Britain And The World Bid Adieu To Queen Elizabeth II

 

Britain said farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday at a state funeral attended by world leaders, before a historic last ceremonial journey through the streets of London packed with sorrowful mourners.

Huge crowds gathered in near silence to watch as the queen’s flag-draped coffin, topped with the Imperial State Crown, her orb and sceptre, was carried slowly to a gun carriage from parliament’s Westminster Hall where it had lain in state since Wednesday.

To the tune of pipes and drums, the gun carriage — used at every state funeral since Queen Victoria’s in 1901 — was then drawn by 142 junior enlisted sailors in the Royal Navy to Westminster Abbey.

The thousand-year-old church’s tenor bell tolled 96 times at one-minute intervals — one for every year of her life — stopping a minute before the service began at 11:00 am (1000 GMT).

In his funeral sermon, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby praised the queen’s life of duty and service to the UK and Commonwealth.

“People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer,” he told the 2,000 guests, who included US President Joe Biden and Japan’s reclusive Emperor Naruhito.

“But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered,” the Anglican leader added, before the coffin was borne on another procession towards her final resting place in Windsor Castle, west of London.

The longest-serving monarch in British history died at Balmoral, her Scottish Highland retreat, on September 8 after a year of declining health.

Her eldest son and successor, King Charles III, dressed in ceremonial military uniform, followed the solemn processions, alongside his three siblings.

‘She was my boss’

Charles’s eldest son Prince William accompanied them alongside William’s estranged brother, Prince Harry, and other senior royals.

William’s two eldest children, George and Charlotte, who are next in line to the throne, also walked behind the coffin inside the abbey.

Late Sunday, Charles, 73, and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, said they had been “deeply touched” by the public’s flood of messages.

“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you,” he said.

Britain, a country much changed since the queen’s coronation in the same abbey in 1953, has dug deep into its centuries of tradition to honour the only monarch that most of its people have ever known.

“It’s once in a lifetime,” said student Naomi Thompson, 22, camped out in the crowds at London’s Hyde Park.

“It’s a moment of history… She’s everyone’s granny,” added engineer Alice Garret, 28.

Others unable to be in London gathered in cinemas and churches around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to watch the service and procession on big screens.

Auto engineer Jamie Page, a 41-year-old former soldier, stood on Whitehall to observe the funeral procession, wearing his military medals from service in the Iraq war.

“Sixteen years old, I swore an oath of allegiance to the queen. She’s been my boss. She means everything, she was like a gift from God,” he said.

Two minutes of silence

But on Charles, the oldest person yet to ascend the British throne, Page added: “Who knows, time will tell.”

The funeral lasted just under an hour, brought to an end by a bugler playing “The Last Post”, before two minutes of silence and the reworded national anthem, “God Save the King”.

After an hour-long procession that was to go past Buckingham Palace, the coffin was to be taken west by road to Windsor Castle, where thousands had lined the route since early morning.

Some 6,000 military personnel have been drafted in to take part in proceedings in what Britain’s highest-ranking military officer has called “our last duty for Her Majesty the Queen”.

The queen will be buried alongside her father king George VI, her mother queen Elizabeth and sister princess Margaret, reuniting in death the family who once called themselves “us four”.

The coffin of her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99, will also be transferred to lie alongside her.

Elizabeth’s funeral could not be more different from Philip’s at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in April 2021.

Coronavirus restrictions limited mourners to just 30, led by the queen, a solitary figure in mourning black and a matching facemask.

The contrast was profound on Monday, the abbey packed with dignitaries and some ordinary Britons who were honoured for their military or community service, especially during the Covid pandemic.

Biden’s tribute

“You were fortunate to have had her for 70 years; we all were,” Biden said on Sunday after signing a book of condolence. “The world is better for her.”

In the abbey pews was Liz Truss, whom the queen appointed as the 15th British prime minister of her reign just two days before her death, in her last major ceremonial duty.

All of Truss’s living predecessors were there plus her counterparts and representatives from the 14 Commonwealth countries outside Britain where Charles is also head of state.

Whether they remain constitutional monarchies or become republics is likely to be the defining feature of Charles’s reign.

