Category: News

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu – Nnewi

Oba Community in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State, on Thursday, raised the alarm over alleged plans by some individuals in the Anambra State House of Assembly to scuttle investigations on illegal sand mining at the defunct Oba Airport site, threatening the community.

The Regent of Oba community, Prince Noel Ezenwa, while addressing newsmen, expressed satisfaction with the effort so far made by the State House Assembly,

which ordered the arrest and bringing to the floor of the Anambra State House, the sand miner involved in the alleged illegal sand mining, but said the community was alarmed that some lawmakers are working tirelessly to sweep the matter under the carpet for pecuniary interest.

READ ALSO: Peace in Anambra community after years of royal battle

“We must commend the State House of Assembly for the good work they started on this matter by arresting and bringing the culprit to the floor of the House, for questioning on the illegal sand mining at the defunct Oba Airport site, threatening the existence of our community, but we must say that we are disappointed with the shameful efforts of the lawmaker trying to scuttle the investigations.

“Oba community had repeatedly pleaded with the proprietor of Oyotraco, Mr Osita Agina, who is also from Oba, to stop his illegal sand mining activities threatening the entire community, but he ignored us

“We wrote to the Minister of Environment, Mrs Sharon Okeazor and the Idemili North and South Federal Constituency representative in the House of Representative, Hon. Obinna Chidioka and the two visited the site and were alarmed at the devastation caused by the erosion that resulted from the sand mining activities of Agina, and they promised to talk to the state government, to stop him, but nothing came out of their visits.

“We, therefore, petitioned the Anambra State House of Assembly and they discussed the matter at the floor of the House, invited him several times, but he ignored them, then the lawmakers through a motion raised by their Chief Whip,

READ ALSO: Anambra 2021: No individual can produce PDP governorship candidate — Chairman

Ordered the Anambra State Commissioner of Police to arrest and produce him to the House, an order that was announced in Anambra State Broadcasting Service, ABS.

“He was, however, arrested by the Police on Monday 31st August 2020 and brought to the House of Assembly on Tuesday, 1 September 2020, but even before he was brought to the House Assembly for questioning, some people went for his bail, but the Police refused, demanding for a letter from the State Assembly, since, his arrest was on their instruction.

“We gathered that Agina is using his lawmaker friend in one of the House Committee in the State House of Assembly to ensure that the matter was swept under the carpet.

“We are therefore appealing to Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Uche Okafor and the Chairman House Committee on Environment, Hon. Eddy Ibuzo ensures that the State lawmakers complete their investigation and come out with a decision on the matter.

“Anambra State House of Assembly cannot be working for a soft landing for somebody who is breaking the law and engaging in activities that are threatening the existence of his own community

“We also call on the Minister of Environment Mrs Ikeazor and Hon. Chidioka, who incidentally is from Obosi, to act now because the erosion being caused by the illegal sand mining is fast eating into Obosi.”

Vanguard

By Joseph Erunke

AS government prepares to reopen schools in the country, there are indications that colleges of education may not reopen soon.

The indication came following a directive by the College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Thursday that lecturers begin preparation for a possible strike which it explained, was meant to address some pending issues with the government.

The body,at a press conference addressed Thursday, in Abuja,directed members to immediately withdraw their services until pending issues it has with the government were addressed.

Addressing newsmen at the event attended by the executive members of the union,COEASU president, Nuhu Ogirima,claimed that the government failed to release the outstanding N441 billion resulting from the received needs assessment of the federal colleges of education.

According to him,the government has disappointed Nigerians given that in the education sector,almost all the unions are embarking on strike over poor funding and neglect.

The COEASU president regretted that many correspondences sent to draw the attention of the federal government to attend to the demands of the federal colleges of education in the country failed.

According to him, the development has left the union with no option than to begin a series of actions which will lead to full blown nationwide strike as soon as school reopen.

He said that the National Executive Committee of the union will be meeting to approve further actions to compel government to respond their demands which he said included poor funding and neglect of infrastructure of the institutions.

ALSO READ: PACJA warns big oil firms against plans to flood Africa with plastics

Ogirima,who claimed there was inadequate funding of federal colleges of education in the country, noted that the whole allocation to colleges of education relative to other sister institutions very low,adding that allocations to the colleges of education 2006 and 2008 were very low.

