News
NCF Intensifies Campaign To Preserve Vultures
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) yesterday said it was intensifying campaign to conserve the nation’s vultures through raising awareness on importance of the birds to the environment and human safety.
The Director-General of NCF, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, in a statement in Lagos, highlighted activities in four states, Taraba, Oyo, Enugu and Sokoto States, marking the International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD) 2019.
Aminu-Kano said that IVAD was organised across the world and Nigeria to educate communities on need to conserve vultures.
The first Saturday in September each year is International Vulture Awareness Day.
Aminu-Kano said that NCF took the awareness campaign to markets, abattoirs, herders, veterinaries, farmers and other interest groups to let them know the dangers eliminating vultures posed to human existence.
He said that the two species which include the Hooded and Egyptian Vultures which were under threat of extinction formed the focus of the 2019 IVAD campaigns in the four strategic states.
“Vultures are an ecological vital group of birds that face huge threats in many areas that they occur. Population of many species especially Egyptian Vulture is under pressure and some are facing extinction,’’ he said.
Aminu-Kano recalled that a stakeholders’ meeting was held from September 5 to September 9 at the Garba-Chede, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State at the Emir’s palace.
He also recalled that the Emir, Alhaji Maigandi Kaigama, told his subjects to support the campaign.
The director-general said that the NCF chose the community because of the prevalence of vultures’ issues.
“The people were enlightened on how vultures play a role in our ecosystem, which in their absence may cause a lot of hazard to our society and health,’’ Aminu-Kano said.
Other stakeholders at the event included the Emirate Council, district heads, heads of abattoirs, vigilante groups, youth leaders, Fulani community and law enforcement agencies.
Aminu-Kano said that during a visit to the abattoir, butchers were trained on how hostilities of setting traps and poisoning the birds (vultures), to harvest them, was depleting the population.
The NCF boss in his IVAD report of activities held between Sept. 3 and Sept 4 in Sokoto, said that the project targeted conservation of the Egyptian vultures.
He said that Sokoto and its neighbouring states served as one of the locally-established migratory corridors for Egyptian Vultures and Hooded Vultures in Northern Nigeria.
Aminu-Kano said continuous population decline of the species was attributed to “poisoning, human disturbance, agriculture, hunting, electrocution and ingestion of tissues from livestock treated with anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac’’.
He said that locals were aware of the decline in the vulture population but did not know farmers, veterinary officers and cattle rearers’ activities had direct connection to the decline.
He noted that power point presentations were made in Hausa language alongside drama to drive home the messages alongside rallies.
Aminu-Kano said the NCF was in Enugu State on Sept. 5 with all the relevant stakeholders in attendance at an interactive workshop.
He explained that residents were educated on the implication of a recent incident in Eke-Ihe market which caused the death of over 50 vultures due to poisoning.
The director-general noted that on Sept. 6, the NCF took the campaign to Bode Market, Ibadan, Oyo State and drew 70 participants from wildlife traders, traditional herbs dealers volunteers.
“ Stakeholders suggested breeding of vultures in an holding ground and afterward release them into the wild,’’ he said.
News
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
Worried over the high rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr Peter Mbah, has called for closer synergy and cooperation among security agencies to check the ugly trend and ensure safety on all the roads within the country.
Governor Mbah, made the call in an address at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command and Staff College, Udi near Enugu.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Aka Eze Aka, governor Mbah noted that closer security and intelligence sharing on incidents on roads within the country by various security formations and agencies both military and para-military would lead to greater security and safety of lives and property on roads.
He stated that the state government had keyed into the FRSC vision of reduction in road crashes and fatalities, adding that it had equipped the state traffic officers with the same set targets.
“As an administration, we are making all efforts to fix and improve on all roads and road infrastructure within the state; while we are calling on the Federal Government to do the same.
“Our partnership with the FRSC for training and retraining of our road traffic officers will continue and be strengthened so that as a state it will also build its own capacity to deal with road traffic issues and challenges,” he said.
Governor Mbah, however, congratulated the graduating participants of the course, while commending the FRSC management for being in the forefront of raising the standard and quality of its staff.
According to him, “my administration will continue to partner with the FRSC and strengthen existing engagements of mutual benefits”.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said that the event was significant to the Corps as it marked its commitment to continuously improve its educational and operational standard and capacity.
Biu, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem, who is in-charge of FRSC Training, said that the Corps was building resiliency and increasing its service delivery capacity by equipping its officers with quality and international standard training.
By: Canice Amadi Enugu
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
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