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Expert Tasks RSG On Hedge Measures
A renowned banker and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, in Rivers State, Dr. Isaac Mietamuno-Jaja, has called on the state government to create hedge measures to strengthen its economy from the shocks of the dwindling federal allocation.
Mietamuno-Jaja, in an exclusive chat with The Tide said though it was difficult for the state to totally shield itself from recession, it however, needs to create peculiar empowerment scheme such that the people are genuinely into productive ventures.
“Rivers State economy cannot be different from what happens at the federal level, so, what I advice is that states should not wait till the impact begins to hit them,” he said.
For the state to achieve improved internally generated revenue base, the expert stressed the need for government to exploit other areas of the economy to protect the state from shocks, saying, “by hedge, I mean a protective mechanism such that we need to look for areas to empower our people.”
He commended Wike for the way and manner he has managed the state’s resources, adding, “I don’t know the magic wand he is using because anywhere you go, there is one project or another. What he is doing to sustain that is a mystery to me. In short, in the entire country, I don’t think any governor is embarking on the kind of project he has done.”
On the other hand, he suggested that the governor should adopt a “wait and see” approach to some of the projects, explaining that with such method, it would be easy to assess the impact of such projects before embarking on another, considering the state’s current meagre resources.
Calling on the governor to set up an economic team, Mietamuno-Jaja, maintained that at a time like this, the state needs experts’ advice on how to manage the economy.
Though Mietamuno-Jaja supported calls for the selling of some Federal Government assets, “But my view is that government should not be in a hurry to sell them, they should study the situation very well.”
He regretted that the delay in passing the federal budget coupled with poor economic policies were responsible for the wobbly economic growth being experienced in the country.
“Until today, nobody knows the economic policy of the government, and those managing it lack the technical know-how to go about it,” he added.
Mietamuno-Jaja insisted that what the Federal Government needs is experts in the field of economics to chart a course for growth and sustainable development for all Nigerians.
The banker expressed belief that considering recent statements from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and minister of finance, the country may soon be out of the woods, though he insisted that consistent measures need to be taken to reduce the impact of the current recession on the people.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.