FG partners WHO on electronic waste exposure on child, public health

The Federal Ministry of Health has partnered with the World Health Organisation to strengthen stakeholders’ capacity to halt impact of electronic waste exposure on child and public health in Nigeria.
This was the thrust of the ongoing National Stakeholders’ Workshop on Prevention of Impact of Electronic Waste on Child Health in Abuja.
The Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire, called for more political commitment from stakeholders towards reversing this trend, saying the country had enough laws and policies to curb the negative impact of electronic waste management.
Ehanire, represented by Dr Shuaibu Bonji, Director, Climate Change and Environmental Health, said discarded and obsolete electronic equipment was becoming a worldwide problem.
“Disposing E-waste safely and securely was important for everyone, the issue of E-waste across the world today including Nigeria, electronic and electrical device have become indispensable in our daily lives.
“The dangers posed by improper disposal of E-waste on the environment ultimately have impacts on human beings, the health effects of these toxins on human includes; birth defects which are irreversible.
“The brain, heart, kidney and other sensory organs can also be damaged, there is an urgent need for all stakeholders to take prompt actions,’’ he said.
He added that the ministry was optimistic that recommendations from the meeting would serve as a veritable tool for advocacy towards changing the narrative of poor e-waste management.
Dr Edwin Isotu-Edeh, National Consultant, Public Health and Environment, representing WHO Nigeria Country Representative, said the meeting would raise awareness on the magnitude of e-waste exposure to human and health.
According to him, this will set the country on a path to have a roadmap on data collection on e-waste sites in the three pilot states of Kano, Lagos and Rivers.
“This will show the low awareness and unpleasant practices.
“All of these data will assess the readiness of the health system to respond to the issue of e-waste as it affects public and child health.
“It will also know what exposures to toxins and chemical affects the nation.
“The television you use in your house, mobile phones have some dangerous chemical in them, when you throw them in the dustbin and it is not properly managed.
“Some people go to pick them up, remove somethings out of them.
“Those dangerous chemicals may damage peoples’ health, affect their lungs, organs, and make it difficult for children to have good memory, affect the immune system of everyone on that chain.
“The unused battery that people remove from their cars should not be disposed indiscriminately, they should be properly managed, and now is the time to take the actions,’’ he said.
Dr Livinus Nwankwo, representative of the Ministry of Environment, said electrical and electronic waste was massive in Nigeria, saying its impact was grave to public health and wellbeing of children, as they were the most vulnerable.
“The Federal Executive Council had approved restricted importation of e-waste into the country, as we speak, we have trained Nigeria Customs Service on how to identify e-waste at our entry points.
“We have partnered with so many organisations to curb the effect and impact of e-waste into the country.
“Although we allow importation of some used electronic wastes in order to bridge the digital gap, if the policy come into place, I know that will curb the inflow of used items.
“When we do this, the age limit of these equipment will be placed so that those who do not make it are not imported into the country’’.
He expressed hope that the stakeholders’ collaboration would go a long way to address the menace.
Dr Baba Mohammed, Registrar, Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), expressed optimism that the workshop was an avenue to mitigate the impact of climate change in the country.
He said the proposed Environmental Health Management Information System would also be a platform for effective collection and management of data to assess and proffer solutions to e-waste in Nigeria.
“The Environmental Health Management Information System will be a system where all environmental parameters will be reported from grassroots to the Federal, this template would also be done in collaboration with WHO,’’he said. (NAN)

Congestion: Lagos seeks collaboration on waterways transportation

Lagos State Government is seeking for Public and Private collaboration to foster growth and investment in the waterways transportation in order to reduce traffic congestion in the state.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state disclosed this during the Lagos Waterways Investment Summit organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in Lagos.

The summit was the maiden edition put together by Future Cities Nigeria (FCN) and LASWA, with a theme. “Lagos State Transportation: Transformation and Investment Opportunities”.

Sanwo-Olu said that areas of investment required by the private sector included the provision of water transportation (passengers, car and cargo), construction of infrastructure and management, technical partnership and consultancy, financing and provision of logistics.

