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Borno: Evacuation of corpses, trapped persons begins in Maduguri after floods

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Thousands of families trapped in Maiduguri flooded areas are being evacuated to safer areas by the military, volunteers and other security agencies.

Visiting the most affected areas in Maiduguri, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, toured through the Customs area where the broken prison is located.

While on the tour, dead bodies were also being evacuated. Trapped persons were also being evacuated by the military, security agencies and civilian volunteers.

Although some flooded areas of Maiduguri have receded, badly affected areas like Gamboru Market, Kasuwan Shanu, Custom Area, Fori, and Abbaganaram are actively flooded.

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The premises of the Nigerian prisons is still being flooded while public infrastructure, amenities, shops and vehicles are completely submerged by the flood.

Women, children and vulnerable persons are mostly those trapped and being evacuated.

In the entourage of the Minister are the Controller-Generals of Immigration, Correctional Service and the Secretary of Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board.

Several aerial videos and photos shared by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with AFP showed rows of houses submerged in murky water.

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Maiduguri, an epicentre of more than a decade-long jihadist insurgency, serves as the hub for the responses to the humanitarian crisis in the northeast region.

The United Nations refugee agency in Nigeria (UNHCR) on its X account said it was the city’s worst flooding in 30 years.

“It is an unprecedented incident,” NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP on Tuesday. “Some of the central parts of the city that have not witnessed flood in so many years are witnessing it today.”

Thousands of homes have been submerged by the rapid rise of waters after the rupture of the Alau dam on the Ngadda River, 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Maiduguri.

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“The last three days have over 150,000 individuals with over 23,000 households affected,” said NEMA zonal coordinator Surajo Garba.

But with more locations being hit, “we are sure the figure will be much over 200,000 individuals,” Garba forecast.

“The flood, which began over the weekend and worsened in the following days, was the direct result of excess water from the Alau Dam,” said Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who hails from Maiduguri as he visited the area.

“The collapse of the spillways unleashed a significant surge of water downstream, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding communities,” added Shettima.

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The flood also inundated the city’s post office and main zoo, with authorities warning that “deadly animals has been washed away into our communities (sic).”

Social media showed pictures of an ostrich which had supposedly escaped from the facility wandering the streets of the city.

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Nigeria beats 4 countries in global quality living, ranked 135th out of 139

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Nigeria is missing in the top spot for countries that offer their citizens the best quality of life, according to the latest Quality of Living Index by Global Citizen Solutions.

The report ranked Nigeria 135th out of 199 countries, with an overall score of 54.1, making the country unattractive for people looking to shift base from their home countries, probably due to adverse effects of climate change, economic opportunities and persecution or large-scale human rights violations, among others.

The rating, which took into consideration the availability and cost of day-to-day amenities, such as infrastructure, cost of living, personal and political freedom, environmental quality and attitudes towards foreigners, comes on the backdrop of the harsh economic condition in Nigeria and reflects the current cost of living crisis in the country.

The report scored Nigeria low in both the standard of living of the population and pursuit of attainment of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, while it scored the country partially free in terms of protection of personal freedom.

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The country scored very low in environmental quality and very high in migrants’ acceptance.

At 54.1, Nigeria comes behind African countries such as Namibia (87th), South Africa (88), Tunisia (90th), Ghana (91st), Seychelles (101st), Morocco (103rd), Senegal (106), Botswana (107), Algeria (108) and Cote d’ Ivoire at 115th, among others.

It bested countries like Maldives, Libya, China, Brunei, Venezuela, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Gabon in overall quality of living standards.

Meanwhile, European countries such as Sweden, Finland, Germany, Denmark and Spain emerged in the top five on the list.

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The report said: “The Quality of Living Index looks at the overall quality of life a country offers. For the Quality of Living dimension, the goal set was to assess how good life is in the country as a permanent/primary place of residence for expats, retirees, and anyone seeking desirable living conditions abroad.

“The set of orienting questions was: What is the overall level of human development/general population quality of life? How happy is the country’s population? How good is healthcare? How affordable is good healthcare? How safe is living in the country? How good is education? How good is it as a travel hub? What is the level of freedom experienced by the country’s population?

“Several thematic areas were prioritized, and research was undertaken to identify reliable data sources with comprehensive country coverage.

Six main weights of indicators are included in the index, including SDG (30%), Cost of Living (20%), Freedom in the World (20%), Happiness Score (10%), Environmental Performance (10%), and Migrant Acceptance(10%).”