He said:”While the relative huge allocation to the university sub-sector in the period can be understood for obvious reasons of their enormous responsibilities and quite divergent services, that of the polytechnics, with similar conditions of service and related infrastructure with colleges of education remains higher till date.

The COEASU chairman, who also said the needs assessment of the public colleges of education was conducted and a report made in 2014,added that the initial cost implication of the exercise was over N900 billion.

Noting that the implication of the report impacted on all aspects of the infrastructure of public-owned colleges of education,he said the current administration requested for a review in 2017, which was done and the reviewed report, with the cost implication of N456 billion was submitted to the federal government in the first quarter of 2018.

“The union had to embark on another agitation in 2018 before a paltry N15bn was pledged as a palliative.

He regretted that nothing has been released by the federal government more than two years after the commitment was willingly made,.

COEASU President also alleged that federal government has been manipulating academic staff salary with “the imposition of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the unilateral stoppage of payment of academic staff on sabbatical leave, imposition of non=negotiated Personal Income Tax, to overdeduction of payable amount of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)”.

He added:”Other impropriety which the IPPIS has engendered is the non-remittance of third-party deductions especially for staff cooperative societies and the statutory union check-off dues [in contravention of ILO Convention and its own Laws.

These recurring challenges engendered by IPPIS reaffirms the Union’s earlier conviction against the implementation of the pay platform in COEs, as a tertiary institution, and thus strengthens her resolve to remain opposed to it. Alternatively, a pay model consistent with tertiary education administration and management should be developed for the tertiary education sub-sector.

“From the foregoing, it is quite evident that the Union’s agitation is an existential struggle geared towards revitalization of the COE system. As the main entity for the training of the teachers and managers of the foundation level of the nation’s education system, the sustained neglect of COEs portends a grave implication for the development of the entire educational system.

“So, the union hereby formally declares that all options are open for an industrial action against FGN and some notorious state governments. The public should take notice that the NEC sha|| reconvene shortly to unveil the series of measures that the union shall take towards bailing the COE system from the doldrums and further decadence inherent in the wanton neglect by government.”

VANGUARD

By Vincent Ujumadu – Awka

Arrangements have been concluded for the takeoff of Onitsha economic empowerment programme being facilitated by indigenes of the commercial town.

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, who announced the institution of the programme said it is part of a strategy for medium to long term sustainable intervention in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

A statement in Onitsha said the programme would be implemented under the auspices of the Onitsha Advancement Foundation (OAF) incorporated by the Onitsha Traditional Council.

READ ALSO: Onitsha: UNIZIK business school begins research on declining apprenticeship 

According to the statement, a panel of Onitsha experts had been charged by Igwe Achebe to map out strategies to support the struggling and budding entrepreneurs to weather the COVID-19 storm.

A statement issued from the royal palace said: “The OAF has been restructured with an expanded Board of Directors, made up of part-time members, all highly experienced, hardworking and dedicated Onitsha indigenes.

“The Advisory Board comprised members of the Onitsha Traditional Council and constituent groups and workgroups of Onitsha professionals focused on implementing specific aspects of the Economic Empowerment Programme.

“Three initiatives spanning business learning, technological skills acquisition and financial intermediation will serve as the arrowhead of the Economic Empowerment Programme.

“They are the Onitsha Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre (OLEC), Ado Business Incubation Centre (ABIC) and a Microfinance Institution/Microfinance Bank (MFI/MFB)”.

According to the statement, OLEC, which is headed by Professor Alex Ikeme will focus on creating a passion for learning about businesses and how to create and grow small businesses, while ABIC which will serve as a catalyst tool to help new technology start-ups to grow and develop, is led by Mr Charles Emembolu, an information technology expert.

It said the MFI/MFB, which will offer financial resources to low/medium income populations, in addition to targeting financial services at self-employed, micro and small businesses generally overlooked in the society, is headed by Mr Nnamdi Anammah, a financial expert.

READ ALSO: Onitsha trader, over 1,000 customers win big in Access Bank’s DiamondXtra quarterly draw

“The campaign is designed to drive a new work/study/life ethic for Onitsha indigenes, which is in tune with the times and able to power a rebirth of thrift, industry, achievement and pride on a global scale.

“It will also prepare a significant number of persons from the community with vital foundational principles to key into and avail themselves of other elements of the empowerment programme.

