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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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Tinubu promotes acting COAS Oluyede to Lieutenant General

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By Francesca Hangeior.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday decorated the acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, as Lieutenant General.

It was gathered that the short ceremony took place in the President’s office complex at the State House, Abuja.

“President Tinubu decorates acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, as Lt. General,” a snippet from the president’s communications team read Tuesday.

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Tinubu had appointed Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff last Wednesday, even as his predecessor, Taoreed Lagbaja, remains indisposed for weeks.

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Oyebanji, others mourn death of Ekiti chief judge

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By Francesca Hangeior.

There was a lull in the Ekiti State Judiciary headquarters in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday following the death of the state Chief Judge, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye.

Adeyeye, who was inaugurated as the Ekiti State Chief Judge on October 11, 2021, passed away on Monday at the age of 64.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, also expressed condolences on Adeyeye’s demise.

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Oyebanji, in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described Adeyeye’s death as “heartrending and a colossal loss for the state.”

The governor said, “With the death of the late Justice Adeyeye, the Judiciary in Ekiti State, in particular, and Nigeria in general, has lost a great pillar and an asset whose worth is invaluable.”

Oyebanji described the late Chief Judge as a firm and forthright jurist who demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the principles of equity and justice.

He noted that Adeyeye worked hard for a vibrant and independent Judiciary in his lifetime, which allowed that arm of government to contribute to good governance and the defence of the rights of citizens.

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The governor added that the late Justice Adeyeye did his best in advocating better welfare for judicial officers and staff members of the Ekiti State Judiciary to ensure effective service delivery and the smooth running of the justice sector.

He stated, “This is indeed a great loss to our dear state. On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the family of the late Hon. Justice Adeyeye and pray that the good Lord will console and comfort them, and grant the dear departed eternal rest.”

The Chief Registrar of the Ekiti State Judiciary, Olanike Adegoke, described the late Chief Judge as “a respected jurist who dedicated his life to upholding the principles of fairness, equity, and justice.”

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Sex tape: Equatorial Guinea Govt suspends Minister, staff

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

The Equatorial Guinean Government has announced the suspension of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a politician and a former head of his country’s anti-graft National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF).

Reports broke out exposing the numerous tapes. In the sex tape, about 400 woman were recorded allegedly involving Mr Engonga, the son of Baltasar Engonga Edjoo—the current president of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)—and numerous women surfaced online.

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Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, Teddy Nguema, in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) page on Monday, also announced the immediate suspension of the women (staff of the agency) involved in the explicit videos, some of which were filmed in the offices.

Nguema stated that the government is implementing strict measures against such acts, viewing them as a grave violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law.

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