenever any administration decides to complete the airport. Thanks to the wise decision, and the deep futuristic thinking by Governor Buni.

Today, the argument over the completion of the airport is now history. It is
completed and commissioned. It remains
one of the iconic legacy projects, with a very prosperous future to the state.

Already, some international investors have indicated interest in direct and indirect investments in the state. The Qatari business community and most recently, the Moroccan Investment, lmport and Export Development Agency, said the airport is a window to a fruitful economic partnership that would generate employment and wealth creation.

The same criticisms greeted the Kano, Maiduguri, Yola, Kaduna and Jalingo flyovers.

Surprisingly, some characters who lauded the flyovers elsewhere have suddenly changed their positions with the Damaturu flyover.

As a known fact, there may be no single government project or programme that would generate100% support from the public, as everyone may have his opinion for or against such project.

We should always see such projects positively and support government in its development strides to make Damaturu a state capital that is in tune with the changing times.

Damaturu Flyover: The Making of A Befitting State Capital