Nation
Mixed Reactions Trail Proposed N100bn Police Rehabilitation Fund
Mixed reactions have continued to trail plans by the private sector Coalition Against COVID -19 (CACOVID), to spend N100 billion in rehabilitating all the 44 damaged and destroyed police stations nationwide, during the EndSARs protests.
Some respondents, who spoke with The Tide source in Lagos on Sunday, commended the initiative, while some described it as a “misplaced priority “.
The private sector-led Coalition Alliance against COVID-19 had last Thursday unveiled a N100 billion equipment support to retool the Nigerian Police Force over the next two years.
Similarly, the Bankers Committee, in collaboration with the CACOVID, agreed to support government’s efforts in rebuilding confidence in the nation’s economy in the aftermath of the EndSARs protests.
The Managing Director of BIC Consulting Services, Dr Boniface Chizea, who commended the group‘s kind gestures, said that philanthropic gestures were second nature to some of its key members.
“Of course it is a laudable move, they have done a lot since their formation, including construction of isolation centres and massive provisions of palliatives.
“Philanthropic gestures is second nature to key members such as Elumelu, Dangote etc. That is what they have always done and been known for,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Arvo Finance, Mr Ayotunde Bally, advised that the funds be used to empower and educate the members of the police force for better service delivery.
“In my opinion, gadgets and equipment should not be the first priority for funds allocated to the Nigerian police force. Those monies should be channeled towards improving the lives and working conditions of the police officers.
“The police are human and, therefore, need the right conditions and incentives to give 100 per cent to this essential vocation. I will suggest that the funds be used to adequately empower and educate the police force so that they can do their job with pride.
“Without improving their living standards and sensitising the police force, the cycle of corruption within the force will persist and such a huge amount would be wasted.
“We need the police to take pride in what they do and re-earn the respect of the citizens, this can only happen if they are well trained and well compensated,” he said.
A Political Economist and a former Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party in 2015, Chief Martin Onovo, urged Nigerians to insist on transparency in the CACOVID intervention.
According to him, details of all transactions from the fund should also be scrutinized, saying that the intervention can be seen as patriotic but the history of failing banks in Nigeria and the economic crisis, had created a mystery around the CACOVID intervention.
“We know how Nigerian banks accumulated over N5 trillion toxic debts for AMCON a few years back. We must insist on public transparency in this intervention.
“As these are publicly quoted companies, we can have access to information to verify their financial performance and contributions to this cause,” he said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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