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Discover the regions on Earth where snakes are not found

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Snakes are the most versatile species, with over 3,000 species, and are found on almost all continents and almost in all kinds of environments from deserts to rainforests. They can thrive in most climates and various habitats. According to the reports, there are many parts of Earth that exhibit a remarkable absence of snakes, and this can be attributed to various factors such as geographic isolation, extreme climatic conditions, or adverse environmental conditions that make survival hard for them. The regions themselves are an exception to the rule since the conditions here cannot favor the existence of snakes.

Some such areas include Antarctica, New Zealand, Ireland, and most of the Pacific islands. In many of these regions, strong laws and the natural barriers in place have resulted in snakes never establishing themselves to begin with; thus, one finds unique ecosystems in danger of introduction of non-native species otherwise. Explore more about the places where snakes are not found.

Snake-free places on the Earth
Antarctica

Antarctica is the only continent that is snake-free on Earth as per reports. This is because the continent has an extremely cold climate. Thus, Antarctica is inadmissible for the snaky reptiles that are cold-blooded. Snakes are ectothermic, meaning that they regulate their body temperature through external sources of heat. Snakes could not survive in Antarctica since the environment has ice and snow, and the extreme coldness is such that reptiles would not be able to find warmth for them to work.

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Antarctica does have other wildlife including seals, penguins, and marine mammals. However, this list does not include reptiles, which snakes belong to.

New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the very few countries in the world that is entirely snake-free, which is because it is relatively isolated in the South Pacific. Geographically, New Zealand is separated by huge oceans, and isolation did not allow snakes to naturally migrate to the island nation. Although sea snakes, including the Yellow Lipped Sea Krait and Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, can occasionally be seen in the waters around New Zealand, they do not live on land.

New Zealand has very strict laws regarding the importation and keeping of snakes within the country, whether as pets or in zoos. This is to preserve the unique ecosystem of the country and to avoid any ecological imbalance that might be caused by the introduction of non-native species.

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Ireland

Ireland is also one country that has no snakes, and fossil records show that snakes never colonized the island. Snakes are absent in Ireland because of its chilling climate and historical geographical separation from the main lands on the continent according to the reports. Snakes in their nature need warmer climates to conserve their body temperatures because Ireland has a temperate climate that is not healthy for snakes to survive. Snakes are not native to Ireland; however, some species exist in zoos or kept as pets but don’t occur naturally.

It is so interesting and mythical that snakes have never been found in Ireland, where popular legends or stories explain that might have been due to a historical event or because of Saint Patrick’s influence.

Greenland

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Greenland is an Arctic country with no native snakes. Because it’s not favorable due to its unfriendly climate, long winters, and little sunshine that the snake species don’t find friendly because snakes are cold-blooded animals surviving well in warm conditions. Even though there is no snake species known to be originally found in the country of Greenland, people are permitted to keep domesticated snakes under local authority permissions.

This has resulted in stringent laws on importing and even owning the exotic pets to conserve the sensitive ecosystem of the Arctic and not have the alien species disturb the fragility of the ecosystem in that area.

Iceland

Snakes can’t be found in Iceland because the weather is extremely unforgiving and biting. Geothermal activities coupled with volcanic soil make most of the reptiles inapplicable to the environment of the island. However, there are some that call the sand snakes of Iceland. Actually, these are not snakes but mere wind formations on sand. Snakes could not survive the cold environment of Iceland, and no record of snakes exists in this island, neither as a native species nor an established population.

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Alaska

Alaska, being very much north, lacks native snake populations. The winters are long, and the light is scarce here, making the survival of the cold-blooded animals like snakes extremely difficult. There have been instances of nonnative snakes, but they are a result of escapes from pets in some cases; they are never established populations. Snakes cannot be seen throughout the year in this harsh environment, and the only reptile species in Alaska is the sea turtle, which lives in warmer ocean waters. There are no snakes in Alaska because the state has a cold climate and there is no place there where snakes might live.

Hawaii

The other snake-less place is Hawaii. Hawaii is a group of islands located in the central Pacific. Snakes cannot access these islands through geographical isolation. The surrounding ocean barriers contribute majorly to how snakes do not reach these islands. Although some sea snakes occasionally appear offshore of Hawaii; they are non-land reptiles. Hawaii has also established very strict laws banning the importation and possession of snakes as it strives to protect its delicate ecosystem and ensure no non-native species is introduced into the system to cause a mismatch of the native wildlife.

