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Irate Youth, Rivers ALGON Protest Alleged Plot To Sack LG Councils

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Barely three days after the dissolution of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and State Judicial Service Commission, the elected chairmen and councillors of the 22 local government areas yesterday protested against plan by  the Rivers State House of Assembly  to dissolve the elected council executive in the state.
The council executives were sworn into office by former governor ,Chibuike Amaechi on May 25 before he bowed out on May 29.
The sacked Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), on May 21, conducted local government election that ushered the chairmen and councillors into office for a three-year tenure.
The protesters, led by the Degema Local Government Council Chairman, Hon Sogbeye Eli and some supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had  barricaded  Moscow Road leading to the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt.
Some of the placards displayed by the protesters had inscriptions such as “you can’t dissolve elected council exco”, “era of impunity is over in Nigeria.”
The leader of the protesters Sogbeye Eli, who spoke on behalf  of the chairmen,  said they resolved to march to the Assembly premises because they were informed of alleged move by the lawmakers to direct the governor to dissolve the council executives.
Eli vowed that  they would resist any attempt by the state government to dissolve the elected and properly constituted local government council executives, stressing that the era of abuse of power was gone in the country.
The council boss, however, urged the National Assembly, civil society organizations and other allied bodies to prevail on the state government to jettison the move to go ahead with the alleged plot.
According to him,’’similar elected council executives were sworn in by the outgone governor of Plateau State the week he left office”, stressing that there had been no threat to sack the executives, “ so, why should Rivers State be an exception.
He expressed fears that dissolution of the council executives could provoke another round of crisis in the state, stressing that the elected council executives would defend the nation’s democracy.
“We must defend our democracy. There is a sinister plot by the government of Rivers State to plunge the state into another round of avoidable crisis after the mindless blood-letting the state saw during the elections”, he said,
The council boss said the alleged plot to dissolve the local government council would boomerang, adding that the recent dissolution of the Professor Augustine Ahiazu-led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC), was politically motivated to allegedly pave way for the governor to sack the elected local government councils
“Dissolution of the board is a target to sack the duly elected and constituted local government councils. The ultimate intention is to circumvent the Constitution by replacing the elected local government councils with caretaker committees. We are aware this plot will be executed today”, he said.
He reminded the Assembly that the matter was already in court, adding that the government should be responsible to allow the court run its full course on the suit before it.
“We have a matter in court. If the government is a responsible government, it should wait for the court to run its process. If it goes ahead, then we may resort to self help. If the governor or the assembly decide that they are a law to themselves, we will resist. We will enforce a regime of resistance, “, he said.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state has dismissed the protest,  and described the protesters as  ignorant people.
Deputy Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Samuel Nwanosike, said it was unfortunate that the council chairmen acted on rumour to disturb the peace in the state.
Nwanosike, who spoke to The Tide inside the premises of House of Assembly complex, said the lawmakers were busy debating other issues that had no relationship with the fears of the council chairmen.
He stressed that Governor Nyesom Wike would continue to act within the ambit of the law.
“The days of impunity in Rivers State are gone since May 29. Right now, the rule of law reigns. You can see that the governor had to wait for the Assembly to dissolve RSIEC before he acted”
According to him, “If they have a case in court, then why are they protesting”.

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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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