The queen’s death has prompted deep reflection about the Britain she reigned over, the legacy of its past, its present state and what the future might hold, as well as the values of lifelong service and duty she came to represent during her 70-year reign.

Hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to have queued, sometimes for up to 25 hours and overnight, to file past the queen’s coffin as it lay in state.

Chrissy Heerey, a serving member of the Royal Air Force who joined the marathon queue twice, was the last person through the doors and described the experience as “amazing”.

“When they came to me and said, ‘right, you’re the last person’, I said, really?!” she told AFP, before heading off to join the crowds for the coffin’s procession through London.

Big Ben tolls

Throughout the procession after the funeral, Big Ben, the giant bell atop the Elizabeth Tower at one end of the Houses of Parliament, tolled and military guns fired at one-minute intervals.

At Windsor, the Sebastopol Bell — captured in Crimea in 1856 — and the Curfew Tower Bell also sounded.

A vast television audience was expected to watch the funeral worldwide and live online, in a sign of the enduring fascination with the woman once described as “the last global monarch”.

Those lining the streets of London — already jammed at sunrise on Monday — said they had to bear witness.

“I will talk about this moment to my children,” said Jack Davies, 14, camped out for the procession with his parents at Hyde Park Corner, where the coffin will be transferred from the gun carriage for the drive to Windsor.

“I’ll say: ‘I was there!'”

At Windsor, the queen’s crown, orb and sceptre will be removed and placed on the altar.

The most senior officer of the royal household, the lord chamberlain, breaks his “wand of office” and places it on the coffin, symbolising the end of her reign.

The lead-lined oak casket, draped with the queen’s colours, will be lowered into the Royal Vault as a lone bagpiper plays a lament.

A private interment ceremony will take place at the adjoining King George VI Memorial Chapel at 1830 GMT.

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Source: CHANNELS

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Court Sentences Evans To 21 Years Imprisonment

 

 

The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, to 21 years imprisonment.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo convicted and sentenced Evans and his co-defendant, Victor Aduba, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping one Sylvanus Hafia.

Evans and his co-defendants, according to our source CHANNELS TV, were before the court on four counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of arms.

They were accused of conspiring and kidnapping Sylvanus Ahanonu Hafia at about 5:30pm on June 23, 2014, at Kara Street, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos and were alleged to have captured and detained Hafia and demanded a ransom of $2 million.

But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. Monday’s jail term is the second sentence against the kidnap kingpin.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi had earlier sentenced him and two others to life imprisonment for conspiracy and the kidnap of the Managing Director of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Donatus Dunu.

Evans, however, still has outstanding cases before Justice Adedayo Akintoye also of the same court.

Besides the jail term, Justice Taiwo also convicted and sentenced them to another five years imprisonment each on two other counts of conspiracy to commit the acts and for being in unlawful possession of firearms.

The court held that the jail terms would run concurrently with no option of fine.

Evans and his co-defendant were arraigned before the court on December 15, 2017.

During their trial, the prosecution called four witnesses, including Hafia who testified that a ransom of $420,000 was eventually paid by his brother and wife to secure his release.

The victim specifically identified Evans whom he said he saw before he was blindfolded, beaten, and put on a bus.

Hafia said on the day he was kidnapped, Evans wore a three-quarter-jeans short and carried an AK47. He testified that there were others with him and one of them whom he later came to know as Aduba, had on an army uniform.

In reaching her judgment, Justice Taiwo identified two issues for determination; whether the victim was kidnapped and whether the defendants did it.

She found that the victim identified the first defendant during the kidnap and even at the police station where Evans was said to have apologised to him.

The judge also held that there was no evidence of bruises on Evans during his video interview with the police, contrary to his claim that he was tortured.

“There was no proof of evidence before the court that Evans was tortured by Abba Kyari’s men,” she said. ” In the video interview, during trial within trial, Evans told one Sergeant Ekundayo that he was a primary school dropout, and he could not write.

“He asked the police officer to help him write his statement. I watched the video record where the defendant told the investigating police officer about his escapades of how he breaks into banks to steal millions as if he was proud of his escapades. He smiled often and called himself a businessman,” the court held.

The judge concluded that she was satisfied that the prosecution was able to prove the case against the first defendant.

