News

Reps Reiterate Commitment To End Open Defecation in Nigeria by 2025

Published

5 months ago

May 3, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has reiterated the commitment of House to work with all stakeholders to bring to an end Open Defecation and ensure a healthy living environment for Nigerians.

Speaker Abbas stated this at the opening of a Public Hearing orgaised by the House Joint Committees on Environment, Water Resources, Ecologically Fund, Works and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, the House recognises the devastating impact of erosion and other environmental factors on the lives of the citizens.

The Speaker therefore urged all relevant agencies to step up efforts to achieve the goal of ending the menace by 2025.

The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, in his address decried Nigeria’s current state in the agenda of ending Open Defecation nationwide, especially as the country is lagging behind.

The Minister also advocated for the provision of more funding in other to ensure effective implementation of policies to end Open Defecation in the country.

Mr. Salako urged governments at all levels to empower environmental health officials to carry out their regulatory responsibilities.

He noted that Nigeria can scale up activities by empowering security agencies working in the area of ending Open Defecation.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Joint Committees, Rep. Pondi Gbabojor emphasized on the need for government and all relevant agencies to intervene and take deliberate actions to mitigate the living conditions of their constituents.

He urged the Government at all levels and private individuals to embark on aggressive rural water projects that will ensure that each community is provided with portable water and functioning toilet facilities.

He also said that the public hearing was convened, with the hope of creating a platform for stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, share insights, and propose actionable recommendations to address these pressing issues.

He said: “It is an opportunity for us to harness collective wisdom, expertise, and resources towards finding lasting solutions that will positively impact the lives of millions of Nigerians.

We hereby call on the Government and its Agencies at all levels, especially those whose statutory duties borders on: conservation of our environment; provision of succor to victims of disasters; environmental remediation; and infrastructure providers to intervene and take deliberate action to mitigate the living conditions of our constituents. As representatives of the people, it is our duty to call on the Authorities of the State to address these challenges comprehensively, and ensure the implementation of sustainable solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens”.

The Public Hearing of the Committees on Environment, Water Resources, Ecological Fund, Works and Emergency & Disaster Preparedness also was focused on the “Need to End Open Defecation; Erosion in Alur-uno Community in Enugu State; and Erosion in Aguata Community in Anambra State’.

Stakeholders who attended the hearing proffered solutions on how to curb environmental challenges affecting Nigeria.

News

HoR Mediates Peace Among Rival Safety Professional Groups

Published

9 mins ago

September 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards have gained success in reconciliation of the three opposing groups within the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON).

In a press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee on Safety, Standards, and Regulations, Rep. Suleiman Gumi, stressed that the reconciliation was crucial for improving safety conditions across Nigeria.

The Chairman also explained that the committee allowed all parties to present their views, resulting in resolutions aimed at uniting the factions, and that all groups were given equal opportunities to air their grievances, culminating in a final meeting where reconciliation was achieved.

“As a result of this meeting, a Caretaker Committee (CTC) has been set up. The committee is tasked with organizing a conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect new executives for ISPON as one unified body. The national leaders of the institute have happily endorsed this decision, symbolizing a fresh start for ISPON. Present here with me are members of the CTC, including past presidents and notable figures who have contributed to ISPON in various ways”, Gumi said.

The chairman further disclosed that ISPON plans to hold a unification conference in Abuja from October 17th to 19th, 2024.

He added, “I am here to inform you about the upcoming unification conference and AGM. ISPON was established in 2014 by an Act of the National Assembly, but leadership disagreements following the 2016 elections led to a division into three factions, slowing down the institute’s activities. Despite intervention efforts from various bodies like the Inspector General of Police, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and others, the issues persisted.

“To address this, the National Assembly established a Committee on Safety Standards, which prioritized resolving ISPON’s divisions for the good of promoting safety in Nigeria.”

Rep. Gumi urged all employers of labour in Nigeria to note that from October 19th, new ISPON executives will be in charge, and only certifications issued by this new body will be valid.

“From that point onward, all Health and Environmental Safety (HES) practitioners must obtain ISPON’s new certification to practice, as required by the ISPON Act of 2014. A revalidation process will occur, and new certificates will be distributed. We call on all stakeholders to support this unity process,” Gumi stated.

The Committee also advised all safety professionals to obtain the new ISPON certification to continue practicing in the country.

According to him, the establishment of the Caretaker Committee was aimed at ensuring that a unified ISPON executive was in place after the conference.

Gumi therefore emphasized that all parties had embraced the reconciliation in a positive and celebratory spirit. He however, cautioned that anyone attempting to disrupt the process for personal interests would face consequences.

The unification conference is set for October 17th to 19th, 2024, in Abuja, and all relevant practitioners are required to participate in the new certification process.

He concluded by highlighting the importance of cooperation from all stakeholders and assured that ISPON would soon return to its rightful position as a leading safety body in Nigeria.

Former ISPON President, Shaw Fregene, who was instrumental in creating the bill that established the institute, attributed the crisis to personal interests.

He explained that disagreements over leadership arose in 2016, when certain members felt the leadership was no longer adhering to the rules of the institute.

“Once your two-year tenure is over, you should go for re-election. How can someone remain in office for six years without a mandate? That was the issue. Some individuals wanted to turn leadership into a personal property, which is wrong,” Fregene stated.

Similarly, former ISPON Secretary, Iyenoma Osazee, emphasized the benefits of being an ISPON member and noted that the crisis opened the door to unprofessional practices.

“In South Africa, foreign qualifications alone do not permit one to practice. You still need to go through their process. Here, however, the situation deteriorated, and unqualified individuals began to dominate the space. This misinterpretation of the law is what brought us here,” Osazee explained.

In closing, the Institute called on sponsors to support its upcoming conference.

News

Edo guber: LP’s Akpata remains a front runner, set to capture Edo

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Less than twenty-four hours to the start of voting in Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, a rash of fake news has broken out.

Leading parties in the election have had their fair shares of fake news either indicating the withdrawal of their candidates or disqualification by a Magistrate Court or Supreme Court.

For instance, Olumide Akpata of LP was said to have withdrawn from the race and thrown his support for Asue Ighodalo in a statement that read smoothly and appeared convincing.

THE CONCLAVE sent the statement to Akpata via WhatsApp for confirmed.

He responded by sending the same statement with FAKE NEWS boldly stamped on it.
He said he was set for victory at the poll.

There was also a news flash about the Supreme Court disqualifying Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, with a sign off: More details coming….

A Magistrate Court in Abuja was also reported to have disqualified Monday Okpebholo of the APC from the poll on account of age falsification.

The APC campaign organisation had swiftly put a lie to the report by deploying the court papers in the circumstance.

News

Guber poll :PDP govs storm Edo to support Ighodalo

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Barely 24hours to governorship election in Edo State, no fewer than two governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday arrived Benin City.

The governors, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Kefas Agbu of Taraba, arrived the state to mobilise support for the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

Fintiri made this known in a post on his social media page on Friday evening.

He said : “Just touched down in Edo State alongside my brother, Gov. Agbu Kefas, ahead of the September 21st gubernatorial election. We stand united in support of our Official PDP Nigeria candidate, Asue ighodalo, for a brighter future.”

Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is the PDP leader in the state, had earlier cried out over alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress to rig the election.

As at the time of filling this report, it was unclear if other PDP governors would also hit the state for the election