Public Notice
Gov Tussle: APC plotting to destabilise North — Arewa Coalition
The Northern Coalition Youths Movement Initiative, NYMI, yesterday, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of a hidden agenda to destabilize key states in the North to weaken the region’s economy.
While addressing a press conference at Arewa House in Kaduna, the Secretary General of the NYMI, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Inuwa, said the group observed with dismay how the judiciary has become a lapdog of the executive arm of government.
Inuwa, who said series of moves were being made to undermine the region, lamented that the judiciary was being used to subvert people’s mandates in Kano, Plateau and Zamfara states.
He said: “Gone are the days when judges dish out logical judgments that are acceptable to the litigants in any disputes. It is however sad that the administration of President Bola Tinubu and APC has resorted to using the judiciary to snatch what it has lost at the ballot.
Under the APC, the votes of the people no longer count, this is because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has become an extended part of the ruling party. In a bid to do the bidding of the APC.
The Anambra State Government has cautioned residents to desist from the persistent practice of burning tyres on roads, warning that violators risk arrest and prosecution.
This warning was issued in a press statement jointly signed by the Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, and the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Ifeanyi Okoma, on Friday.
They noted that tyre burning often leads to the development and expansion of potholes, lamenting that the state spends significant resources repairing roads damaged by such activities.
According to the statement, the state’s resources are limited, and these destructive practices, often stemming from festive celebrations, place an unnecessary burden on infrastructural maintenance.
The statement read, “It has been observed that during festivities such as New Year and other celebrations, people resort to burning tyres and other materials on our roads and environment.
“The frenzy associated with such celebrations often leads to despicable actions like tyre burning. This practice releases toxic pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter into the atmosphere.
“These chemicals are extremely harmful to plants, animals, aquatic life, and the general environment. Additionally, when tyres are burnt on tarred roads, the resulting heat and fire cause the disintegration of the binding molecules in the tar, damaging the bitumen used in road construction.
“Ndi Anambra are, therefore, urged to stop this harmful practice as it not only damages our environment but also accelerates infrastructural decay.
“While some people may have ignorantly engaged in this practice in the past, burning tyres on Anambra roads must stop immediately.
“The relevant enforcement agencies under the Ministry of Environment will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found engaging in this act going forward.”
By Okey Maduforo Awka
The authorities of Onitsha South local government area have warned that it would not take kindly to the act of dumping refuse at the proposed site for River Niger Beach.
Recall that last year over three thousand illegal structures were demolished by the Onitsha South local government Council in preparation for the establishment of the beach .
The beach which is to provide recreational facilities and business opportunities for the residents and business community has in the last two weeks been defaced by those refuse.
Speaking shortly after the clearing of the refuse dump the Council Mayor Chief Emeka Joseph Orji warned that the Council would not hastate to enforce the relevant environmental laws adding that those found guilty would be made to face the wrath of the law.
“This is an area that had earlier been cleared for the establishment of the River Niger Beach which would have restaurants bars and other relaxation facilities but some people have chosen to convert it to a refuse dump which is unacceptable by law”
“There is an exciting law against illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Onitsha and we will not fail to enforce those relevant laws”
“A task force is already in place to monitor activities at the River Niger Beach and those found wanting would be made to face the long arms of the law” he said.
Chief Emeka Joseph Orji, stated that the plan is to construct an entertainment, leisure, and fun center that will attract men of timber and caliber from all works of life.
“In no distant time, Onitsha South will be a tourist home for all Nigerians and beyond and is already creating job opportunities for our youth.
“This is in line with the vision of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to build a smart, livable, and prosperous Anambra State”, Chief Orji stated.
Special Assistant to the council Mayor on politics, Hon. Dunu Chiadikaobi, monitored the exercise and reiterated that the junk was an eyesore, but the needful has been done.
The contract for clearing the junk was handled by Rytec Company; the company is also engaged in the sweeping of Niger Street, Port Harcourt Road, Zik Avenue, and Creek Road, respectively.
Health
World Toilet Day: USAID State2State, Other Stakeholders Call For End To Open Defecation In Ebonyi
Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
A Citizen Engagement and Capacity Building Specialist, USAID Nigeria – State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, Mr. Habila Salem and other stakeholders of Ebonyi State have called for an end to open defecation in the State to curb the menace associated with the practice.
They made the call during a 2-day stakeholders consultative meeting on the review of the State’s Water Resources Policy held at the USAID (State2State) Activity office Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State.
Mr. Salem said that there is the need to disabuse the minds of residents of the State especially rural dwellers that open defecation is another form of fertilizing our crops adding that there are many dangers associated with open defecation.
“There is this wrong notion by those who practice open defecation that the practice supplies manures to crops. That’s a very wrong notion because when you compare the advantage of providing manures through human feces, you understand that the danger and disadvantages outweighs the advantages. There are many risks involved which one of them is the constant cholera outbreak in the state.
“So there is the urgent need to correct that notion and to also change the behavior of people. There are alternative ways of manuring our farms, not through open defecation. That’s not a good idea for me”, he said.
He also advised the state government to carry out more citizens sensitization on the need to stop open defecation.
“State2State is aware of the situation in Ebonyi and that is why State2State is supporting the state to improve WASH Service delivery.
“Coincidentally, we are supporting a review of the state policy. That was the State’s WASE policy to address the situation and that is fundamental.