As regards the second defendant, the judge said that she believed the testimony of the prosecution witnesses that Aduba wears his army uniform and helps Evans and the others clear the way whenever they go for operations so that they can freely leave town.

The court also considered the confessional statement of the second defendant who said, “I am an army officer, and I was introduced to armed robbery and kidnapping by one Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (Evans), our gang leader, we have operated five times.

“I have participated five times and we used four AK47 rifles to kidnap at Amuwo Odofin and after one month Evans gave me N1 million, as my own share of the money. I have made up to N6.5 million, in the five times I participated.”

In the final analysis, the court held, “I find the first and second defendants guilty as charged. I hereby convict them accordingly.”

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Alleged misconduct: Accord Party expels Joe Itiaba, Two Other National Officers

 

With less than six months to the 2023 elections, Accord Party on Thursday announced the expulsion of three national officials with immediate effect.

Our source; The PUNCH, earlier reported that, AP’s former ex-officio member, Rev. Isaac Adeniyi; former Zonal Vice Chairman (South-East), Innocent Igbokwe and former Caretaker Vice Chairman (South-South), Prince James Joseph Itiaba were sacked over alleged indiscipline, violation of constitution and gross misconduct.

Their expulsion was announced in a communique read to Journalists by its National Secretary, Dr. Adebukola Abiola Ajaja, at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee which held at NICON Luxury in Abuja, after receiving the report of the disciplinary committee set up to look into the allegations levelled against them.

She said, “I wish to intimate the entire members of our great party nationwide and the general public that the National Executive Committee which is the Highest organ of the party during its meeting held Thursday, September 15, 2022 reached some resolution as follows:

“The highest organ of the party NEC, has passed a vote of confidence on the chairman of National Caretaker Committee of the party led by Hon. Muhammad Lawal Nalado.

“That the NEC meeting was well attended. That having received the report of the disciplinary committee set up by NEC to look into the expulsion of Rev. Isaac Adeniyi and Innocent Igbokwe from their various wards respectively, hereby ratified their expulsion from the party with immediate effect.

“The disciplinary committee found Prince James Joseph Itiaba guilty of gross misconduct, insubordination and breach of the party’s constitution. Therefore, NEC ratified his expulsion from the party

“NEC hereby directs that former ex-officio member, Rev. Isaac Adeniyi; former Zonal Vice Chairman (South-East), Innocent Igbokwe and former Caretaker Vice Chairman (South-South), Prince James Joseph Itiaba, having been expelled from the party are hereby directed to return all party properties in their possession to the national secretariat.”

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Wife dies while chasing husband over side-chick in Calabar

 

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Cross River State, Maikano Hassan, has confirmed a lone incident that killed a middle-aged woman in Calabar, yesterday, who was in a hot chase of her husband over his “mistress.”

The Sector Commander, who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, said the incident was caused by over-speeding.

He said the incident involving a Toyota Highlander, which occurred on Murtala Muhammed Highway in Calabar, claimed the life of the lone female driver who veered off the road into a ditch by the road.

His words: “Though the woman was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but she was said to have died few minutes later due to the injury sustained from the incident.”

Vanguard gathered that the woman was said to be in pursuit of her husband, who was alleged to be with a “side chick” in his car when she lost control of her vehicle, killing herself in the process.

A source who didn’t want her name in print told Vanguard that the woman sighted her husband leaving SPAR shopping mall in the company of another female when she tried to block her husband’s car with the Toyota Highlander she was driving in.

The source said: “Her husband was said to have manoeuvred his vehicle out of the attempted blockade then took the Murtala Muhammed highway, with his wife in serious pursuit.

“In a bid  to outrun her husband, she lost control of the speeding vehicle, veered off the road and slammed the vehicle on a tree, damaging the vehicle beyond repairs and also killing herself,” the source revealed.

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Source: VANGUARD

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Many Feared Trapped As Four-Storey Building Collapses In Uyo

 

A four-storey building under construction collapsed in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Saturday.

The building, which is located at Iman Street, off Aka Road in the capital city, fell on another building next to it.

Eyewitnesses and residents of the area who spoke to Channels Television said the incident happened at about 6 pm.

There are strong indications that some of the people who were working inside the building are still trapped in the rubble.

Officers of the state fire service commenced rescue operations about two hours after the incident.

