Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang has given reason why the President did not rush to react to the herdsmen/farmers’ clashes in Benue state that had resulted into deaths of many. The Presidential aide, who briefed Buhari Project Group, made up of Buhari Media Support group and other Buhari/Osinbajo coalition groups, on issues that have been misinterpreted by some sections of Nigerians, said the President waited to have the full report about the situation before going public. “There were allegations of herdsmen being infiltrated by insurgents to cause the mayhem in Benue state; there were other allegations that foreigners from neighbouring countries were part of it. So, the President had to get the clear picture of what was actually going on.” Senator said that it is not true that President Buhari did not do anything or did very little while the killings were being perpetrated in Benue, adding: “the President preferred to do more and talk less.” He referred to a letter which the President wrote to the Senate in reponse to the Seante’s earlier letter demanding to know what he had done so far on the issue of Benue killings. Senator Enang said also that it is wrong to continue to blame the President on the issue of land for grazing or cattle colonies in the states of the federation, adding that by the provisions of the land act of 1978, which are reflected in the constitution, that have not been amended, the President has no power over land. He said that even though the constitution spelt out the fact that state and local governments should provide land for, among others, grazing, but that President Buhari only appealed to governors to implement such constitutional provisions. “In a federal system of government we are practicing, there are certain things that the President cannot do, and that is why he is being cautious so that the same people that are accusing him now of not doing those things would not also blow grammar if he does them.” The explanation, he said, became necessary so as to enable the support groups to carry the message down to the grass roots as the nation prepares for the 2019 general elections. Earlier, the chairman of Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG), Austin Braimoh also enumerated the achievements of the Buhari’s government on security, economic, educational and other sectors to warrant his continuity in office beyond 2019 to complete them.
Fellow Nigerians, I’m sure this must have been a very interesting week for you like it has been for me. I spent the first few days attending the Inauguration ceremony for the brand new President of the Republic of Liberia, former World Footballer, George Opong Weah and his Vice President, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor. I must say I was greatly inspired by what I saw in Liberia, a country which is like another home for me. About ten years ago, I received one of the greatest honours in the country when I was “gowned” and made a Chief with the powerful title, The Kiazolu of The Grand Cape Mount County. I’m eternally grateful to the Council of Traditional Chiefs of Liberia for such privilege. Interestingly, one of the dignitaries at my “gowning ceremony” then is now the new Vice President, Senator Jewel Taylor.
I met many African leaders in Monronvia, including Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, former Presidents, Jerry John Rawlings and John Dramani Mahama. Of course, our one and only indefatigable President Emeritus, General Olusegun Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo (Rtd.) was fully on ground. The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, stayed in the same hotel with the Ovation team which included the Editor, Michael Effiong. Naturally, the Boulevard Palace Hotel, where we stayed, became a Mecca of sorts. It was the place everyone wanted to be accommodated in but this was well nigh impossible.
It was while in Monrovia, that I read former President Obasanjo’s bazooka of a letter to our dear President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.), and the impact and reverberation of what can almost be described as an atomic bomb is still being felt at home and even in far flung places. The letter did not come as a total surprise to some of us. It was in fact long awaited and sooner expected. Baba’s letter was much more longer and extremely detailed than the one I wrote to President Buhari about three weeks earlier, but we shared some things in common. The verdict out there on the streets is that the ruling Party, APC, has performed far below expectations and cannot, and should not, in good conscience, seek another term in office, under the current leadership of President Buhari. The other major challenge for the President has been his health which became very worrisome for several months last year. Miraculously, the President resurrected and returned triumphantly to power after some of his vociferous critics had written him off. But what is not known, is if he has enough stamina to cope with the rigours of running a country as complex and complicated as Nigeria, never mind the rigorous campaigning that must precede an attempt at a second term. Obasanjo amplified this particular issue, repeatedly, in his latest missive. The long and short of the matter is that Obasanjo believes that Buhari should not contest again.
