Drama in court: Judge withdraws, returns Gombe land tussle case to CJ

A mild drama ensued on Wednesday at the Gombe State High Court when a judge, Justice Fatima Musa recused herself from presiding over a high-profile land encroachment case involving Emir General Integrated Limited and a construction company contracted to build the state’s proposed Mechanics Village, known as Grandscope Construction Limited.

Emir General Integrated Limited had earlier sued the construction firm, alleging trespass on its land. The Gombe State Government also recently filed an application to be joined in the suit as a co-defendant.

During the latest court sitting on Wednesday, Justice Fatima Musa shocked parties involved by announcing her withdrawal from the case, citing personal reasons. She stated that the case would be returned to the Chief Judge of the State for reassignment to another judge.

Reacting to the development, counsel to the first defendant, Grandscope Construction Limited, Barrister Daniel Tsaro, described the judge’s decision as not uncommon, adding that his clients had no objections.

On his part, counsel to Emir General Integrated Limited, Barrister Suleiman Abdulrahim, reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the matter to its conclusion, regardless of which court it is reassigned to.

It would be recalled that during a previous sitting, the court had granted an interim order restraining Grandscope Construction Limited from further accessing or commencing construction on the disputed land, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice.

Drama in court: Judge withdraws, returns Gombe land tussle case to CJ

FG Says Strategies are in Place to Tackle Unsustainable Agricultural Practices

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government said it has emplaced strategies to tackle unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive logging and infrastructure deficit significantly reducing the rate of deforestation, forest degradation and adverse climate conditions.

Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Environment , Malam Balarabe Lawal while stating that forests play a crucial role in regulating the country’s climatic conditions for climate resilience, said: “The Ministry has put in place strategies to tackle unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive logging and infrastructure deficit significantly reducing the rate of deforestation, forest degradation and adverse climate conditions.

“Forests plays crucial role in biodiversity conservation, maintaining of water cycles and the provision of livelihoods for millions of people.

“It’s worthy of note that achievements have been recorded with regard to restoration of forest in Nigeria under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.”

He explained that: “Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria established to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni land oil spill.

“The Ministry initiated the world’s most extensive mangrove restoration in Ogoniland by HYPREP.

“The pilot phase of 560ha is 85 per cent completed, with over two million seedlings comprising red, black, and white mangrove species planted. This is the first mangrove restoration in Nigeria involving the planting of different species,” Lawal said.

He also revealed that the Ministry has signed an agreement with the Republic of Cameroon on Cooperation Framework Agreement on Trans-Boundary Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forestry and Wildlife Resources on April 19, 2024.

Lawal noted that: “This will foster collaborations between both countries in protecting shared ecosystems, including forests, wildlife and water bodies.

“It will ensure the coordinated management of trans-boundary protected areas, such as Cross River National Park (Nigeria) and Korup National Park (Cameroon), which are biodiversity hotspots in collaboration with major and strategic stakeholders.”

He noted that the goal is to improve the resilience of affected communities to climate change and climate variability in the dry lands of Nigeria.

He said one of the major achievements of the ministry include:raising of 3,850,000 Neem seedlings for the establishment of Plant Nurseries in the 11 National Agency of the Great Green Wall frontline states to provide medicinal raw materials.

“Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN): FRIN is the leading research institution in Nigeria which focuses on forestry, forest products and environmental development initiatives.

“Its major achievements include: the digitalisation of the forests zones in Nigeria;

“National Park Service (NPS) is responsible for managing and conserving national parks and wildlife reserves of protected areas across the nation,” he said.

Lawal noted that NPS is primarily responsible for enforcing environmental laws to prevent illegal activities such as poaching, deforestation and encroachment on protected lands.

“Achievements recorded under NPS include; the enhancement of forest security, through strengthened inter-agency collaboration especially with the Nigeria Military.

He said that the collaboration is gradually yielding positive results as shown in the recovery of forest areas occupied by bandits as well as, sustaining the fight against insurgency and terrorism in our forests

FG Says Strategies are in Place to Tackle Unsustainable Agricultural Practices

Governors Wives: Success of Tinubu’s Administration Reliant on Successful Drug War

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) has posited that the success of the present administration of President Bola Tinubu administration is independent on the success of ongoing war against illicit drug trafficking.

They declared that the success of the ongoing efforts by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking will lead to the actualization of the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Recalling the importance that successfully tackling the drug scourge will remarkably ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President is achievable for holistic national development required to birth a Nigeria of our collective dreams, wives of state governors declared as part of their resolutions in a communique read by the first lady of Ogun state, Mrs. Bamidele Dapo Abiodun on behalf of the Chairperson of the Forum and first lady of Kwara state, Prof Olufolake Abdulrasaq, at the end of a training workshop organized by the NDLEA in collaboration with the NGSF in Abuja

The Forum expressed concern “that Nigeria presently faces an alarming drug use situation, which has heavily pervaded every sphere and strata of communities and consequently endangering the wellbeing and security of individuals, families and communities within the country.”

It reiterated that states play critical roles as stakeholders in addressing national drug challenges by implementing localized strategies, fostering cross sector collaboration and aligning with internal frameworks, towards responding to community needs and contributing to coordinated national responses.

The Forum endorsed the “outstanding efforts of NDLEA under the leadership of Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa against drug use and trafficking with phenomenal national and global success records in the areas of arrests and seizures, prosecutions and convictions, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation among others.”

As parts of its resolutions, the Forum acknowledged “with urgency the need for the First Ladies to use their good offices to liaise with the State Governors in facilitating the establishment, of State Drug Control Committees (SDCCs) in the thirty-six states of the country, beyond the nine functional committees currently in existence.”

It said the laudable partnership between NDLEA and the NGSF has yielded significant dividends and achieved notable milestones over time, adding that “urgent concerted and pragmatic efforts are required considering the complex public health issues and security challenges, the country is witnessing, which is fuelled largely by the use of drugs.”

The Forum called on the Federal Government and Governors to declare state of emergency on drug use and the illicit trafficking pandemic with a view to accepting national ownership of the drug problem and mobilising resources to dismantle the menace.

It also resolved to ensure that “Local Government Drug Abuse Committees are established in line with the ‘bottom to top’ approach, a core principle of the NDCMP, in ensuring that tailored Drug Demand Reduction activities are further cascaded to the wards and rural communities, areas highly vulnerable to the drug problem”

According to First Ladies, “the Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment and Care (DPTC) programmes in States continue to serve as Forum project, and to be chaired by the first ladies of the State, as additional tools for addressing community-based drug prevention, use and treatment modalities to promote community health, development and overall wellbeing.”

They highlighted the importance of the SDCCs in expanding its scope by seeking result-oriented partnerships with the private sector, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders in the development and implementation of community-based projects, through the enhancement of resources, facilities and infrastructure for holistic outcomes across the States of the Federation.

They also reaffirmed “the need for active collaboration with, and providing vital supports to NDLEA Commands in States with a view to achieving more effective, integrated and enduring responses to drug challenges in diverse community settings by combining enforcement, prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.The Forum harped on “the need to create and promote sustainable development initiatives by encouraging health and people centered prevention, treatment, social support, stigma reduction, and inclusive policies that tackle root causes and ensure long term community and health and resilience.”
Governors Wives: Success of Tinubu’s Administration Reliant on Successful Drug War