This is the first building collapse in Uyo since the Reigners Church incident in December 2016.

Building collapse is common in parts of Nigeria, especially the urban centres.  Saturday’s incident comes weeks after another structure collapsed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Two persons died in the incident.

Enforcement of safety regulations and the use of shoddy materials have been highlighted since November last year after a high-rise building under construction collapsed in the Ikoyi district of Lagos, killing at least 45 people.

Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos, according to a South African university researcher investigating construction disasters.

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for improved construction standards, describing the frequent building collapses as “increasingly embarrassing”.

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Source: CHANNELS

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THE CORRESPONDENTS CHAPEL OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ) AKS COUNCIL

 

 

 COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A 4-DAY RETREAT/ CHAPEL WEEK OF THE CORRESPONDENTS CHAPEL OF THE NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), AKWA IBOM STATE COUNCIL HELD FROM  SUNDAY 11TH- WEDNESDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2022 AT THE ROSES REGENCY HOTELS AND SUITES, WUYE, ABUJA.

 

PREAMBLE

The Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council held a 4-day Retreat/Chapel Week from Sunday, 11th-Wednesday, 14 September, 2022 at the Roses Regency Hotel and Suites, Wuye, Abuja with the theme: IN SEARCH OF A BETTER NIGERIA THROUGH RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM

i.                     The aim of the Retreat was to intellectually and professionally re-equip the members of the Chapel and other journalists within and outside Akwa Ibom State for the task of effective reportage of the forthcoming general elections in 2023 and beyond.

ii.                    In her address, the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Idongesit Ashameri expressed appreciation to the Governor for his support to the Chapel in particular and the NUJ in the state in general.  Comrade Ashameri said the theme of the Retreat was apt considering the challenges confronting our nation in the areas of politics, economy, insecurity, corruption and governance, as well as the centrality of the role of journalists as watchdogs of the society in joining in the fight against the mentioned vices.

iii.                 In his speech to declare the Retreat open, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel represented by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, advised Nigerian electorate to vote for politicians who combine vibrancy with experience instead of those that would further destroy and bury the country. Emmanuel said the warning became necessary as Nigeria is in a critical stage of her economic and political developments and requires the right leadership to save it from eventual collapse. He congratulated the chapel and its leadership for taking the training of their members seriously to the point of braving all the odds to Abuja for the 4-day Chapel Week.

iv.                 In his Keynote paper, The Trajectory of the Nigerian Media: Past, Present and Future, the GMD of DAAR Communications, Chief Tony Akiotu, represented by the Director of News in the organization, Mr Adebayo Aboderin, outlined the evolution, and contributions of the Nigerian mass media to nation’s socio-economic and political development. He highlighted the strength and weaknesses of the Nigerian media and proffered some measures to strengthen their professionalism.

v.                   Goodwill messages were received from the Chairman of NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, The chairman of Abuja Council of the NUJ,Comrade  Emmanuel Ogbeche, the  Chairman of NUJ, DAAR Communication, and the immediate past Chairperson of NAWOJ, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Comrade Uduak Ekong.

2,     PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE RETREAT

The following papers were presented at the Retreat:

i.                      The Place of the Media in Shaping Monetary Policies for Better Economy, by Prof. Uche Uwaleke, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria;

ii.                   The Role of the Media in Budget Tracking, by Tijah Akpan, CEO, Policy Alert

iii.                   Safety and Security of the Media in a Volatile Environment by CSP Vanderfan James Tersugh (retd)

3,   Observations:

The Retreat observed as follows:

i.                     That most of the CBN policies, either expansionary or retractive, on monetary policies, do not seem to work in curbing inflation in Nigeria;

ii.                   That such policies cannot work in controlling cost-push inflation because of the high cost of production such as diesel, gas, transportation, energy, as well as insecurity

iii.                 That there is no media representation in Akwa Ibom Public Procurement Committee contrary to Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Law 2013

iv.                 There is a controversial section, 32 (2) in the Akwa Ibom State Audit Commission Law 2021 contrary to Section 125 (6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

v.                   That the office of the state Auditor General  of Akwa Ibom State has over the years been provided with very little budgetary allocation without regard to the enormous responsibilities it is statutorily saddled with.