Many have argued that it is undemocratic to ask Buhari not to contest when the Nigerian Constitution expressly allows him. But there is no big deal if the same people that supported him in the past are now advising him to save himself from the stress of campaigning again. The advice can easily be ignored since it is not enforceable. Let me confess that I thoroughly enjoyed Obasanjo’s letter. Wow, if Baba was not a soldier, he would have been a journalist. I’m not surprised that he is an accomplished author to boot.
But as much as I enjoyed this letter, which I’ve read repeatedly since it was released, I’m not so sure about Baba’s thesis, or hypothesis, on the issue of a third force.
I have no doubt in my mind that Nigeria truly requires a serious political Party with impeccable ideology. This was my dream in 2010, when I decided to join the Presidential race which I eventually contested in 2011. My idea was simply that Nigeria deserves better Parties than the ones on parade right now. I decided to join the Labour Party for that purpose. Little did I realise the naivety in that decision. First, I did not know that the Nigerian Labour Congress had no direct control or influence over the Labour Party. Just imagine a party with all Nigerian workers as bona fide and fee-paying members. This dream was truncated because no such thing existed and I had to try my luck elsewhere. I joined the National Conscience Party and won the Presidential Primary after a stiff contest. I eventually contested as a Presidential candidate in 2011 but lost resoundingly. But despite this loss, I gained two things, experience and exposure. It is based on that experience that I wish to plead with the conveners of the third force to be very careful.
Politics is a game of numbers and figures. It is not for the faint-hearted. I’m almost certain that no major force apart from PDP can sack Buhari and, or, APC from power next year. It is an established fact that only two dominant Parties are viable in most countries of the world. There are a few exceptions here and there, but they belong in the realm of magic and miracle. A quintessential example of how tough it is for a third force to emerge and succeed is Donald Trump who had to hijack the Republican Party in the United States to get a formidable ticket. I believe that it is too late in the day, with elections coming next year, to build a third Party, or movement, of force, or whatever to compete against APC or PDP.
I understand where Obasanjo’s problem lies. He can neither join APC nor PDP now. Both political Parties currently harbour some of his sworn enemies, or people he doesn’t fancy at all. If he would have any influence or relevance, he would have to seek and work with other Parties except those two. But I must sound a note of caution urgently. As much as I’m not a fan of PDP, I don’t see any other Party that can unseat APC right now, unless that Party addresses all its internal conflicts and presents a united front. Truth hurts but we must swallow that bitter pill. If Baba has virtually foreclosed Buhari coming back next year, he must be ready to accept whatever or whoever PDP throws up. It is not possible to eat your cake and still have it. Nigeria has finally reached a cul-de-sac so soon again after the exit of PDP.
It is important to note that most of the names being bandied as potential aspirants and candidates are not likely to be able to tackle Buhari readily and easily. PDP would have to get its act together. Over-ambitious members would have to bury their vaunting ambitions and make the huge sacrifice to rescue Nigeria by seeking the best candidates at all levels. APC can also spring a surprise by dropping Buhari peacefully and give their ticket to any of the younger and cerebral elements. The job of the President these days cannot be treated as business as usual. No country, least of all a developing one, can afford to run on cruise control or auto pilot. That is more or less how we have operated these past years. The President of Africa’s greatest country must be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with world leaders and speak their language, discuss business, talk foreign affairs, understand diplomacy, and so on. Exchanging the baton of backwardness every four-years can no longer work to our advantage. Nigeria is too big to be handled and handed to those without requisite preparation for the new world order.
I believe the third force can checkmate the traditional politicians while working slowly and steadily on building a new coalition of like minds. The death knell of APC was sounded when it chose to welcome every Tom, Dick and Harry into its fold, but it had no choice if it wanted to win elections. I also suppose that is an essential aspect of democracy. However, what APC lacked was the will to consign the chaff, flotsam and jetsam to the rubbish heap. On the contrary, they were promoted to vantage positions. Truth seems to be that the good candidates would not win elections in the near future without the assistance of bad guys. The immediate priority of APC and PDP should be how to save Nigeria from the monumental tragedy of ineffective leaders. I really do not care which Party gives us the next President but I care about the quality of leadership. If care is not taken and a third force fails to align to one of the existing Parties, the third force may act as a spoiler by chipping away at some of the votes a creditable, credible opposition Party would have garnered. A good example is the 1979 scenario where the combined force of UPN and NPP would have torpedoed the abysmal and woeful NPN which Obasanjo bequeathed to Nigeria. Clearly, this does not augur well for Nigeria.
