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Tag: Nigeria@60

Nigeria@60: Group seeks special commission to manage 13% oil derivation, attitudinal change from Nigerians
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Worried by the growing poverty and widespread neglect of the oil producing communities of Niger Delta, a group, Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network, AKIPCON, has called for the establishment of a special commission to manage the 13 Percent derivation funds.
It has also called on Nigerians to adopt a change of attitude toward nation building, adding that Government would not be able to bring peace and justice to bear without the co-operation of the citizens.
AKIPCON President Dr Ufot Phenson who made the call in Uyo yesterday while commenting on the country’s 60th anniversary also called on the Federal Government to reverse the 13% oil derivation policy paid to the State Government adding that the governors have mismanaged the funds.
Phenson said this remained the only way to addressing the challenges of development of the real oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region.
The president pointed out that it was unconstitutional and irresponsible for the state government to collect the 13% derivation and not develop the oil producing communities while vilifying the Federal Government to being insensitive to the plight of the oil producing areas.
He lamented that the oil producing communities have remained in abject poverty after decades of gas flaring, oil spills and other environmental pollutions from oil companies with no compensation.
“Oil Producing Communities need more infrastructural development such as good roads network, pipe born water, electricity and other infrastructures since the people have suffered from alarming hydrocarbon pollution which has caused abject poverty, unemployment and frustration in the land.
“The people of the Oil Producing Communities in particular and other LGAs in Akwa Ibom State being the number one oil producing State in Nigeria needs functional health facilities close to them to be able to overcome environmental pollution arising from Exxon Mobil incessant oil spills, gas flaring, gas leakages and emissions from corked and uncorked oil wells of SPDC operating in Akwa Ibom State for decades now.” Phenson said.
He appealed to both the Federal and Akwa Ibom State Governments to urge oil companies operating in the State to pay compensation to the people for the incessant oil spills, gas flaring and emissions which have impacted the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining waters which provide means of livelihood to peasant fishermen saying this would cushion the effects of oil pollution and minimize crisis in the region.
The president noted that AKIPCON was in strong support of the agitation made to the Federal Government by Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON) for the payment of oil derivation to Oil Producing Communities.
He lamented that corruption remained on the increase in the country despite the establishment of various anti corruption agencies by the Federal Government.
According to him, the operators of those institutions alone would be unable to promote an incorruptible nation without the support of other Nigerians adding that Nigeria could only succeed as a nation if all hands could be on deck to fight the monster.
October 1, 2020
Nigeria@60; Inherited #50bn Salary Arrears Affected My Performance, Percentage salaries Over In Kogi – Gov. Bello
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
As Nigeria marks her Diamond anniversary, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello said on Tuesday that over #50bn salaries overhang inherited from his predecessors impeded the growth intention of his administration.
The governor who disclosed this during his broadcast to the state to mark this year’s 60th Independent anniversary in Lokoja promised to provide the needed governance that will move the state to the next level despite the daunting challenges posed by the Covid 19 pandemic and the devastated flooding that is affecting the state.
He said, from the secured loans, he was able to clear all the backlog of salaries, and now paying full salaries as at when due, vowing to bring the perpetrators of salary manipulations to book.
Governor Bello who used the occasion to commiserate with the families of the Petro Tanker Explosion in Felele in which no fewer than 28 persons loss their lives, promised to ensure that the circumstances of the accident would not occur again in future in the state.
“Our first term in office ended on a high note on 27th January, 2020 when our second term commenced. In-between we saw an initial misunderstanding of our methodologies, followed by grudging acceptance of our reforms and finally some open admiration for our accomplishments.”
“Our pledge is that we will continue to earn your trust by delivering strongly on our second term campaign promise to do more. No opposition, no matter how fierce or unreasonable will derail us from that objective” He assured.
The Governor who noted the overwhelming support for his government at the polls both the General Election of 2019 and Governorship Election, have deepened his faith in the masses of the state, despite fierce challenges from the federal legislators from the state and the opposition parties.
While acknowledging the feat of the APC in both the National Assembly and state Assembly Elections , urged the people to vote for the Party in the December 12, 2020 Local Government Elections.
He lamented at flood of Rivers Niger and Benue causing havoc on the state in which Nine Local Government Areas have been submerged, called on the victims to move to the camps provided by the state.
The Governor noted that the comments by the American Government on the state Governorship Election was an abuse on the sovereignty of Nigeria, described the US action as most unfair, an absolute overreach and unacceptable.
He admonished the people of the state for their reselience in the face of challenges facing the state, he however admonished them to celebrate the continued existence of the country in the last 60 years.
According to him “Every Nigerian will agree that our journey together has been a challenging odyssey. It is a credit to our unbroken will to succeed and our resilience as a nation of diverse peoples that we have made it thus far despite plethora of milestones in our history,”
October 1, 2020
Nigeria@60: Education, Agriculture, Healthcare And Economy Needs More Supports-Kano Residents.
By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.
Being tomorrow Thursday is becoming Nigeria’s Independence anniversary, Daybreak News in Kano had a chats with some Kano residents, where most of those who spoke to our correspondent disclosed that there is the needs to gives more consideration on agriculture, healthcare services, education and conducive business atmosphere that would develop the country’s economy.
Alhaji Usman Dan Gwari, a large scale farmer from Bichi local government area stated that agriculture should be given special recognition in order to ensure that Nigeria remains dependent on food for domestic consumption and for exportation to other neighboring countries which would open more opportunities to self reliance as seen in the developed nations.
Similarly, in his remark, a medical practitioner in Kano city Dr. Abdullahi Maikano said that ” in Nigeria today, we needs more progress in healthcare delivery services, and the Federal and states governments are trying their best in the provision of healthcare services at both rural and urban settlements, but the sector needs more supports because Health is very vital to all living things”. He stressed.
Furthermore, a retired principal in Kano Malam Abbas Adamu told Daybreak news that if real development is really needed, Nigeria’s education sector should be given all the necessary recognition and financial supports because without good and quality education, nothing could be achieved especially when the globe is gradually changing in the area of education.
In conclusion, an economic analyst and current affairs commentator Alhaji Shehu Garba Mainasara lamented that ” The world is now struggling to be free from economic recession especially at this era when the Covid-19 pandemic becomes a threat to our economy where everything remained backward, but we counsel our governments to use it’s organs in planning and implementation of economic reconstruction strategies that can restore national economy despite challenges.
September 30, 2020