 vi.         That it is disturbing that Akwa Ibom is not one of the 19 states that have so far signed on to the Open Government  (OG) Partnership, which would  have further strengthened reforms, reduced corruption, improved service delivery, built confidence with donors, and attracted alternative sources of development funding, especially now that revenue is really lean.  

vii.                 That the responsibility of the media in facilitating contest for power through election to enthrone democratic government is enormous

viii.                That the press should be commended for bringing to being and sustaining the current uninterrupted democratic dispensation in the past 23 years

ix              That Lack of transparency, Compliance with laws/regulations, Threat of media channels, Discrimination and lack of efforts and Bullying and Harassment at workplace constitute serious threat to the media

x.                  That journalists all the world, Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State inclusive, have been facing several decrees of violence such as assassination, harassment, unjust incarceration, physical and mental injuries, intimidation, discrimination, etc. in the course of performing their legitimate duties.

4, RECOMMENDATIONS

Arising from the above observations, the Retreat made the following recommendations;

i.                     That since the extent to which the public understanding of the CBN Monetary Policy is dependent on the quality and quantity of information made available to the media, the CBN should ensure that it provides the media with adequate and timely communication for onward distillation to the public;

ii.                   That the media should guard against alarmist or inflammatory headlining of stories on monetary and economic policies of the nation so as not to cause panicky activities in the economy, which could lead to avoidable rise in inflation.

iii.                 That the government should stop the practice of taking non concessionary loans based only on assumed windfall, sometimes called miracle money, as such loans are not only illegal and illegitimate, but also have the tendency of mortgaging the future generations of the state to perennial loan servicing;        

iv.                 That the fiscal documents of Akwa Ibom State should be domiciled at one location for easy reference instead of the present practice of scattering them to various places like the Budget Office, Ministry of Finance, Accountant General Office, Auditory General Office, etc.

vi                   That the media organizations should live up to the responsibility of training and retraining their staff, especially, journalists instead of leaving such an important activity to NGOs, or staff to train themselves;

vi.                 That the refusal or delay in regular payment of media worker’s entitlements does not only amount to abuse and harassment of the workers, but is also a deliberate act to subject such workers to economic insecurity which could engender unethical practice.

vii.                That Media organization should provide adequate and appropriate security equipment and insurance to their staff covering violent conflict environment’

viii.              That Media organizations should make transparency their watchword by regularly publishing their annual returns as done by other responsible organizations;

ix               That journalists should display a high level of professionalism devoid of partisanship, favoritism,   bias in their reportage of the 2023 elections and their fallouts thereof.  

5,   CONCLUSIONS

i.                     The Retreat expressed appreciation to Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy for changing the face of information management in the state and making the ministry the most viable and effective in the state. The Retreat specially commended him for moral and material support he has often offered to the Correspondents Chapel.

ii.                   Notwithstanding lapses observed in the management of the state budget, the Retreat commended Akwa Ibom State Government for latching up to the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS), which enable her to be one of the beneficiaries of the World Bank’s incentive scheme;

iii.                 The Retreat commended the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk for the harmonious working relationship he has displayed with the Correspondents Chapel, culminating in his attending the 4-day Chapel Week with at Abuja.

iv.                 The Retreat expressed appreciation to ExxonMobil, the principal sponsors, and other personalities and organizations for their support and assistance which went a long way in making the exercise a success.

SIGNED

Joe Effiong (PhD)

Chairman, Communique Committee

 

Tony Ita Etim                                                      

Member

Inemesit Akpansoh

Member                                                                                             

Comrade Idongesit Ashameri

Chapel Chairman

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Most CBN Policies Not Curbing Inflation In Nigeria - A'Ibom Correspondents' Chapel

 

The Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council has observed that most of the CBN policies, either expansionary or retractive, on monetary policies, do not seem to work in curbing inflation in Nigeria.

The Chapel made the observation in a communique issued Thursday at the end of  a 4-day Retreat/Chapel Week at Roses Regency Hotel and Suites, Wuye, Abuja, on the theme: 2023: IN SEARCH OF A BETTER NIGERIA THROUGH RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM. 