I hope someone is listening to my patriotic sermon…
TIME TO END OUR MILITARY MENTALITY
I was happy to watch President Donald Trump’s speech in Davos yesterday on CNN. I was very impressed about how he spoke eloquently and convincingly about the new ease of doing business in America today. I saw a man who was very serious about creating jobs at home, by all means necessary. As a businessman himself, he obviously understands the rudiments of running business and creating opportunities for job seekers. That should be the priority of all governments, but I’m not sure Nigeria is ready to treat our investors as the kings they are in reality.
I was shocked to read the latest harassment of one of our business icons, Dr Mike Adenuga, on social media yesterday. According to the widely circulated reports, Dr. Adenuga’s company is owing the Federal Government some huge sums of money running into billions of naira. It was not stated how members of the House of Representatives arrived at their figure, but they claimed they’ve summoned Dr Adenuga to appear before them several times but he refused. The tone and anger displayed by the committee members probing the alleged infractions sounded more like vendetta than genuine interest in getting whatever amount his companies are allegedly owing, back to government coffers. One of them went downright personal when he said Adenuga is not the only billionaire in Nigeria and he cannot disrespect them. My view is that unlike public service where you may call for the Minister or Agency head, you cannot do the same for a private company, particularly where the individual is not an executive Chairman. There are appropriate officers of a company to deal with such matters. Asking Adenuga to come personally demonstrates not only a lack of understanding of corporate nuances but also unseriousness, even arrogance, by our legislators who appear not to have done their homework.
Furthermore, if the Honourable House members have concluded their investigations and findings, are they the ones to prosecute and judge at the same time? The allegations they make are matters which are either for the civil or criminal courts. Their powers are limited. Therefore, why can’t they refer the matter to the appropriate authorities instead of this unnecessary grandstanding. If we continue to humiliate all our great and visionary business men and women publicly by trial in the court of public opinion rather than the Court of Law, who would be left standing? I agree that matters of this nature should be investigated, but not in this barefaced gra gra manner.
Dr Adenuga is undoubtedly one of our hardest working businessmen. He has provided employment for thousands of Nigeria. We all know him to be reclusive in nature and he does not partake in the orgy of ostentation that some of our politicians are known for. He is shy to a fault and is hardly seen in public. Such an institution deserves some respect and protection. If he collapses, God forbid, many thousands of Nigerian families will suffer. We should try to find means of helping people like Adenuga to stay afloat for the sake of our youths. Before our very eyes, Etisalat ran into troubled waters and could not swim afloat. The same must not be allowed to happen to Glo. Once in a while we must eat yam because of palm-oil or eat palm-oil because of yam. No man is perfect in life but we can help to make people perfect, out of love, genuine concern and even the selfish interest of the nation that is already in its death throes from businesses being mortally wounded.
May the tribes of Adenuga increase and may God bless Nigeria mightily through them…
Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna state, has made it clear that President Muhammadu Buhari is not desperate for power for the purpose of personal gains and that he is willing to give it up if that is what is needed to make Nigeria progress.
Governor El-Rufai who spoke on on Channels Television programme regarding the recommendations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on restructuring, said: “President Buhari is not concerned about his personal power, he is concerned about Nigeria making progress.
“If giving up power will make Nigeria progress, he will give all of it up. Not just part of it but all of it. This is the real Buhari that many people don’t know.”
He stressed that he had known and worked with Buhari long enough to know his position on many issues.
On the recommendation of the committee for devolution of power, Governor el-Rufai said that President Buhari was excited when the report was presented, adding “he (Buhari) was very pleased and he said he fully supports what we have done and that he is looking forward to the party officially transmitting it to him for his necessary action,” el-Rufai said.
