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Oil Exploration: Reps Decry Environmental Degradation Of Host Communities By Oil Companies

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By Gloria Ikibah
The Joint Committees on Environment, Petroleum Resources (midstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream), and Climate Change has bemoaned the environmental degradation and socio-economic marginalisation experienced by oil-producing communities in Nigeria as a result of decades of oil exploration and exploitation.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Rep. Pondi Gbabojor, stated this at a public hearing on the need to investigate the service and unprecedented environmental damage within oil-producing communities on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the Committee Chairman, the abundant natural resources should have been a source of prosperity and development; but the host communities have suffered from pollution, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and deterioration of traditional livelihoods that are inestimable and irreparable.
He said that it is why it was enshrined in the law and statues of maintaining basic principles of environmental protection, social equity, and corporate accountability, which behove any company seeking to explore natural resources to adhere to and uphold.
Gbabojor added that despite the laws and regulations enacted to safeguard the Nigerian environment and the established regulatory agencies of the government that are mandated to address these concerns, the environmental damages in oil-producing communities persist unabated.
He however said it is incumbent on lawmakers, as representatives of the people, to identify the erring organizations, hold those responsible accountable, and take decisive action to mitigate the living conditions of the constituents.
The committee chairman further noted that the hearing is not intended to witch hunt any company but to have clarity on the matter that has been brought to the attention of the House of Representatives.
He stressed the need to approach the inquiry with empathy and humility, making it possible for all to have reconciliation at the forefront.
He therefore urged stakeholders present to approach this hearing with an open mind, a spirit of cooperation, and a commitment to the search for truth.
Gbabojor said: “You may recall that the committee was constrained to adjourn a sitting at the hearing of April 24, 2024, to today due to the absence of a significant number of the invited stakeholders.
“Prior to today’s hearing, the committees, in continuation of the investigation, held a session with the oil-producing communities on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
“The significance of the session was to listen to the concerns of those who have suffered environmental damages occasioned by non-compliance with existing laws by oil-producing companies and ensure that they are heard and respected.
“This hearing presents us with another opportunity in our nation’s quest for environmental justice and sustainable development as we convene here to address the pressing issue of environmental damages within oil-producing communities.
“In the debate leading to the above resolution, the House took into cognizance that the revenue generated from oil and gas exports forms a substantial portion of the government’s income and is utilized in the funding of critical sectors of our economic development.
“Nonetheless, there is a need to strike a balance between our economic prosperity and maintaining an ecosystem and the natural habitat that have served as home to all for millions of years.
“Our environment is not just the backdrop of human action but the very essence of life and our sustenance.
“The oil-producing communities in our nation have experienced environmental degradation and socio-economic marginalization as a result of decades of oil exploration and exploitation.
“The bountiful natural resources should have been a source of prosperity and development, but instead of prosperity, these communities have instead suffered from pollution, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and deterioration of traditional livelihood “, he added.
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Trump set to sign Executive Order to flush out transgender personnel from US military

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President-elect, Donald Trump, is set to sign an executive order that would remove all transgender members from the United States military.

It was learnt that the development has intensified concerns within the LGBTQ+ community.

The report claimed that the state officials had stated that transgender personnel would be discharged on medical grounds, deeming them “unfit” to serve.

Recall that during Trump’s first term as president, he introduced a similar policy that prohibited transgender individuals from joining the armed forces while allowing those already enlisted to remain in their roles.

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After Trump left office, President Joe Biden had overturned the military ban in his first week as president in 2021, issuing an executive order to restore transgender individuals’ right to serve openly. However, with Trump’s potential return to the White House, transgender rights in the US may face renewed challenges.

However, the current proposal, as reported, would extend to removing all transgender service members, regardless of their current status. It is anticipated that the executive order will be issued on Trump’s first day in office, January 20 next year.

If signed, Trump’s new directive could be broader and more contentious than the policy he implemented during his first term. What would be its impact on transgender personnel serving in US military.

Reports indicated that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals are actively serving in the US military.

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This is coming amid moves by US congress to stop irst transgender lawmaker from using female restrooms and bathrooms in her new workplace.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed his support for the policy that tends to disregard transgender ideologies in the legislative arm.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the speaker said in a statement last Wednesday.

“It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

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The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

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The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

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PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder

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Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently

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Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters

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The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.

The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.

It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.

According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.

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“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”

The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.

Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members

Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS

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All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.

They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.

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