“There is also a plan to establish a health and well-being workgroup that will determine the modalities for the community’s basic healthcare programme.’’

“We should not relent since we can now clearly see the great possibilities that lie ahead as we work toward lifting the poor in Onitsha out of poverty

“This exercise has called for substantial hard work as we progress from the Onitsha Community COVID-19 Response Programme (OCCRT), which focuses on education and enlightenment,” the statement added.

Vanguard

The convict said he would bomb National Assembly.

By Harris Emanuel – Uyo

Elder statesman and former member of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Anietie Okon, has warned that Nigeria will be doomed if the National Assembly passes the Water Resources  Bill into law.

According to him, the bill was a deliberate attempt at recolonizing the country by the Fulani hegemony and oligarchs.

He, therefore, advised the National Assembly to jettison the bill so as to avoid the impending conflagration likely to engulf the country.

He said, “Buhari is trying to get the bill by stealth and that is the lowest form this government can fall to. This shows the lack of empathy for people other than the president’s people. It is obvious that they are casting some eyes of evil possession over the waters.”

READ ALSO: CAPPA, AUPCTRE urge FG to dump ‘anti-people water bill’

“When you claim a river, you claim itw banks because this is the most fertile portions in the country. They want to use his people, the Fulani people,  but that will be the end for his people, for Nigeria. I dare him to send the National Assembly to pass that bill of iniquity.

“Anybody depending on this Assembly to stand on its own, just wait for other non- Fulani members to make their own noise and take the artificial majority due to British rule and pass the bill, but I bet them, they should not test the patience of our people too far.

“When you believe that your government owns any piece of land and rights to deploy them anywhere, then you are in for a surprise.

“This is a backdoor approach to reintroduce RUGA, but RUGA itself will die.  The national labour leaders have spoken. Leaders of PANDEF, UMBC have also spoken. Leaders of the South East have spoken through Ohaneze and other groups and that the President wants to dare the people and we are going to be ready for them.

“As I said, it is a law of impunity and it has to be stopped. Every member of the National Assembly has it as a duty to stop the conflagration that will follow this rubbish,” Senator Okon added.

Vanguard

N-Power

By Joseph Erunke – Abuja

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, Thursday, assured Nigerians that the selection process in the N-Power Batch C will be transparent.

This was as she said the government was working out modalities with a view to integrating beneficiaries of the batches A and B exited in June and July respectively.

The minister, who spoke at the interactive forum with state focal persons for the Social Investment Programmes held in Abuja, said she has since given approval for the payment of stipends for the exited beneficiaries of batches A and B up to the month of June 2020 including that of the independent monitors.

She said:”As we renew our commitment to the service of humanity, I will like to seize this opportunity to once again state that we have successfully exited Batch A and B of the N-Power beneficiaries in June and July respectively and we are still working towards ensuring a transition plan that will further engage or absorb them into other programmes.

READ ALSO: N-POWER: FG approves payment of stipends to exited beneficiaries

“We have also received over 5 million applications from proposed N-Power Batch C and we are currently in the process of selecting the qualified beneficiaries coming into the programme.

“I assure all the applicants and Nigerians that the selection process will be transparent.

“Furthermore, I wish to reiterate that I have given approval for the payment of stipends for the exited beneficiaries of batches A and B up to the month of June 2020 including that of the independent monitors.”

According to Farouq, “Also, the final payment of stipend for Batch B is almost ready for transmission to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for final checks and payment.”

” I, therefore, appeal for patience and understanding from beneficiaries omitted for payment in previous months and those in batch B who are to get their final payment,” she added.

While thanking focal SIP’s focal persons for what they are doing, the minister said she was” confident that together the Federal and State Governments can change the narrative for people of concern in our midst by not just showing up but showing up fast with relief and support when disasters occur and more importantly providing durable solutions for all persons of concern.”

Farouq, while explaining that,”This program was intentionally designed to bring the SIP focal persons into the weeklong activities of the first anniversary of the ministry”, further explained that “the focal persons are appointed by the state governors to oversee the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government namely, N -Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (Geep), Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP). ”

She spoke further: “While you are appointed by the State governors and are directly answerable to them, you work closely with the ministry and serve as liaison officers through which details, processes, and information regarding the programmes are passed and managed.

“You are therefore critical to the implementation and success of the programmes.

