Connect with us

News

Why We No Longer Block East-West Road -Ex-Agitators

Published

on

Ex-agitators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have explained that they stopped blocking the East-West Road for protests following reforms introduced by the Interim Administrator of the scheme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
They said Dikio won their hearts through prompt payment of their stipends, effective communication, and introduction of the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) training strategy.
The ex-agitators made their position known in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last Monday, signed by the National Secretary of the First Phase Amnesty, Pastor Dumale Kieghe.
They also highlighted Dikio’s frequent visit to the region and his regular meetings with stakeholders as another milestone that had brought relative peace to the Niger Delta.
Kieghe said since Dikio came on board, he had demonstrated his capacity to run the programme, and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him at a time the PAP was beginning to lose its value.
The ex-warlord also commended Dikio for not compromising his standards despite the pressures and blackmail by some persons, who were part of the endemic rot that had stalled the development of the amnesty programme for years.
The statement said: “We want to let the Niger Delta people know that there is hope with this administration. One of the things we have taken with high note is that Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) has not apportioned blame to his predecessors, and that shows a high sense of responsibility on his part.
“Before this time, we had delegates who went for training and have not been engaged or employed, and this made the amnesty programme look as though it had failed.
“But since the assumption of Dikio, he made up his mind not to award contracts that will not get delegates engaged. Dikio initiated the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) scheme in order to engage capable vendors to implement his vision for the PAP beneficiaries.
“Today, we have ex-agitators in different training facilities in the Niger Delta undergoing the TEM scheme, and we look forward to the success stories of these trainees. We also have ex-agitators going through agricultural entrepreneurship training. The training is to help us become employees of labour. It is the first of its kind”.
The ex-agitators appealed to the ministries of environment, petroleum resources and Niger Delta affairs to work in synergy with the amnesty office to meet the demands of the Niger Delta region.
The ex-warlord urged the people of the region and key stakeholders to throw their support behind Dikio to enable him achieve his overall plans for the programme.
He said: “Over the years, we have been blocking roads and protesting, it has not yielded any result. Each time we block the road, it is our people and their businesses that suffer. We end up frustrating the businesses of our people.
“We are used to pulling down our leaders and those at the helm of affairs, can we for a change show support to Dikio? Our hope and wish is for other government parastatals involved in the Niger Delta recovery plan to learn from Dikio to sustain peace in the Niger Delta and attract meaningful development to our region.”

By: Akujobi Amadi

Continue Reading

News

NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

News

Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

News

Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending