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Police, FRSC Disagree Over Vehicles Registration

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The Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Wednesday, in Abuja, disagreed over who had the right to issue vehicle number plates and keep the database of vehicles in Nigeria.

This was at the public hearing on the controversial new vehicle plates and driver’s licence by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs.

While the police said it was the exclusive responsibility of the State Motor Licensing Authority to issue the driving and vehicle documents and the police maintain the database, it was the FRSC that was at present handling it.

A Deputy Inspector General of Police, Olajide Akano, presented the position of the police at the hearing while the FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, represented his commission.

Akano said new number plate registration and driver’s licence upgrading by the FRSC were illegal and a violation of the Act setting up the commission.

He told the committee that the police had already concluded arrangements on an electronic data system, Enhanced Central Motor Registration, which would capture vehicle registration in the country electronically.

The Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mr Osita Chidoka  said the police had no business in the registration of vehicles “because they were not authorised by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to do so.

“The Enhanced Central Motor Registry (ECMR) currently collected by the police is an illegal tax as far as JTB is concerned.’’

Chidoka made the remarks in Abuja at the public hearing on new number plates and drivers’ licences organised by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs.

He referred to the communiqué of the 104th meeting of the JTB in Nasarawa State in August 2003, “which stated that road taxes were the responsibility of the states.

“The communiqué categorised ECMR as un-receipted tax by the police.

“The meeting agreed that the function of keeping motor vehicle records is statutorily by the FRSC.’’

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of ICT, Mr Abdelrahman Akano told the committee that the police planned to introduce digital vehicle registration.

Akano said that motorists would be charged N3,500 and N5,000 for plain glass vehicles and tinted glass vehicles respectively.

The representative of Safety Beyond Borders (SBB), an NGO, Mr Adenusi Patrick blamed the high cost of the new number plates on the activities of touts who extorted hapless Nigerians.

“The activities of touts have made Nigerians to end up paying higher above the official cost of N15,000 for the new number plates.

“If we eliminate touting, the process of getting the new number plates will be easier and affordable.’’

Mr Idris Abdul, the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Lokoja, said the FRSC was created for the maintenance of safety on the roads and not for revenue generation.

“A major policy change of this magnitude that affects all classes of the Nigerian society needs not to be in a rush for implementation.

“We wonder why the interest of the Nigerian citizen was not taken into consideration through consultations and advocacy in the planning of the so called laudable programme.’’

The Secretary-General of the Motor Dealers Association of Abuja, Mr Ajibola Adedoyin said the new number plates should be used in newly purchased cars.

“Old number plates should be in use and replacement should be voluntary. Cars to be registered should be made to collect the new number plates.’’

The vice chairman of the committee, Senator Babajide Omowurare (ACN- Osun) said it would create stronger collaboration among agencies involved in vehicle registration.

“We hope with this public hearing, a number of burning issues will come out that will enable us amend some of the laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the committee has ordered the arrest of Mr Chris Ahanonu, representative of the Centre for Moral Clarity and Change, for disparaging the National Assembly.

Ahanonu, in his presentation, said members of the National Assembly were not in touch with the people they represented. “The National Assembly, as presently constituted, is far away from the people.’’

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Dahiru Kuta (PDP-Niger) said the National Assembly would not allow its cherished reputation to be rubbished by selfish individuals.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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