Niger Delta
Waste Evacuation Excites Calabar Residents
Residents of Calabar metropolis on Monday expressed happiness as the state government resumed evacuation of refuse at different points in the city.
Though people were seen Governing their nostrils and running far from where work was ongoing due to the stench that filled the air from the evacuation, they were happy that at last the filth was being removed.
It would be recalled that for weeks, refuse was not evacuated from many parts of the city as a result of faulty equipment at the Lemna Dumpsite, which resulted in massive piles of waste at different spots in the once clean city.
General Manager, Cross River Waste Management Agency, Mr Sunday Oko, said the agency was carrying out a simultaneous evacuation at different spots.
Oko said for the past few weeks, the agency had been trying to fix broken down equipment at the only dumpsite in Calabar, which resulted in the embarrassing situation the city found itself.
He dismissed rumours that the State government was paying more attention to political matters as false, adding that the challenge had nothing to do with the political issues in the State.
“It is our duty to evacuate waste and keep the State clean. We were not happy with what happened in the last few weeks, where waste blocked some roads.
“It is the right of the people of Cross River State to have a clean environment, this is why when they complained that wastes were not being evacuated, we understood because the city used to be the cleanest in the nation.
“Our appeal to the people is the way they dump refuse on the streets instead of using the skip bins provided by government.
“If you move round the city, you will notice that our bins are empty because the people prefer to throw their waste on the floor.
“We use skip trucks to evacuate the bins, these trucks are just supposed to come and lift the bins to the dump-site.
“When the wastes are on the ground, the workers will spend one hour scooping it into the bins before moving to the dump-site.
“This creates unnecessary delays in waste evacuation in the city; so, I appeal to residents to help us to serve them better,” he said.
The Tide’s source reports that while the whole city of Calabar was affected by the long delay, Calabar South Local Government Area was the worst hit with towering refuse at the popular Watt, Mbukpa market and many other spots in the area.
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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