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ECOWAS Parliament Calls For Action On Plastic Waste Management In Sub-region

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By Gloria Ikibah 
 
The Economic Community of West African States Parliament Joint Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Energy and Mines, and Committee on Infrastructure has called for member states to immediately adopt provisions for the effective implementation of existing regulations on plastic products’ harmonization and environmentally sound plastic waste management. 
 
The Joint Committee also urged member states to harmonize their respective regulations on the treatment and management of plastic waste as well as design policy to raise awareness among populations on the dangers of plastic waste
 
These were the recommendations of the Committee at the just concluded Delocalized meeting in Winneba, Ghana, with the theme, “Plastic Waste Management: Challenges in Implementing Community Policy and the Way Forward”.
 
The meeting, which was headed by the Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, was to create necessary awareness on the strategies developed by ECOWAS towards environmental friendliness and effective management of plastic waste.
 
The draft report also advised the ECOWAS Authority to instruct governments to create funds to be dedicated to organizing a circular economy for plastic waste treatment. 
 
The Parliament was also given the responsibility to organise  advocacy missions to member states for implementing Regulation C/REG.17/23 – a 
regulatory provision that aims to harmonize plastic products and promote environmentally sound plastic management in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. 
 
  
The regulations provides for the establishment of common standards for plastic products to ensure they meet specific requirements for safety, quality and environmental sustainability; prohibition of manufacturing, importation and sale of certain single-use plastic products such as plastic bags, straws and cutlery, due to their harmful environmental impact as well as ensuring that manufacturers take responsibility for the waste generated by their plastic products, including collection, recycling and disposal.
 
It also calls for compulsory labeling and marking of plastic products to indicate their material composition, recyclability and other relevant information; carrying out environmental impact assessment for new plastic products and production facilities to ensure they meet environmental sustainability criteria and
Establishment of mechanisms for monitoring compliance and enforcing the regulation through penalties and sanctions.
 
The draft report further urged  the Community’s Parliament to develop mechanisms for regular monitoring of plastic waste policy implementation and conduct advocacy for establishing a policy of accountability for plastic producers within member states.
 
In his remarks, Director of Environment and Climate Change at the ECOWAS Commission, Koffi Bernard, noted that Africa was estimated to be the second-largest source of plastic pollution in oceans from rivers (after Asia), contributing to about 7.8 per cent, and could become the largest contributor to poorly managed plastic waste globally by 2050 if measures were not taken to address the issue.
 
Bernard therefore urged parliamentarians to set up a framework for action and to participate in international discussions and negotiations on plastic waste management.
 
The very engaging meeting expanded participants’ knowledge about the health hazards associated with the use of plastic, and stimulate members on the necessary steps by way of legislations, individual and collective awareness creation strategy to stem the tide of all forms of risks linked to the use and disposal of plastics.
 
Declaring the meeting closed, the 3rd Deputy Speaker Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said there was need to find lasting solutions to plastic waste management. 
 
He said: “The success stories shared by the various stakeholders and experts have provided us with practical insight and inspiration to adopt in the different member states of ECOWAS and scale these initiatives within our respective communities.
 
“Our visit to the landfill and plastic treatment plant also gave us a firsthand insight into the innovative approaches and comprehensive strategies for plastic waste management. 
 
“This paradigm shift towards a circular economy is essential towards minimizing waste and promoting sustainable practices”.
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Northern Senators commend Tinubu for releasing kid protesters

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Senators from the Northern part of Nigeria have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ordering the release of minors arrested and detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.

The lawmakers under the aegis of the Northern Senators Forum, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, on Monday, said Tinubu’s decision demonstrates his commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of Nigeria’s youth.

The lawmakers under the aegis of the Northern Senators Forum, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, on Monday, said Tinubu’s decision demonstrates his commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of Nigeria’s youth.

“By his directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to expedite the release process, this is a welcome development, and we appreciate the president’s leadership in addressing this critical issue.

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“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of leaders in the North who have worked tirelessly to secure the release of these minors. Their dedication and advocacy have been instrumental in bringing this matter to the forefront, and we are grateful for their commitment to the welfare of our young people.

As we move forward, I urge leaders in the North to prioritize the safety and education of our children. It is essential that we create an environment where they can grow and thrive, free from harm and exploitation. Let us work together to ensure that our youth receive the support and resources they need to become active contributors to Nigeria’s growth and development,” the statement read in part.

Tinubu directed the immediate release of all the detained minors following the outrage that trailed their arrest and arraignment over the #EndBadGovernance protests held in several parts of the country in August.