Devolution of power is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a sub-national level, such as a regional or local level. Devolved territories have the power to make legislation relevant to the area.
The governor said that the president is fully aware of the implications of the provision and is excited about it.
He said that the committee’s recommendation is in the interest of Nigeria, saying that the committee took into consideration the opinion of the youth, women and the vulnerable.
“It is the most comprehensive review of this subject matter ever in Nigeria’s history,” he said.
“APC true federalism committee differs from other confabs in at least two ways; first, previous confabs were conclaves of the elite.
“The government picks who goes there, they decide who participates, and it is mostly old people with a sprinkle of a few women. Our committee opened the space for everyone.
“More than one-third of the membership of our committee were women. More than a quarter of the membership were young people, below the age of 40.
“It was a very broad range of consultation. Many opposition figures have expressed support for the report. We have proposed more than 20 alterations to the constitution. Everything we did is in the best interest of Nigeria.
“So, this is the first time that a platform has been given to young people and women and those that are vulnerable to give their voices to what shape of the federation they want to see.
“Because old people like me, 50, 60, 70 cannot define the future for Nigerian youth below the age of 40. What young women and our people see is completely different from what old people see.”
Speaking on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “letter-bomb” to Buhari, asking the president not to seek re-election, el-Rufai said he has not read it because of its length.
He, however, said Obasanjo was entitled to his opinion, adding that he “absolutely” supports Buhari’s second term bid.
“I have not. It is too long. I am very busy but I get the gist of it. President Obasanjo is Nigerian, he is a patriot and he is entitled to his opinion just like every other Nigeria.
“The presidency has issued a response, the party has issued a response and that closes the matter. We are moving on. I do not have any doubt in my mind that we are going to win the next elections. Not only in the centre but we are going to preserve our 24 states and even more.
“I believe that President Buhari is the one that will advance the interest of Nigeria and the stability of the country.” [myad]
Expert in charge of the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Yemi Kale, has said that his organisation has no statistical record of the seven million new jobs which some ministers in the Federal cabinet claimed were recently created. Yemi Kale, who is the Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the NBS said that the Bureau has no data to back up the claim the minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige and the minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh that the government has created over seven million jobs recently. Speaking on GatefieldTV programme #ConversationswithAbangMercy, Yemi Kale said: “We don’t have the data anyway, that data of is 6 or 7 million, we don’t have that. I can’t comment on what other data users or data producers say but I can comment on what we produce here as the official source of data. “We have not produced any data on job creation, we produced data on people that were unemployed at the particular time and that is what we are sticking to.” According to Kale, the NBS is not interested in politics, saying: “We don’t do politics at the NBS, the National Bureau of Statistics is the official source of data. Our law does not allow us to be countered. The law says very clearly that NBS is the official source of Nigerian data. “Everybody else can have their opinion, they can do their own computations if they want to but when it comes to national data, the authoritative source, the custodian of all data is the NBS. “So, we don’t comment on what other people even ministers say as far as data is concerned. Our data is for evidence-based policy and decision making and that is what we do.” [myad]
A Lagos school, MD Nursery and Primary School, has attracted international attention, winning a prestigious British Council International School Award. The school authorities got the notification of the award from the British Council through a letter dated January 16, 2018. The letter, signed by the Council’s Project Officer in charge of Schools Education, Olumide Akintunde said: “we are pleased to inform you that your school’s ISA portfolio has been assessed, and your school has successfully been awarded the British Council International School Award (ISA) for the 2016/2017 round.” The award, according to Akintunde, is billed for presentation to the school in April this year. The school commenced operations over 30 years and is run by an erudite educationist, Julie Adedugbe. The Council congratulated the school authorities on what it called “this achievement. Well-done.” The British Council International School Award recognises and celebrates exemplary practices of internationalism in schools. According to information on the website of the British Council, the International School Award is a benchmarking scheme that accredits schools as having outstanding level of support for nurturing global citizenship in young people and enriching teaching and learning. The ISA was introduced in India in 2003 and nearly 2,500 schools across the Asian country have been so recognised. The Council said the range of schools participating in the International School Award varies from the well-resourced private schools to government schools from rural areas and schools for the less advantaged communities. The International School Award now has a presence in 31 countries worldwide. The award, according to the Council, has a positive impact on not just the students, but also the teachers and school in its entirety. It is said to be a leadership challenge and fosters team building, innovation and project management. The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. [myad]
