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Buhari Fires Dokubo, Appoints Dikio, Amnesty Boss

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Following corruption and mismanagement allegations levelled against him, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, sacked Prof Charles Dokubo, and appointed Col Milland Dikio (rtd) as interim coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
Disclosing this in a statement, yesterday, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd) as Interim Administrator (Amnesty Programme).
“This followed the President’s approval of the disengagement of Prof. Charles Quaker Dokubo from the Office as the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme with immediate effect.
“Prof. Dokubo has been directed to hand over all official matters to the most senior officer of the programme.
“President Buhari appreciated the services of Prof. Dokubo”, the statement, added.
However, the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council (NDENYLC), yesterday, lauded the Federal Government for the appointment of Col. Milland Dikio (rtd) as the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, describing it as an indication that the programme would not be scrapped.
Reacting to development, Public Relations Officer of the group, Comrade Marcus Enudi, said the appointment laid to rest, “the rumour going round that the Amnesty programme was going to be scrapped by the Federal Government.
“The Amnesty programme by this gesture from the Federal Government, will continue. We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for this and also appeal to him to make Niger Delta development a priority as the region is the sole contributor to the national cake”.
The statement called on those “appointed by the Federal Government to manage the resources of the Niger Delta people to be prudent in discharging their duties and always remember that the Niger Delta people and region needs every kobo allocated to it to be developed.
“It is disheartening that Niger Deltans appointed to develop Niger Delta region are always accused of mismanaging the resources accrued to region; It will be great for once for Niger Deltans to take the development of the seriously and work towards actualizing the aims and objectives of their appointments”, the group added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to the concerned people of the Niger Delta to join hands with him in a bid to reposition the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), warning the region would be doomed if urgent steps are not taking to protect the future wellbeing of the people.
Akpabio, who spoke on the backdrop of a recent proposal by the Federal Government to scrap the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) for repentant Niger Delta militants by December, 2020, said Niger Deltans must begin to plan for Post Amnesty Initiative (PAI).
The former Senate minority leader, who was angst over the mismanagement of resources by previous drivers at the NDDC, reproached those responsible for the manipulation of activities to the detriment of the common people at the commission.
Condemning a situation where there was no plan on ground to ensure proper care and initiatives to salvage the people of the region, especially the ageing group, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State lamented the plight of those exiting the age limit for amnesty beneficiaries.
According to him, “Today, we have amnesty programme, we must plan for the end of amnesty, it cannot be in perpetuity. So, where is the industry these people will go and work when amnesty ends?
“Amnesty was supposed to be for young stars below 40 years, it has gone for about 11 years now, very soon, those on amnesty will be on 60 and 70 years. So, we must begin to plan for what I call PAI, Post Amnesty Initiative.

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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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