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Southeast Governors strengthen regional security outfit
…Commend Buhari, Ugwuanyi, others, on Enugu airport rehabilitation
The governors of the South East geo-political zone rose from a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu, disclosing their plan to forward a bill to South East State Houses of Assembly to enact a law to back-up the South East Regional Security Programme.
Briefing newsmen after meeting which lasted over five hours, the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, stated that the arrangement with the States Houses of Assembly will arrive at a name for the regional security outfit.
Engr. Umahi, who maintained that the South East Governors had earlier formed their joint regional security on July 28, 2019 and consequently inaugurated the committee on August 31, added that the Forum had written the Federal Government concerning the security outfit.
According to him, “at an appropriate time we shall be inviting the Federal Government to note the details of our Joint Security Programme”.
The governors assured the people of the South East zone that “we have our State Vigilante and the Forest Guards in all the South East States, who work with the security agencies daily in our various communities for protection of lives and property”.
They reassured the people that “the protection of their lives and property is paramount to us and we are committed to just doing that”.
On ongoing rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the South East governors, while noting the quality and speed of work by the contractor, PW Nig. Ltd, expressed satisfaction with the progress so far made and assurances of integrated safety and landing facilities, fencing and drainage system incorporated in the package.
The Forum, therefore, “commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt response in full release of special funding for the project”.
The Forum also commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State “for making more land available and his commitment in the overall success of the project”, as well as the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Works Committee Chairman on the project, Sir. Engr. Chris Okoye and his team, for their commitment and constant supervision and monitoring of the project.
The governors assured the people that President Buhari, the Aviation Minister, the President’s Chief of Staff and all other stakeholders are committed to the re-opening of the Enugu airport by March 31, 2020, saying: “All inconveniences are regretted”.
The Forum equally applauded the federal government on the speedy and quality work on the ongoing Enugu-Port Harcourt federal highway, with reservations on a number of sections yet to be attended to, “especially the Abia-PH axis being handled by a Chinese Company”.
According to the Forum, “Our findings show that they are not yet properly funded, as to effect reasonable work before the rainy season. While thanking Mr. President and the Hon. Minister of Works for this road, we appeal that all the companies be fairly funded so as to attend to most of the deplorable sections before the rainy season.”
On the 2nd Niger Bridge, after a brief on the progress of work from the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, the Forum and other stakeholders who were present at the meeting commended President Buhari, the works minister, the President’s Chief of Staff and the Managing Director of National Social Insurance Authority (NSIA), Mr. Uche Orji, for making the all-important project a reality.
“With the level of funding by Mr. President, we are confident that this project shall be completed in his tenure”, the Forum declared.
They thanked members of Imeobi Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo for visiting them during the meeting, assuring them that their useful advice was noted with a pledge to work with them for the benefit of the people of the zone.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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