The Communique jointly signed by Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Idongesit Ashameri and Chairman of the Communique drafting Committee, Dr Joe Effiong drew strength from a lecture on "The Place of the Media in Shaping Monetary Policies for Better Economy, by Prof. Uche Uwaleke, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria;

The chapel after intensive deliberations on the CBN policies therefore opined  that such policies cannot work in controlling cost-push inflation because of the high cost of production such as diesel, gas, transportation, energy, as well as insecurity

It however called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure prompt release of adequate and timely information to the media for onward distillation to the public. It further warned the media against inflammatory headlining of stories on monetary economy.

"That since the extent to which the public understanding of the CBN Monetary Policy is dependent on the quality and quantity of information made available to the media, the CBN should ensure that it provides the media with adequate and timely information for onward distillation to the public"

"That the media should guard against alarmist or inflammatory headlining of stories on monetary and economic policies of the nation so as not to cause panicky activities in the economy, which could lead to avoidable rise in inflation.

"That government should stop the practice of taking non concessionary loans based only on assumed windfall, sometimes called miracle money, as such loans are not only illegal and illegitimate, but also have the tendency of mortgaging the future generations of the state to perennial loan servicing;        

"That the fiscal documents of Akwa Ibom State should be domiciled at one location for easy reference instead of the present practice of scattering them to various places like the Budget Office, Ministry of Finance, Accountant General Office, Auditory General Office, etc.

"That media organizations should live up to the responsibility of training and retraining their staff, especially, journalists instead of leaving such an important activity to NGOs, or staff to train themselves". The Communique stated 

Aimed at intellectually and professionally re-equiping  members of the Chapel and other journalists within and outside Akwa Ibom State for the task of effective reportage of the forthcoming general elections in 2023 and beyond, the Correspondents' Chapel noted sadly that  the refusal or delay in regular payment of media worker’s entitlements has hugely impacted negatively on ethics of Journalism profession. 

"The refusal or delay in regular payment of media worker’s entitlements does not only amount to abuse and harassment of the workers, but is also a deliberate act to subject such workers to economic insecurity which could engender unethical practice.

"That Media organization should provide adequate and appropriate security equipment and insurance to their staff covering violent conflict environment’

"That Media organizations should make transparency their watchword by regularly publishing their annual returns as done by other responsible organizations;

"That journalists should display a high level of professionalism devoid of partisanship, favoritism,   bias in their reportage of the 2023 elections and their fallouts thereof". It added. 

Other topics treated at the retreat included among others "The Role of the Media in Budget Tracking, by Tijah Akpan, CEO, Policy Alert and Safety and Security of the Media in a Volatile Environment by CSP Vanderfan James Tersugh (retd).

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President Buhari’s Masterstroke in Niger Delta Ministry

 

By Evelyn Udobia 

By its mandate, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, among other responsibilities, superintends the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has grappled with seemingly unending controversies since it was established. Successive federal governments have through the Ministry, interpreted and implemented their masterplan for the development of the Niger Delta region. Since coming on board in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has severally assured that his intention for the region are sincere and has demonstrated same through many of his decisions and actions. 

First thing first, Mr Buhari’s appointment of Obong Umana Umana as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs underscores the President’s quest for excellence and desire for results. Mr Umana, whom until his elevation, was the Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), has vast experience in public service and a rare administrative finesse. With a career spanning over 30 years, Umana has the reputation to curry favour across the region as well as gain the trust of the various interest groups in the region. His ministerial appointment is a huge boost for the federal government and the search for lasting solutions to the problems of the region. 

“I had the privilege to serve with you in the government of Akwa Ibom State. You worked tirelessly day and night, and you were the engine room of that administration,” Mr Nsima Ekere, former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said in his goodwill message to Obong Umana Umana at the reception ceremony in honour of Umana’s appointment as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. “I can say it irrevocably that you were not just the engine room but you were even the consultant to the government.”

Both Ekere and Umana served in the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State as Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government, respectively. As key members of the then state executive council, they are in the best place to give each other’s service testimonial and even those of other officials who served with them in the administration. Ekere further said that nobody has ever contested the “engine room” moniker given to Umana because his contributions to the government was so distinctively clear. 

In essence, President Buhari’s appointment of Mr Umana as Minister of Niger Delta has provided the region someone who will truly be a rallying point for the people as well as a reliable bridge between the government and the people. This is a major in the federal government’s quest to find lasting solutions to the plethora of problems in the region. 