He said that the state covers 1,171 square kilometres of Nigeria’s land mass, 40 per cent is water, with lagoons and creeks covering 22 per cent.

Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mr Ope George, the Special Adviser, Office of Public-Private Partnership, said that successful partnership with the private sector in waterways would bring positive change to the state’s  socio-economic status.

The governor noted that the state government had made some interventions in the waterways sector, which would further boost the enabling environment for the private sector.

According to him, that the Lagos State Ferry Service (LAGFERRY) ferried members of the national soccer team, the Super Eagles, to Porto Novo on March 26, bears a bold testimony to this vast potential.

He noted that the state is the most populous and the engine-room of its business and commercial activities, housing headquarters of many giants in the financial and industrial sectors.

The Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investments to Sanwo-Olu, Mrs Solape Hammond, said the state promised to identify and promote genuine and specific foreign direct investment on waterways in the state.

Hammond said the state would always serve as a ‘business ombudsman’ that helps investors and the local business community navigate government bureaucracy.

She noted that the state would also act as a one-stop shop for investors intending to invest in Lagos State, thereby promoting private, civil and development sector partnership.

Hammond said it was an incontrovertible fact that Lagos derived its age-long excellence in significant measure from the worthy contribution of the private investment to its socio-economic development.

“We assure our potential investors that your investments are safe-Fitch international just improved our rating from AA+ to AAA long term for fiscal red pins,’’ she said.

The General Manager, LASWA, Mr Damilola Emmanuel, highlighting the achievement of the state government in the waterways, said it had access 15 of the 20 local governments in the waterways.

Emmanuel said the purpose of the investment opportunities in the waterways was to provide an alternative public transportation service that was accessible and affordable to all sections of the state.

He said: “The investment opportunities will therefore compliment the efforts of the present government to combat traffic congestion on the Lagos roads.

“It will also reduce the amount of time it takes for citizens to commute especially during the peak period.

“In addition, this will also assist in poverty alleviation through increased economic activities from the provision of safe, cheap and reliable transportation,’’ he said.

Emmanuel said LASWA had adopted a ferry operators licensing framework, prioritised route had been approved and it also had a route licensing template for private investors to thrive in the waterways transport sector.

The Managing Director, National Island Waterways Authority, Mr George Moghalu, urged the state government to collaborate with the Federal Government on waterways development in the state.

Moghalu said that the partnership should be in the area of safety, sensitisation campaign for boat operators and security of waterways users.

He said the state government should also partner with NIWA in the area that would not lead to multiple taxations on the part of boat operators.

The managing director said NIWA’s doors was opened to collaborate and partner with key stakeholders to ensure that the waterways are attractive to investors and users in the state.

The Chairman House Committee on Transportation Temitope Adewale, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos Ben Llewellyn-Jones, Future Cities Nigeria (FCN) and Team Lead Kayode Khalidson were present at the event as well as representatives from the Netherlands and French embassies.(NAN)

 

Yuletide: FRSC RS 5 holds retreat on safer, crash free roads

 

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zone RS 5, has assured of safer and crash free celebrations in the zone during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The theme of the retreat is “Brainstorming for Safer Roads, Fuller Lives”. The Zone Rs 5 comprises Edo, Delta and Anambra states.

Mr Ayodele Kumapayi, Zonal Commanding Officer (ZCO) in charge of the zone, gave the assurance on Wednesday at Owa Aleiro, Delta, during a one-day Special Retreat for Commanding Officers and Heads of Operations in the zone.

Kumapayi said that participants from the zone gathered to brainstorm on how to improve on performances from previous years in line with orders from the corps headquarters.

He said it was also to know how best to have a seamless end of year special patrol and operation zero tolerance.

He said that the corps would deploy body cameras in the zone for operation zero tolerance as a major traffic corridor in the country.

“We will try as much as possible to minimize crashes with FRSC personnel on the roads across the zone. We will also be fast in clearing any obstruction on the roads,” he said.