“We, therefore, deemed it necessary to specially invite you as the field persons implementing the programs at the grassroots level. This presents us with the opportunity to interact and chart a way forward for the programmes. ”

According to her,”This event is therefore put together to appreciate the efforts of each one of you. I am aware of the sacrifices and commitment you put in to ensure the smooth implementation of the different programmes and I commend your efforts.”

“There is no doubt that the Social Investment Programmes are critical components of the present Administration’s activities and are vehicles through which His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari‘s vision of lifting 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years will be achieved,” she said.

She explained that “These programmes are also very important to the fulfillment of the vision and mandate of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development.”

” The Ministry by its mandate is positioned to cater to the needs of those affected by disasters, humanitarian crisis, social challenges, and all people of concern who are often at the bottom of the economic and social pyramid,” she added.

The minister spoke further: “Since my assumption of office, I have remained focused on ensuring the sustainability and improvement of the programmes bearing in mind the high impact value they have to teem Nigerians whose lives have been significantly disrupted as a result of the present humanitarian and economic situation in the country.

“It is against this background that I urge every one of you to continue to give in your best to ensure the lives of those we are called to serve are made better.

“We must not lose sight of the fact that each one of the vulnerable persons is not mere numbers or statistics but real people with dreams, hopes, aspirations and a desire to live decent lives in peace and safety.

“Sadly, due to no fault of theirs, many have become victims of disasters and humanitarian crisis leaving them at the mercy of others for the basic requirements to live dignified lives.”

She told the state focal persons,”I am aware that some of you have expressed a desire for more robust communication and engagements between the Ministry and the States.”

” I have taken note of this and assure you that the Ministry remains open to sharing and discussing with you with a view to improving on our service delivery and impact of the programe.

“It is to this end that I held a meeting with you last year and have given audience to your representatives on different occasions to discuss matters affecting programmes with a view to sharing ideas and developing blueprints that will improve the quality of all the programmes.

“I am looking forward to the afternoon session which will provide a one-on-one review of the programme implementation, challenges, and way forward,” she said.

READ ALSO:Over 5 million applied for N-Power Batch-C — FG

She thanked them for what she called their “support during the Government’s COVID 19 response which leveraged the structure of the social investment programs to support the implementation of the presidential directive related to Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program and the Conditional Cash Transfer. ”

“Today’s meeting is a demonstration of the Ministry’s consideration of you as important stakeholders that can contribute to the success of the Ministry in delivering social investments.

“May i appreciate the support and buy-in of the Executive Governors and my colleague the Honourable Minister of the FCT towards the successful implementation of these programmes in your States and the FCT. I solicit your continued support for the improvement and expansion of the social investment programmes.

“While we have made considerable progress a lot more needs to be done to support poor and vulnerable Nigerians.  We will forge ahead as we put in place humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of National and International humanitarian interventions.

“As we continue to ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, I am optimistic that with your support, we can and will make a difference in the lives of poor and socially excluded Nigerians and change the humanitarian landscape in Nigeria,” she said.

Vanguard

 *Prepare for imminent industrial action,it tells members

 *Claims that FG in deficit of N441 billion funding

 By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA-AS government prepares to reopen schools shut down following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, there are indications that colleges of education may not reopen soon.

The indication came following a directive by the College of Education Academic Staff Union,COEASU, yesterday that lecturers begin preparation for a possible strike which it explained, was meant to address some pending issues with the government.

The body,at a press conference addressed Thursday, in Abuja,directed members to immediately withdraw their services until pending issues it has with the government were addressed.

Addressing newsmen at the event attended by the executive members of the union,COEASU president, Nuhu Ogirima,claimed that the government failed to release the outstanding  N441 billion resulting from the received needs assessment of the  federal colleges of education.

READ ALSOGerman mother kills own five children, throws self in front of train

According to him,the government has disappointed Nigerians given that in the education sector,almost all the unions are embarking on strike over poor funding and neglect.

The COEASU president regretted that many correspondences sent to draw the attention of the federal government to attend to the demands of the federal colleges of education in the country failed.

According to him, the development has left the union with no option than to begin a series of actions which will lead to full blown nationwide strike as soon as school reopen.

He said that the National Executive Committee of the union will be meeting to approve further actions to compel government to respond their demands which he said included poor funding and neglect of infrastructure of the institutions.