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Cook Islands

According to the reports, no snakes are found in Cook Islands, South Pacific. Isolation is one aspect that has seen many of the islands in the Pacific have no snakes. The flora and fauna diversity present on the islands vary from those of areas that comprise snakes. In the Cook Islands, the uniqueness of the place from the ecologic perspective emanates from their snakeless characteristic.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is an island country off the west coast of Africa. It has no native species of snakes in its islands and is one of the few regions without snakes. Apart from having no snakes, Cape Verde has few venomous animals, making it a relatively safe destination for travelers. It has become a favorite tourist destination for people who want to have a snake-free holiday because of its lack of snakes and other dangerous wildlife.

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Pacific Islands

Apart from the Cook Islands and Cape Verde, there are many other Pacific Islands, including Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands, which are snake-free. This is because the islands have isolated ecosystems that have never been colonized by snakes. Though some of the islands have sea snakes in their surrounding waters, they do not have any native land snakes on them. Geographically, the regions are cut off, so snakes cannot naturally migrate there.

Snake-free regions on Earth highlight the fascinating interplay between geography, climate, and ecological balance. From Antarctica’s icy terrain to the isolated Pacific islands, these places remain untouched by snakes, offering unique ecosystems and insights into the adaptability of wildlife. Whether due to natural barriers or stringent conservation laws, these areas provide a safe haven from snakes, making them intriguing destinations for those seeking a reptile-free environment.

Credit: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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2025 Budget: NASS Joint Committee Directs NCS To Block Revenue Leakages To Achive N10.5trn Target

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By Gloria Ikibah
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has directed Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to block leakages and put stringent measures in place in other to achieve the N10.5 trillion revenue target for the year 2025.
The Joint Committee also issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Chief Executive Officers of key revenue generating agencies including Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, Managing Directors of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adedayo Adeyeye and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
The lawmakers who zealously opposed the N6.5 trillion revenue projection presented for the year, called on the need for the Service to ensure effective monitoring of its personnel, address issues bothering on under-declaration, among other sharp practices at the nation’s ports.
In his address, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa explained that the N10.5 trillion new revenue target was achievable after due consideration of available information obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation.and other parameters.
He however noted that the Parliament will not hesitate to raise the revenue target to N12 trillion if the issue of non-remittance of 80 percent Operating Surplus as provided by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 is not addressed with Fiscal Responsibility Commission.
In his presentation, FRC Chairman, Victor Murako alleged that NCS which started to comply with provisions of the Act in 2015 to 2019, has failed to remit the Operating Surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund till date.
According to him, the Service is indebted to the tune of N8.6 billion as at 2019, adding that the agreement reached after the intervention of the Public Accounts Committee last year was not honored by Nigeria Customs Service.
While responding to the presentation, NCS Comptroller General, Mr. Adeniyi Adewale promised to work with the Legal Department to address the issue of operating surplus between one or two weeks.
On the question bothering on the revenues accruing to Nigerian Customs Service as raised by Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, the NCS Comptroller General disclosed that the Service collects 2 percent Value Added Tax, 7 percent collection while 4 percent FOB was yet to be implemented but being worked out by the Ministry of Finance and office of Accountant General of the Federation.
He however observed that the CISS comes occasionally over the past two years.
The lawmakers who spoke during the interactive session with heads of key revenue generating agencies including Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC), however decried the failure of heads of some government revenue generating agencies to honour invitation and appear for 2025 budget defence.
They highlighted that the affected agencies including: Nigerian Postal Service (NPS) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), risk withdrawal of funding for 2025 fiscal year.
Others are: Nigerian Copyright Commission, National Insurance Commission, National Pensions Commission, National Space and Research Development Agency and Nigerian Metrological Agency.
Also included are: Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporations, Airspace Management Authority, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Bank of Industry (BoI), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaira.
In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee of Finance, Senator Musa observed that President Bola Tinubu while presenting the 2025 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly, mandated all the Ministers and heads of agencies to appear to defend their respective budgets before assembly with every sense of responsibility.
The Senator said that members of the National Assembly had to cut short their Christmas holidays to attend to the national assignment.
“But to our dismay a lot of agencies have refused to honor our invitations to appear before us, for us to scrutinise their performances in 2024 and look at their 2025 projection, if it is justifiable.
“The all these agencies have refused to honour the joint committee’s invitation. So by virtue of the constitutional powers that have been given to the joint Committees on Finance of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, we are given the chief executives of these agencies 48 hours within which to appear before this joint committee.
“Failure to do that the committee will not hesitate to recommend to the Appropriation Committee to withhold any appropriation to these agencies.
“If these agencies are self funded, we will also request both the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold their funding,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke (APC-Lagos state) said that the essence of the budget defence exercise was to boost revenue generation and cut down on borrowing.
“If these agencies refuse to appear before us, I the needful will be done by the National Assembly,” he said.
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