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FG Urges Collaboraion In Border Communities’ Dev …As Senate Alerts On Insecurity
Vice President Namadi Sambo, has called for more collaboration between the Federal, States and Local Government Areas to ensure rapid development of the border communities.
Sambo made the call last Saturday in a special meeting with members of the Senate Committee on Border Communities in Abuja.
He stated that forming synergy with the 21 border communities would address the challenges of providing social amenities to the affected communities.
He advocated for a scientific plan of action by the three tiers of governments to address the inadequate social amenities in these communities.
“In the last meeting, we have discussed the issue of providing the border communities with social amenities like power, schools, water and others.
“I have directed that since these communities belong to states and local governments, the National Boundary Commission, states and local government chairmen should form a committee with Governors or Deputy Governors as members so that we will have a unified programme with the Federal Government to work on these issues.”
Sambo noted that he was well briefed by the agencies involved on the challenges such as lack of funds and other constraints faced by the Commission.
He, however, expressed optimism that in the 2012 budget, there would be adequate budgetary provision for the Commission to enable it carry out developmental projects in the communities.
He also noted that the case involving the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the Director General of the Boundary Commission and Minister of Works had been resolved amicably, saying that “they are performing their duties accordingly.”
Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, highlighted the challenges confronting the border communities to include lack of infrastructure like electricity, water and transportation, schools and medical facilities as well as lack of funds by the Commission.
He called on the Federal Government to look into the issue of developing and providing social infrastructure to the border communities to forestall what happened to Bakassi, which the country lost to the Cameroon.
Gaya also cited a case with one local government in Ogun State, which, he said, “Nigeria is about to lose again if adequate care is not taken.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and State Governments, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, has raised alarm over the increasing cases of insecurity in the nation’s border communities.
Gaya who was fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, also frowned at what he described as “almost total neglect” of communities in the border areas.
He warned that if government failed to address the challenges, Nigeria might lose some local government areas to its neighbouring countries, adding that already, the country was about to lose a local government area in Ogun if adequate care was not taken.
“We are very much concerned and worried about the issue of the neglect of those communities in the border areas and the insecurity also in those areas.
“So, we have discussed with the vice-president who is the chairman in charge of those agencies.
“I’m sure from the assurance we got from the vice-president, I believe the government of the federation will be able to handle some of these issues.”
Gaya stated that the National Assembly on its part would collaborate with the three tiers of government to address the challenges of the border communities.
He identified lack of social infrastructure as the major problem confronting the communities and appealed to government to assist the people by providing needed infrastructure.
Gaya said that the senate Committee on Border Matters had resolved to draw a comprehensive plan on how best to tackle the problems facing the communities.
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.