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BREAKING: Harris, Trump tied in 1st officially declared result of US Presidential election

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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have tied with three votes each in the tiny New Hampshire township of Dixville Notch, kicking off Election Day in one of the first places in the country to report its presidential preference.

The unincorporated township, located along the US-Canada border in New Hampshire’s northern tip, opened and closed its poll just after midnight ET in a tradition that dates back to 1960.

Four Republicans and two undeclared voters participated.

While Dixville Notch isn’t always predictive of the eventual winner – or even the state’s pick – its annual production, despite a dwindling population, is a success story for local leaders and a reason to smile for political junkies eager for an early taste of the day’s events.

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By tradition, all eligible voters gather at the now-dormant Balsams Hotel in Dixville Notch to cast their secret ballots once polls open at midnight. Once every ballot is cast, votes are tallied and results announced – hours before anywhere else, making it a destination for national reporters, who often outnumber the voters.

Les Otten, one of the township’s voters and the lead developer for the Balsams, called the early release of the results “a civics lesson for the country,” adding that “if we can help people get out and understand that voting is an important part of their right as an American citizen, that’s perhaps the key to what we’re doing.”

Otten said he expects to break ground on the redevelopment project next summer. In the meantime, he said, “as long as we’re here and we’re property owners and we have, you know, our toothbrush in our bathrooms, we might as well exercise our right to vote.”

Nearby Millsfield and Hart’s Location, which is tucked in the White Mountains, first offered midnight voting before Dixville Notch but haven’t participated continuously and aren’t conducting it this year. A fictionalized version of the three neighbors was featured in an episode of Aaron Sorkin’s “West Wing” dubbed “Hartsfield’s Landing.”

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Dixville Notch voters have supported the Democratic nominee the last two presidential elections, with the township in 2020 unanimously casting five votes for President Joe Biden and with Hillary Clinton in 2016 winning four of seven votes — two went to Trump and one to Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.

In January, four registered Republican voters and two independents participated in the GOP primary, casting six unanimous votes for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

The 75-year-old Otten, who said he has been “a Republican ever since I was seven years old,” told CNN before Tuesday’s vote that he would cast his ballot for Harris.

“Nowhere in the Pledge of Allegiance does it say anything about pledging your allegiance to a person,” Otten said. “And I think at the end of the day, Trump has made it clear that you need to pledge allegiance to him, and he alone can fix this, and that is as anti-democratic as I can understand.”

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The voters also cast their votes in the country’s most competitive governor’s race between former one-term Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Democratic nominee Joyce Craig, the former mayor of Manchester, to succeed retiring Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. (CNN, but headline altered)

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EndBadGovernance: IGP orders probe into welfare of minors while in police prison

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The Inspector General Of Police, Kayode Egbetokun said he has summoned senior officers including all DCs, CID, and Heads of Investigation Units over the welfare of younger protesters identified to be minors, while they were in police detention.

The development comes following a nationwide outrage over the arraignment of the minors at the Federal High Court on Friday.

The protesters, who were charged with treason, looked malnourished when they appeared in court three months after they were arrested during the August hunger protest.

However, a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in Abuja on Monday night, said Egbetokun had ordered a thorough investigation into how the minors were treated.

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The Police PRO also said the report of the investigation has been delivered to the IGP who is currently away in Glasgow, where he is currently participating in the Interpol General Assembly.

The statement read “Following the recent remand and subsequent arraignment of some young individuals on Friday, 1st November, the Inspector-General of Police while in Algiers, Algeria for the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation committee meeting directed investigation into the conditions surrounding the care and welfare of these young persons while in Police detention facilities.

“Upon receiving the investigative report today in Glasgow, where the IGP is currently participating in Interpol General Assembly, the IGP vowed to thoroughly examine it and take necessary actions to address any procedural lapses or concerns.

To further ensure professionalism in investigation with emphasis on child-friendly investigation and care, the IGP has summoned all DCs CID and Heads of Investigation Units to a conference and workshop on November 7, 2024, at the Police Resource Center, Jabi.”

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The Nigeria Police Force then reaffirmed its commitment to upholding legal frameworks, ensuring fairness, and accountability, especially for vulnerable groups.

President Bola Tinubu had on Monday directed the immediate release of all the detainees.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the President swore in seven newly appointed ministers cleared by the Senate.

The minister said the President ordered the immediate release of the minors without prejudice to whatever legal processes that are ongoing.

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The President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of the minors, and also take part to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.

Tinubu also directed that a committee would be set up to be spearheaded by the humanitarian affairs ministry to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of the minors.

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