Secondly, the Niger Delta Ministry since swung into full gear under the new leadership with a renewed commitment to achieving its mandate. Recall that in his brief speech during a reception ceremony held in his honour, Mr Umana had said that his focus will be directed towards result-oriented and impactful activities within his short period in the ministry, and added that his tenure in the ministry will leave indelible footprints that will make President Buhari and Nigerians proud. “Though the time is short, we can hit the ground running by making the necessary impact. We’ll be driven by results.”

Already, the Umana Umana led Ministry in collaboration with NDDC has developed a clear and urgent action plan of strategic ideas to be implemented in the short term, mid-term and long term. Critical among the action plan include compilation/publication of list of all completed projects in the NDDC awaiting payments for public scrutiny, stakeholders’ forum to review the existing templates for project delivery, prioritization of project execution and payments that deliver up the most impact for the country, new focus in project execution to shift to “security, health, education, water and road infrastructure”, implementation of recommendations of review of the Forensic Audit Report into the operations of the NDDC, and constitution of the board of the NDDC in line with extant law, among others. 

A careful look into this action plan would reveal that the Ministry is presently poised to correct the abnormalities in NDDC that have been a major contributor to the many problems of the Commission. With a Niger Delta Ministry that is now committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in NDDC, there is more than just hope on the horizon for the region but a new era of accelerating growth and sustainable development is already setting in for the people of the region. Although there is only a little time for the Buhari led administration, it is clear that the President’s masterstroke in the Niger Delta Ministry is one that will bring results that will outlive the administration.

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Niger Delta Group Hails Appointment Of Okon Umana

 

The Niger Delta Network (NDW), a foremost socio-political group, has commended the appointment of Obong Umana Okon Umana as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs.

In a statement signed by Dr. John Douglas, its spokesman, the group commented on the state of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and other sundry issues in the ministry.

“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Obong Umana Okon Umana as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs. Obong Umana Umana is an experienced administrator with over 30 years in public office. We are fully aware of the fact that he is purpose-driven and result-oriented, which explains the successes he has consistently recorded in all the offices he has served over years including the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), where he was the Managing Director before his Ministerial appointment.

“We further thank Mr President for not only assuring the people of Niger Delta region his commitment to the development of the area, but backing up his assurance with actions through his timely interventions, programmes and policies. As a foremost group in the region, we have sampled opinions and consulted widely across all the states in the region, and the general reactions from the people point to the fact that the region has enjoyed tangible benefits including political appointments and physical development under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We have carefully followed the activities of Obong Umana Umana since he assumed office as Minister in charge of Niger Delta Ministry, and we our findings show that he hit the ground running, making conscious efforts to follow the established mandate of the Ministry as indicated in the ministerial action plan. We are especially grateful for the directive to NDDC to recommence its scholarship programme for our youths in higher institutions. Furthermore, it is heartwarming that Mr Umana has refused to be distracted by the antics of some enemies of progress within the region who are opposed to the current efforts to reinforce transparency, accountability, and values of public service in the Ministry and NDDC.

“We further want to appeal to Mr President to consider constituting a proper Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as the Commission has overstayed without a substantive Board. According to facts, since NDDC was established in 2020, this is the longest time that the Commission has existed without a properly constituted board as mandated by the law. As much as the people of the Niger Delta region love and appreciate the President, they are equally not happy about this continuous delay to set-up a proper Board for the Commission and it has become a burning issue in the region. We therefore call on the President to kindly act in this regards.

“Over the years, the NDDC has undertaken many intervention projects in all the states in Niger Delta region. Road constructions/rehabilitation, school renovation, building of skills acquisition centres, scholarship, etc, are some of the areas that the Commission has impacted in the region. However, it is a well known fact that Commission has so many abandoned projects especially uncompleted road projects littered all over the region. We wish to kindly appeal to Mr President to see to it that the Commission resumes work on these abandoned projects with the aim of completing them.

“The Niger Delta Network (NDW) will continue to be a partner in progress and development of the Niger Delta region, and Nigeria at large. We pledge our continuous unflinching support to President Muhammadu Buhari and Obong Umana Umana as they continue to work for the betterment of Nigeria and Niger Delta region respectively.”

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