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The Tide GM Decries Noise Pollution
General Manager of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide Newspaper, Mr. Vincent Ake has called on the Committee on Noise Pollution, Rivers State Ministry of Environment to, as a matter of urgency, take the advocacy programme seriously by enlightening the people especially those in public places, such as motor parks, churches, schools, amusement parks, cinema halls and rural communities in the state, among others.
Ake gave the advice in his office, Wednesday when the committee led by its chairman, Pastor Emmanuel Fienemika paid him a courtesy visit.
He urged the team to enlighten the public on the threat posed by noise pollution, stressing that currently, noise pollution had caused a lot of havoc in government efforts to reposition the nation’s porous economy.
According to him, “in advanced countries, noise pollution of the environment is prohibited but here in Nigeria, such is being experienced. It is high time for government to curb the excesses of noise pollutants for the environment to be safe for business and growth”.
He further advised the committee to ensure rapid enlightenment campaign against the pollution of the environment through noise borne out of musical instruments, siren and other public forms of disturbance as or, chestrated by Nigerians which at the end produces disaffection.
Ake, however, regretted that noise pollution has adverse effects and impacts on the people, environment and society, describing the emergence of the committee as a welcome development.
He, therefore, assured the team that the corporation whose duties is to educate, inform and entertain the people would partner with the members to spread the message of minimising the noise syndrome now wreaking havoc in the society.
“The committee should take seriously the task of advocacy on how to eliminate noise pollution as well as other environmental hazards in the state. We will as a matter of fact partner with your committee to enlighten the people from time to time in order to reduce to the barest minimum noise pollution which at the moment is displeasing,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Chairman of the committee, Pastor Emmanuel Fienemika who lauded the General Manager for his efforts at building better bridges of development for the corporation, said that the committee came to acquaint him of the advocacy programme against noise pollution in the state as well as seeking the corporation’s partnership to enlighten the public on the effects of such habits.
He said that the committee was created by the Ministry of Environment to educate the masses against noise pollution and also curtail the excesses of the pollutants, especially those who use their instruments to disturb the peace of the citizens.
Fienemika stressed that the task of sensitising the public on the issue called for collective efforts and therefore appealed to the corporation to join forces with the committee to rid the environment of noise pollution.
“The mandate of the team is to ensure that the pollution hampering the business of the state which has brought sicknesses, job pressure and diseases is the reason for setting up of the committee,” he said.
Bethel Sam Toby
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.