“When we have a robust policy framework for the state, it will support effective service delivery. And we are looking at service delivery that is responsive to all category of citizens of the state.
“So currently we are doing that to ensure that the state has a robust policy and legal framework for wash service delivery.
“The state will need to invest more in cutting down on open defecation, engage with citizens and all stakeholders in addressing this issue.
“The state will also need to sensitize citizens on the dangers of open defecation. There is need for behavioral change of the citizens regarding open defecation.
“So it requires a concerted effort of all. Government alone cannot achieve that. Even private sector participants need to come in. You know, they say for every problem, it may be an opportunity for another to benefit.
“So business people can also come in to provide services in terms of providing public toilets at public places and make some money out of it too. So it’s an opportunity for business for the private sector too. And that will actually go a long way in reducing the problem.
In his remark, the General Manager, GM of Ebonyi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EBRUWASA) (GM), Mr. Agwu Joseph said that the Agency has drilled 51 boreholes across the State in 2024.
He noted that the state was able to achieve this after it paid its counterpart fund of N200m for the Federal Government’s Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, (P-WASH).
Mr. Agwu said that under the partnership, more toilets facilities will be constructed in public places.
Beiersdorf Nivea Consumer Products Nig. Ltd has assured customers about the safety of its product following an alert by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
NAFDAC had issued a warning to Nigerians to avoid using the recently recalled Nivea Black & White Invisible Roll-on deodorant (50ml).
The recall follows a similar alert from the European Union Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products.
In an official statement released on Thursday, NAFDAC identified the affected batch number as 93529610.
The agency highlighted concerns over the presence of 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, a chemical banned in cosmetic products due to its potential health risks, including reproductive harm, risk to unborn children, and skin irritation or burns.
Reacting in a statement to Naija News on Saturday, NIVEA management, through its media consultant, said the product with Batch No. 93529610 in question has not been marketed in Nigeria.
It said the product expired in January 2022 and was hence at the time fully compliant with the then valid European cosmetic regulation.
The statement read: “NIVEA Black & White Invisible Roll On Deodorant Batch No. 93529610 Not On Sale in Nigeria
“We have been made aware of a safety alert notification issued by NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) in Nigeria issued on October 31, 2024, regarding NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant (50 ml) batch number 93529610, in relation to the general European Union (EU) Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX). The batch is said to contain 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (BMHCA).
“Based on current European legislation, the use of ingredient 2-(4-tert-Butylbenzyl propionaldehyde (LilialTM) in cosmetic products has been banned from the European markets as of March 1, 2022.
“We wish to assure our esteemed customers that the Batch No. 93529610 in question has not been marketed in Nigeria and thus never recalled by Beiersdorf, the owner of NIVEA brand, as the legal manufacturer. The batch in question, in fact, expired in January 2022 and was hence at the time fully compliant with the then valid European cosmetic regulation.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, Beiersdorf is working collaboratively with NAFDAC to safeguard the interest of the Nigerian consumers by ensuring that our locally manufactured product meets the global quality standards.
“The safety of our consumers remains our highest priority, consistent with our ethical philosophy as a business.
“In pursuit of this commitment, Beiersdorf’s entire NIVEA product portfolio formulations have been reformulated to be Lilial-free formulas in full compliance with the EU Regulation on cosmetic products well ahead of its Lilial ban coming into effect as far back as March 1, 2022. For instance, the formulation of NIVEA BLACK & WHITE Invisible Roll-on deodorant has been Lilial-free since at least 2020 across the globe, including Nigeria.
“Our trade partners were informed ahead of time and reminded of their responsibility to remove the outdated Lilial-containing products within the legal timeframe to fulfill their obligations with the European Cosmetic Product Regulation.”
Members of the Ezinano Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State have announced a ₦10 million reward for anybody who will offer information leading to the capture of perpetrators of the killings that occurred in the Nibo community two weeks ago.
No fewer than 13 lives were lost in the incident that occurred in Nibo, also in Awka South LGA, during the community’s ‘Onwa Asaa festival’, when yet-to-be-identified gunmen invaded the venue of the festival and started shooting indiscriminately.
The killings, confirmed by the state police command as “cult-related clashes,” also involved some residents of the Ezinano community, which shares a boundary with Nibo.
The leadership of Ezinano announced the reward on Friday, during the Second Edition of “Ezinano Day,” a celebration of the community’s culture and heritage
Speaking on the development, the community leader, Jeff Nweke, condemned the dastardly attack in the area while declaring war on cultism in Ezinano and surrounding communities, just as he vowed to avenge future deaths.
Nweke said, “The Ezinano Community will not tolerate violence or cultism. We will not rest until justice is served. We urge anyone with information to come forward and help bring the perpetrators to justice
“A N10 million reward has been set aside for anyone with useful information that will help the community to capture the perpetrators and put an end to the dastardly act.”
Nweke also unveiled a N100m empowerment fund for rural women, with an initial launch of N50m, adding that the fund was meant to support women-led initiatives and promote economic development in the area.
“The empowerment programme is part of our commitment to building a prosperous and peaceful community. We believe that empowering women is key to unlocking our community’s potential.
“When you empower the women, you have empowered the community because women are the key to community development,” he added.
The community leader also used the occasion to announce that he would hand over the mantle of Ezinano leadership to someone else by December.
The ceremony attracted dignitaries and also featured masquerade dances, cultural performances and community festivities.
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