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FOI: Remove Hindrances, Minister Tells Govs

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The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku,
yesterday urged state governors to remove all bottlenecks to the implementation
of the Freedom of Information law in their domain.

Speaking at the opening of the 43rd session
of the National Council on Information in Abuja, he said the call for the
domestication of the law in the various states was not necessary, adding that
it would inhibit the citizens’ participation in governance.

Maku said the enactment of the Freedom of
Information law by President Goodluck Jonathan underscored the present
administration’s commitment to the principles of good governance and
accountability.

He said the law was revolutionary a document
that should not be tampered with by any progressive-minded group or
stakeholder.

Maku urged all Nigerians to take possession
of the FOI law, saying that the Act was made to serve all Nigerians
irrespective of their backgrounds.

He said, “Let me this clear to Nigerians that
the Freedom of Information act is a revolutionary law that is far stronger than
any anti-corruption law that has been made in Nigeria, stronger than the EFCC
Act. “Unlike at the federal level, many states have not started implementing
the Freedom of Information act; we were told that states needed to domesticate
the law.

“Let me call on all the state governors and
my colleagues, please let us not delay the implementation of the Freedom of
Information law in all the states and the FCT

Maku said the choice of the theme for the
43rd session of the meeting underscored the importance the council attached to
the actualisation of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda.

The minister, therefore, called on
information managers in the country to use their expertise to promote good
governance at all levels.

He said the various programmes of government
at all levels could only be achieved if the media fully gave its support
through robust public enlightenment.

“As managers of information in our various
states and at the national level and as stakeholders in this sector, we must
use our expertise and the facilities of public communication available to us,
to manage information in such a way that will improve governance at all levels
across the country.

“We must also as experts in this field and as
managers in this filed ensure that governance remains open and transparent and
accountable because in a democracy governance is never possible until people
are involved in the process, until people are informed,” he added.

The minister also stressed the need for
greater synergy among stakeholders at various levels to ensure that government
policies permeated to the grassroots.

Maku said both the state and the federal governments
needed to work together on a non-partisan basis to provide the basic needs of
the people.

He said the success of the Transformation
Agenda of the government was largely dependent on popular participation,
especially at the grassroots.

Maku urged the media to redouble its efforts
to project Nigeria’s image positively and sensitise the public on environmental
issues and on the need to adhere to early warnings.

On the implementation of previous
recommendations of the council, Maku said the Federal Ministry of Information
had done well in the implementation of some of the resolutions.

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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