Ogirima,who claimed there was inadequate funding of federal colleges of education in the country, noted that  the whole allocation to colleges of education relative to other sister institutions very low,adding that allocations to the colleges of education 2006 and 2008 were very low.

Hear him:”While the relative huge allocation to the university sub-sector in the period can be understood for obvious reasons of their enormous responsibilities and quite divergent services, that of the polytechnics, with similar conditions of service and related infrastructure with colleges of education remains higher till date.

The COEASU chairman, who also said the needs assessment of the public colleges of education was conducted and a report made in 2014,added that the initial cost implication of the exercise was over N900 billion.

Noting that the implication of the report impacted on all aspects of the infrastructure of public-owned colleges of education,he said the current administration requested for a review in 2017, which was done and the reviewed report, with the cost implication of N456 billion was submitted to the federal government in the first quarter of 2018.

“The union had to embark on another agitation in 2018 before a paltry N15bn was pledged as a palliative.

He regretted that nithing has been released by the federal government more than two years after the commitment was willingly made,.

COEASU President also  alleged that federal government has been manipulating academic staff salary with “the imposition of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and  the unilateral stoppage of payment of academic staff on sabbatical Leave, imposition of non=negotiated Personal Income Tax, to overdeduction of payable amount of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)”.

He added:”Other impropriety which the IPPIS has engendered is the non-remittance of third-party deductions especially for staff cooperative societies and the statutory union check-off dues [in contravention of ILO Convention and its own Laws. These recurring challenges engendered by IPPIS reaffirms the Union’s earlier conviction against the implementation of the pay platform in COEs, as a tertiary institution, and thus strengthens her resolve to remain opposed to it. Alternatively, a pay model consistent with tertiary education administration and management should be developed for the tertiary education sub-sector.

“From the foregoing, it is quite evident that the Union’s agitation is an existential struggle geared towards revitalization of the COE system. As the main entity for the training of the teachers and managers of the foundation level of the nation’s education system, the sustained neglect of COEs portends a grave implication for the development of the entire educational system.

“So, the union hereby formally declares that all options are open for an industrial actionagainst FGN and some notorious state governments.The public should take notice that the NEC sha|| reconvene shortly to unveil the series of measures that the union shall take towards bailing the COE system from the doldrums and further decadence inherent in the wanton neglect by government.”

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

SHORTLY after a seemingly cutting-edge consultation between Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Petroleum (State), Chief Timipre Sylva and Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, July 29, at Abuja, over renewed agitations and threats by oil and gas-bearing communities of Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa ethnic nationalities in Delta State, protesting under development and marginalisation, to shut down oil facilities in their domains, many were optimistic of a quick resolution.

Deacon Otuaro came with the glimmering hope, as he said the Federal Government was prepared to dialogue with the angry communities and urged them to wait until after the Id el Kabir holiday for discourse. The holiday ended July 31 and the succeeding month, August, ends tomorrow (Monday) with no word from the Federal Government.

Otuaro’s diplomacy

With inescapable internal grumblings, Otuaro, a conflict resolution expert, pleaded with the communities, penultimate Sunday to show “little more patience”, as the federal government was putting in place mechanism to ensure a “result-oriented dialogue.”

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Kosin Bulou, he said: ”First, the Federal Government has clearly stated it would not allow the ongoing agitations to escalate into bigger problems. That was the take of the Abuja meeting I was invited to.”

“So, representatives of the oil communities will be invited and discussions will hold in stages for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.

“Only last week, the federal government sought information from the Delta State government that will assist the process, while giving indication it was putting together its relevant ministries, departments and agencies that will be part of the engagement”.

“So, I assure that our wait will not be long or endless. Like I have said before, a result-oriented dialogue is a process, not an event and preparations for same have begun. If I was not myself convinced, I would not sustain my appeals to the communities.

ALSO READ: Niger Delta agitation: Osinbajo, Sylva, Otuaro meet in Aso Rock

Your intents tactless, treachery — Clark

However, few days after Otuaro and Sylva conferred with Osinbajo and before the deputy governor’s plea for more patience, Leader, South-South, and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Senator Edwin Clark, questioned the reason for what he described as a “closed-door meeting”of the trio.