African Leaders at AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Twenty-three out of 55 countries that make up the African Union (AU) have resolved to formally adopt a common aviation market, christened Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Among the countries that keyed into the policy at the ongoing African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, are Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. The for the policy was said to have lingered on for over three decades, its adoption is believed to open opportunities to boost air inter-connectivity, beat down fares and stimulate economic growth for the continent. The chairman of AU, Paul Kagame and the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki unveiled the plaque at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, today. The SAATM policy is a flagship project of AU Agenda 2063, which aspires to create a single unified air transport network in Africa. It is expected to foster the liberalization of civil aviation in Africa and rejuvenate the continent’s economic integration agenda. At the inaugural ceremony, the AU Chairman expressed delight over the actualization of the single air transport market for Africa. “I want to say a big thank you for the work the Commission has put into this, to be able to form a single air transport market which is very important for the development of our continent in line with our many projects that will take us to our wishes for the year 2063. “I am glad that we can achieve some of these now or tomorrow, especially this particular project. I am happy for associating myself with the progress that we have made so far.” Kagame, who is the President of Rwanda, announced that the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe will lead the continent in realising the full implementation of market on behalf of the continent. Research by the International Civil Aviation Organisation reveals that Africa accounts for about 15 per cent of the world’s population and a paltry 3 per cent of the world’s air travelers. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika who was part of the delegate to the summit, said now that the SAATM has been launched, Nigerian Government would expedite plans for a national carrier. He said that several opportunities abound for member countries adopting the SAATM, some of which he listed as increased investments, job creation through tourism among other benefits. [myad]
The National Public Relations Officers of the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) Mr. Francis Enebore, has disclosed that prisoners across the country are now fully engaged in productive ventures while serving their terms. According to him, while many of them have engaged in large scale commercial farming, no fewer than 430 others are pursuing various degree programmes at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He added that three others are about to complete their doctorate degree in other universities in the country. Enebore, who briefed news men in Abuja on the forthcoming Public Presentation of Survey Reports on the Nigerian Prisons on February 1, said the prisoners were allowed to enrol for the University education as part of new reforms being implemented by the Federal Government to make life out of prison meaningful for the ex convicts. Enebore said that the Open University offered the prisoners opportunity of higher education to make them better citizens of the nation. According to him, well meaning Nigerians, religious and corporate bodies have been assisting the ex convicts in providing for their educational needs. The spokesman said that prisoners are now fully engaged in the production of food for themselves and the country in the new farm settlement schemes established in some states of the federation. He said that at the moment, 17 farm settlements in Kaduna are already producing beans in commercial quantities, whereas Bauchi farms is producing rice and Edo farms are producting palm oil for the prisoners and the nation. He announced that 22 tractors have been procured by the federal government and distributed to prisons for the used of prisoners across the country to enhance their farming skills in the production of mainly food crops adding that a good number of tractors are also underway for delivery before the year runs out. He said, at the media briefing with the Executive Director of Prison Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) Dr. Uju Agomoh that 951 others were set free upon meeting conditions for freedom. He said that fines imposed on the ex-convicts by various courts in the country were offset by the National Stakeholders to pave way for their final release. Enebore commended the new reform initiative, even as he regretted that the N450 feeding cost per prisoner in a day is grossly inadequate hence, the introduction of the farm settlement schemes. “In the education sector, I am pleased to announce that 430 of our prisoners are running various degree courses at the National Open University of Nigeria, the new reform efforts