Kumapayi called on the participants to be committed in ensuring that the 2021 operation zero tolerance was the best, devoid of crashes and lock jam.

In their remarks, the sector commanders for the zone pledged their preparedness for a free traffic in their various states.

Mr Henry Benamaisia, Edo Sector Commander, said the command would be deploying not less than 1,300 personnel for the special operations during the Yuletide.

Represented by Mr Nasir Mohammed, Sector Head of Operations, Benamaisia said the figure included both the regular and special marshals.

He said that two taskforces would be working closely with the command to clear obstruction within the state and in market places.

Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, Anambra Sector Commander, said that help areas had been mapped out by the command for early intervention during crashes.

He said the command would increase working hours, especially during the night, with special focus on the head bridges to prevent lock jam.

Mr Fatai Bakare, Head of Operations, Delta command said that the command would carry stakeholders along for free flow of traffic as well as deploy operational vehicles across the state to ensure success.

Papers presented includes, “the best approach to enhance a fruitful synergy with stakeholders” and “How to make 2021 Operations Zero Tolerance a Memorable One” aside others. (NAN)

Lawmakers visit Lagos courts, call for N200bn intervention fund for judiciary

 

The chairman House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Onofiok Luke, have decried the state of Nigeria’s Judiciary sector.

According to him, the judiciary sector is being plagued by poor funding and needs N100bn - N200bn special intervention fund to meet its competing demands and challenges.

Hon. Luke made the call during an oversight visit, with some of his members to the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and National Industrial Court.

Hon. Luke Onofiok addressing newsmen during House of Reps members visit to Lagos courts. Photo: Tobi Bolashodun Source: Original

The team, who visited the three Lagos courts stated that the government must provide better living and working conditions for judicial officers in Nigeria.

While speaking to  journalists at the start of his visit, Hon. Luke said:

"In the course of advocacy, we decided to come on an oversight visit in Lagos to better the living and working conditions of judicial staff, make for a quick dispensation of justice and good environments for litigants. When we see challenges during our visit, we will take them back to the committee and then make our recommendations to the House.

"We don't want to sit in Abuja and assume things, we want to come down to Lagos and see things for ourselves."

Shortly after making their first stop at the Court of Appeal, Hon. Luke expressed pleasure at the retrofitting spotted at one of the courtrooms of the court.

He said: "As we look at 2022 budget, we are going to lay emphasis on retrofitting of court, this is something really good. We appreciate the NJC, the president of the Court of Appeal and the CJN, I wish we can have the finances to have this across the nation."

Hon. Luke also spoke about the state of unfinished building projects for judicial staff which according to him, needs funds for completion.

"With what we have seen on ground, we consider primarily and it is imperative that we have to create an enabling environment for the judicial officers. Enabling environment at their workplace and enabling environment at their residents. I don't think anyone of us will want to reside here.

"We have seen it and we are going to take it into consideration at the committee and we are going to make our recommendation to the House at plenary. We are going to see what we can do so that this is added to the 2022 budget. We have started advocacy and we will continue to do that.

"We have been asking and pleading for an intervention fund for the judiciary. If we have an intervention fund, we will have better residents for our judicial officers, we will have our courts retrofitted.

"There is no way we could as a committee have adequate input or know where to make adjustments without seeing the project of the judiciary firsthand, so we decided to embark on an oversight visit to judicial bodies under the jurisdiction of the committee," Hon. Luke said.

The chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary and his team also made a stop at the ongoing building site of the new Federal High Court before making a final stop at the National Industrial Court.

After inspecting the new court complex under construction, Hon. Luke said:

"Earlier, we were at the court of appeal and now we are here in the new building of the Federal High Court, the completion of this project is at the heart of the nation's judiciary.

"If we can have an intervention fund for the entertainment industry or if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) can have an intervention fund for the Agric sector, there is a need for a special intervention fund for the judiciary in the sum of N100 billion or N200 billion.

“The last time there was a review of the salaries of the judicial workers in Nigeria was about 13 years ago. If we are asking them not to be corrupt, though I am not saying poverty is an excuse to be corrupt, they must be well taken care of because we are all buying from the same market.