His words: “The action, whatever the intentions were, is not only thoughtless, but is also a betrayal of trust to say the least, and likely to stir up unnecessary tension in the region. This again shows the creepy attitude of this administration, and its practice of exclusion, and non-committal to issues of the Niger Delta.

“Majority of the laudable pronouncements and promises made by the Acting President during his visit to the region, and subsequent engagements with the flagship, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), have remained, largely, mere wishful assertions.

“Instead of the Vice President reverting to the leadership of PANDEF, he now holds meeting with the Minister of State(Petroleum), Timipre Sylva and the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro to the exclusion of the leaders with whom he has been working,” he said.

Disquiet

Back in 2016, November 1 precisely, PANDEF, Clark led monarchs, leaders and stakeholders from all parts of Niger Delta to President Muhammadu Buhari, and submitted a16-point demand by the Niger-Delta region, but almost four years after, the federal government has practically abandoned discussions with the group. PANDEF demands encompass key regional demands, but not the specifics from separate oil communities.

Attack

However, the misapprehension rocketed, Wednesday, when the national chairman of PANDEF and former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd.), took a potshot at Otuaro’s boss, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

Tactically asking Niger Delta governors not to allow Federal Government to use them to truncate genuine agitations of oil-producing communities and ethnic nationalities, Nkanga proceeded at a virtual meeting of stakeholders of the region to tell off Okowa.

National Publicity, PANDEF, Hon. Ken Robinson, in a statement, quoted him thus:   “The call became necessary following the disturbing way and manner the Delta State government has been conducting itself over recent developments in the state – where some oil-producing communities and groups, i.e Ijaws of Gbaramatu and Ogulagha, Itsekiris, Urhobos, Ukwuanis, Isokos, and Ndokwas, issued ultimatums and threats to disrupt oil and gas operations in their areas, due to federal government’s continued indifference towards the development of the region.”

Nothing yet from Delta govt intervention – Gbenekama

Spokesman of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, which is one of the agitating oil communities, Chief Godspower Gbenekama: “After PANDEF visit to Buhari in November 2016, what has happened to Niger Delta, nothing substantial has virtually happened in areas PANDEF wanted Federal Government to come in, is it in the area of infrastructure, education, name it? That is not to say, however, hat PANDEF is not doing its best.

“But PANDEF should also know that there are some specific needs of the people that they can tell the rnment that this is the particular thing they want in their area despite the fact that it had articulated the needs of the region,” a founding member of the regional group asserted.

“On the intervention of Delta State government in our protest, a responsible state government would not allow the agitating oil communities to go asunder or shut down oil facilities as threatened without any intervention, but we are right now not satisfied with the intervention of the state government,” he said.

…nobody arm twisting us

Gbenekama, nevertheless, clarified: “Sincerely and in fact, when they (state government) came to us, we told them that if you bring the federal government to the table, we will listen to you, but that the state government’s intervention is stopping us from continuing with our agitation is not true. We are looking at some of the issues and other internal dynamics before us. We know what we are doing,” he said.

We have no grouse with PANDEF – Otuaro

But in a sharp reaction to the allegation of Okowa subduing agitation by the communities, deputy governor, Otuaro, told Sunday Vanguard: “Senator Ifeanyi Okowa government is a people-oriented government that holds very strongly to the phenomenon of dialogue and anything that affects our people.

“We are not antithetical to anybody raising his voice on matters that affect us, but we think that we can have a win-win situation in creating a platform for our people to dialogue with the Federal Government on their concerns.

“We respect the leadership of PANDEF because it constitutes of critical stakeholders of Niger Delta and they are senior citizens of this region. We have no problem whatsoever with PANDEF.

“But like I said, we felt that given the way the agitation was going, we have to dialogue with the federal government. This is the position of the Okowa-led government of the state,” he added.

VANGUARD

By Mathew Dadiya

Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota. The one extant family, Manidae, has three genera: Manis, Phataginus and Smutsia. Manis comprises the four species found in Asia, while Phataginus and Smutsia include two species each, all found in Sub-Saharan Africa – mostly in Nigeria.

Though many people think of them as reptiles, pangolins are actually mammals.

They are the only mammals wholly-covered in scales and use those scales to protect themselves from predators in the wild. If under threat, a pangolin will immediately curl into a tight ball and will use their sharp-scaled tails to


defend themselves.