allowed them to access university education in order to make life out of prison meaningful for them”. “In the agriculture, massive revolution is going on with prisoners now engaging in full scale commercial farming. At the moment, we have our farm settlement in Kaduna where the Prisoners have produced huge quantities of beans, in Bauchi where rice had been produced and Edo where our farm settlement is involved in the production of palm oil”. Meanwhile, the survey report on the Nigerian Prisons would be formally presented to the Nigerian public on February, 1. The survey is anchored by experts put together by the Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) as part of reforms to be put forward to the federal government for implementation that will lead to decongestion of the prisons and ensuring adequate welfare for all the inmates. [myad]
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has acknowledged that the first elected Nigeria Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who died recently, used his words as politician to build rather than destroy Nigeria as a nation. Professor Osinbajo, who spoke at the Service of Song and Evening of Tribute for the late leader at the International Conference Centre in Abuja today, Monday, described the deceased as one of the most remarkable persons to have served the nation. Vice President Osinbajo recalled that when late Dr. Ekwueme was asked what his vision was for Nigeria, he said “My vision for Nigeria is that Nigeria should become a nation rather than a country. “In public discourse, nationally and regionally, as an elder in ECOWAS, even on the most emotive subjects, he spoke truthfully, but maintaining a thoughtful balance, ensuring that his words built rather than destroyed. He worked tirelessly to build and maintain the bridges established across ethnic and religious lines by so many through the years. He never once doubted the validity of one indivisible Nigeria.” Osinbaji said that despite being one of the most thoroughly educated persons anywhere in the world, with degrees in Architecture, Philosophy, Sociology and Law, he possessed the profound humility that comes from understanding how much more there was to learn. “And he demonstrated it by his evident willingness to listen and to learn at all times. As Vice President, he set an excellent example of loyalty, discipline, team spirit and fidelity to the nation. “He was fearless! Armed with the courage of his convictions, he led the G34, the group of eminent Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship in its darkest and most fearsome days in Nigerian history. Their roles significantly contributed to the return of democracy in 1999. “Whether it was in spending 20 or more unjustified months in detention after the 1983 coup, or the eventual conclusion that he had not abused his office in anyway, or his principled and fearless leadership in confronting the military dictatorship when it chose to succeed itself, or his principled intervention in many national debates, Dr. Ekwueme epitomized impeccable integrity, courage, and selflessness. “His values, like himself, remain relevant in every age and time. Almost a year to the date of his sad passing, he graciously responded to my invitation to join other former Nigerian heads of State and their deputies, to record for broadcast the hymn “O lord our help in ages past” which we have just seen. “As a man of depth, he understood the symbolism of leaders of our nation, honouring God as we affirmed that we and our beloved nation owed everything to His grace alone. When he was teased about his voice as he delivered a line of the hymn in Igbo, because there was a lot of teasing and joking that afternoon at Aguda House, he said he was “just warming up.” Osinbajo recalled that when late Dr. Ekwueme was asked in an interview some years ago how he would want to be remembered, he said: “my music teacher in secondary school said you have to blow your own trumpet because if you don’t, no one will blow it for you until it gets rusty. But I will like to be remembered as someone who came into public office to render service and rendered that service selflessly.” The Vice President said that Alex Ifeyinchukwu Ekwueme who died as Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the Ideh of Oko, never had to blow his trumpet and didn’t have to. “His service to the country and people is the assurance that he would have many trumpeters, amongst the high and low. “Our nation will miss his calm dignity and wise words even in the most turbulent circumstances. “But we thank God for giving us for 85 years, such an exemplar of decency, kindness and integrity.”[myad]
The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) is now going cap-in-hand to source for $3.6 billion to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to 48 million children living through conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies in 51 countries in 2018. The UNICEF, in a statement, said that violent conflict is driving humanitarian needs to critical levels around the world, with children especially vulnerable. It regretted conflicts have endured for years in countries such as those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, among other countries, adding that such conflict had continued to deepen in complexity, bringing new waves of violence, displacement and disruption to children’s lives. The statement quoted UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine as saying: “children cannot wait for wars to be brought to an end, with crises threatening the immediate survival and long term future of children and