“With what we have seen on the ground in Lagos, we are committed to improving the administration of justice in Nigeria, the House under the Honorable Speak, Femi Gbajabiamila, is also committed to judicial reforms.

"But most importantly, the judiciary needs an intervention fund, if we want to fix the judiciary to be where we expect it to be, then there is a need for an intervention fund. Not only to take care of infrastructures, but to take care of the welfare, emoluments, entitlements, and salaries of the judiciary officers, it is nothing to write home about.

"We must equip them so they would be satisfied and discharge their duties effectively. Look at this building, work started since 2011 but we are looking at finishing it by 2022, if we have had funds, we won't have stayed on this project for too long."

Also speaking to journalists, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Emmanuel Gakko, revealed that the new court complex under construction would be completed by March 2022.

According to him, the building which started in 2011 was about 81 percent completed, and that the contractors had promised to deliver the project unfailingly by the first quarter of next year.

Gakko, however, thank the federal government, the National Assembly, and the NJC for the support they gave to the project, which he maintained would improve the productivity of the judges and other support staff.

Don’t expect anything more from Buhari - Obasanjo tells Nigerians

 

Nigerians have been advised not to have any more expectations from President Muhammadu Buhari again.

This advice was given by former president Olusegun Obasanjo who spoke at a retreat in federal capital territory, Abuja.

According to Obasanjo, Nigerians who still believe that Buhari has anything to offer the country again should perish such thoughts.

He says expecting Buhari to do anything more than what he has done is akin to beating a dead horse.

Obasanjo and Buhari. Photo: Femi Adesina Source: Facebook

Obasanjo made this known when he spoke at a retreat on inclusive security organized by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa.

He said:

“The truth is this: President Buhari has done his best. That is what he can do. If we are expecting anything more than what he has done or what he is doing, that means we’re whipping a dead horse and there is no need.

“Then, where do we go from here? We cannot fold our hands. I believe that is part of what we’re doing here and what we continue to be doing. How do we prepare for post-Buhari? Buhari has done his best. My prayer is that God will spare his life to see his term through.

“But what should we do to make post-Buhari better than what we have now? That is our responsibility now, because it concerns all of us.”

Going further, Obasanjo said that military action alone would not effectively end the insurgency in the country.

He added:

“People talk of political will, but I talk of political action. Political will is not enough. It must be matched by political action.

“The problem of insurgency will not go away, if all we are using is the ‘stick’ (military action). We may suppress it, and keep it down a bit, but we have to use ‘carrot and stick’ together to effectively tackle the problems."

Brace up for a challenging year, IGP Tells Police Officers

A call has gone out to police officers in the country to brace up for a challenging time ahead in the coming year. 

Inspector General of Police Usman Alikali Baba, on Monday, urged strategic police managers in the Nigerian Police Force to brace up for the internal security challenges that the year 2022 will present.

The IGP emphasized that 2022 would likely be a challenging year as it is the year that precedes the 2023 general elections, saying that the force would experience threats from different political areas.

The IGP also started that the outgoing year was a very challenging one for the police force as it dealt with increased kidnap cases, theft, banditry, prison breaks and other organized crimes.

He further said that the police force would be faced with a huge task in 2022 as it would fight traditional crimes and political threats.

While appreciating the force members for their successes in the outgoing year, he, however, urged them to prepare and reinforce as the coming year will be faced with a lot of insecurity challenges.

Meanwhile, not less than 10 people were killed when individuals suspected to be bandits attacked Pinau town in Wase local government area of Plateau state. Others sustained injuries of varying degrees on Sunday evening.

The attack occurred shortly after villagers finished from the weekly community market where they had gone to buy and sell. Hamman Sale, a member of the community who confirmed the incident, revealed that the bandits were from Zamfara state.

The spokesperson of the Plateau state police command, Gabriel Ubah, who is an assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.

The Nigeria Police headquarters in Abia state has been reportedly attacked by some yet to be identified gunmen operating in the state.