The Pangolins are very special to human existence because they keep ants and termites population in checks

Pangolins eat ants, termites and larvae and are often known as “the scaly anteater.” Because they have no teeth, they pick up food with their sticky tongues, which can sometimes reach lengths greater than the animal’s body.

According to a research, the ants population is in hundreds of trillions and one trillion ants are to one human being. Imagine what the world could be like if this ants population is not contained by Pangolins.

Despite that, individual families and corporate organizations still spend good sums of money on insecticide just to keep these ants away from our abodes.

Perhaps, Pangolins are certainly one of the most trafficked mammals in Africa. This is due to the high demand for Pangolins in countries like China and Vietnam. Their meat is considered a delicacy and pangolin scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies. All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws. But there is still growing international illegal trade in pangolins especially in Nigeria.

Pangolins have for decades been hunted for food and traditional medicine. They are traded openly in bushmeat markets in Nigeria and other African countries. But strong demand from Asia has attracted organized criminal syndicates to set up trafficking networks in the country, making Nigeria a trafficking hub.

The increasing rates of seizures of illegal pangolins in Asia call for serious concern. A report into global trafficking of pangolins published in 2015 by TRAFFIC, an international NGO that researches and analyzes the trade in wild animals and plants, said at least 120 tonnes of pangolin parts and scales were seized by authorities worldwide between 2010 and 2015.

In early 2019,, more than 25 tonnes of pangolin scales and 2.5 tonnes of ivory have been seized by customs officials in Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore in shipments originating from Lagos, Nigeria, and another 13 tonnes of pangolin scales containers were seized by the Nigerian Customs.

Also in April, 2019, Singapore Customs and the National Parks Board seized 12.9 tonnes of pangolin scales, worth an estimated $38.7 million.

Worst of all, the Nigerians pangolins hunters and traders are ripped off – the Chinese pangolins traffickers buy them at a very cheap price sometimes less than $7 per one and sell at over $1000. They are also draining the the GDP of Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan countries where billions of pangolins are trafficked to Asia and sold at a very high high price.

A conservationist, Stephen Aina, said in Nigeria, pangolins are more prevalent in the Middle-Belt and South-West part of the country because of high concentration of ants and termites which are main food for pangolins.

Aina said, ”We have confirmed a high number of pangolin presence in Middle-Belt states like Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Niger and Taraba, where Nigeria’s largest national park Gashaka-Gumti is situated.”

He appealed to the Nigerian authority to take a drastic action against illegal trade in Pangolins, saying that Pangolins are vital to the sustenance of the nation’s ecosystem.

Tracy Richards, International Communications Officer, World Sustainable Organisation (WSO) said that the organization through its sister agencies – Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Sea has been working closely with countries globally to end the illegal trade in Pangolins with its ”Save the Pangolin Project” and other wildlife in Nigeria.

Ms Richards said that 80 percent of trafficked Pangolins are shipped from Nigeria.

She urged African countries to place heavy fine or imprisonment for anyone who hunts, poaches, or trades in Pangolin.

She noted that Africa is considered as an unexplored continent with vast biodiversity but today the continent is threatened by the activities of fishermen and wild animals poachers.

According to reports on Pangolins seizures, an estimated 116,990,233,980 pangolins were killed between 2011 and 2013, which represents only the tip of the trade.

In spite of these alarming reports, experts believe that seizures represent as little as 10 percent of the actual volume in pangolins in illegal wildlife trade.

In order to address this illegal trade on this endangered mammals that are facing extinction, there is urgent need for the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Environment, to send a bill to the National Assembly to enact or review the existing law on the protection of wildlife with a stiffer penalty for Pangolins traders.

The government should also revisit the 2016 treaty where over 180 governments announced an agreement that would end all legal trade of pangolins and further protect the species from extinction.

In June 2020, China increased protection for the native Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) to the highest level, which closed an important loophole for consumption of the species in-country.

The Chinese government also said it will no longer allow the use of pangolin scales in traditional medicine, given that an estimated 195,000 pangolins were trafficked in 2019 to China for their scales alone.

Now is the time for Nigeria and other African countries to act and ensure that the right legislation is enacted to safeguard endangered wildlife species and protect their economy from being milked away by illegal traders in wildlife.

Africa must get value for its natural endowment, there should be no room for poachers. African wildlife matters!

Written by Mathew Dadiya with support from Friends of the Earth.