young people on a catastrophic scale. “Children are the most vulnerable when conflict or disaster causes the collapse of essential services such as healthcare, water and sanitation. Unless the international community takes urgent action to protect and provide life-saving assistance to these children, they face an increasingly bleak future.” The statement said that parties to conflicts are showing a blatant disregard for the lives of children. Adding that children are not only coming under direct attack, but are also being denied basic services as schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure are damaged or destroyed. “Approximately, 84 per cent ($3.015 billion) of the 2018 funding appeal is for work in countries affected by humanitarian crises borne of violence and conflict. “The world is becoming a more dangerous place for many children, with almost one in four children now living in a country affected by conflict or disaster. For too many of these children, daily life is a nightmare. The statement further quoted Fontaine as saying: “the spread of water-borne diseases is one of the greatest threats to children’s lives in crises. Attacks on water and sanitation infrastructure, siege tactics which deny children access to safe water, as well as forced displacement into areas with no water and sanitation infrastructure – all leave children and families at risk of relying on contaminated water and unsafe sanitation. Girls and women face additional threats, as they often fulfil the role of collecting water for their families in dangerous situations. “117 million people living through emergencies lack access to safe water and in many countries affected by conflict, more children die from diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation than from direct violence. “Without access to safe water and sanitation, children fall ill, and are often unable to be treated as hospitals and health centres either do not function or are overcrowded. The threat is even greater as millions of children face life-threatening levels of malnutrition, making them more susceptible to water-borne diseases like cholera, creating a vicious cycle of under nutrition and disease.” UNICEF said that as the leading humanitarian agency on water, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies, it provides over half of the emergency water, sanitation and hygiene services in humanitarian crises around the world. “When disasters strike, UNICEF works with partners to quickly provide access to safe drinking water, sanitation services and hygiene supplies to prevent the spread of disease. This includes establishing latrines, distributing hygiene kits, trucking thousands of litres of water to displacement camps daily, supporting hospitals and cholera treatment centres, and repairing water and sanitation systems. These measures save lives, have long-term impact and pave the way for other important services like health clinics, vaccination programmes, nutrition support and emergency education.” The statement said that the largest component of UNICEF’s appeal this year is for children and families caught up in the Syria conflict, soon to enter its eighth year. “UNICEF is seeking almost $1.3 billion to support 6.9 million Syrian children inside Syria and those living as refugees in neighbouring countries. “Working with partners and with the support of donors, in 2018 UNICEF aims to: – Provide 35.7 million people with access to safe water; – Reach 8.9 million children with formal or non-formal basic education; – Immunize 10 million children against measles; – Provide psychosocial support to over 3.9 million children; – Treat 4.2 million children with severe acute malnutrition. “In the first ten months of 2017, as a result of UNICEF’s support: – 29.9 million people were provided with access to safe water; – 13.6 million children were vaccinated against measles; – 5.5 million children accessed some form of education; – 2.5 million children were treated for severe acute malnutrition; – 2.8 million children accessed psycho-social support.”[myad]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once more injected the sum of $210 million into various segments of the inter-bank market. A statement from the apex bank said that at today, Monday’s trading, the bank offered the sum of $100,000,000 as wholesale interventions and allocated the sum of $55 million to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) forex window. The statement said that the customers requiring forex for Business/Personal Travel Allowances, tuition and medical fees, among others, got an allocation of $55 million. This is even as the Acting Director in the Corporate Communications Department of the apex bank, Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the sales. He said that the bank would sustain its interventions in the foreign exchange market, even as he expressed optimism that the value of the naira will continue to spike in the face of accretion to the foreign reserves and the attendant reduction in the country’s import bill. Okorafor, who attributed the stability in the market to the CBN’s transparency and cooperation of authorized dealers, called on all dealers to continue to play by the rule, as the CBN would not hesitate to sanction any erring bank or dealer. Meanwhile, the naira continued to maintain its stable run against major currencies around the globe, exchanging for N362/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today, Monday, January 29.[myad]
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once more injected the sum of $210 million into various segments of the inter-bank market.