lban Igwe, a United Nations Committee on Trade and Transport Location member has advised the federal government to integrate all transport modes.

Mr Igwe gave the advice in an interview with journalists on Friday in Lagos while reacting to a statement by the Minister for Transport, Saidu Alkali, that freight services on the Lagos-Kano Narrow Gauge would begin in May or June.

The minister had also said the Lagos-Kano Narrow Gaug, linked to the Dala dry inland port, would facilitate the conveyance of freight from Lagos to the northern part of Nigeria.

According to Mr Igwe, the country needs to fully exploit multimodality to ensure smooth freight services on the Lagos-Kano rail.

He said that if the country did not exploit multi-modalism, it would be doing a disservice to itself and robbing itself of huge contributions multi-modalism makes to the growth of the economy.

“I think it will be possible if we put the enabling conditions on ground, as the rail alone cannot do it. We need to see rail and road talk with each other.

“We need to see how this will happen because the rail cannot go to the warehouse to pick up goods.

“Someone will bring it from the warehouse. How do we connect that? So, we need to talk multi-modalism – how can these modes complement each other?” he said.

According to him, there is a need to make the rail line more active for optimal operations.

“We need to be more intentional in using rail for freight movement in the country, not just in Lagos.

“We need to think about inter-connected access to all the modes of transport. We need to see what is on the ground and improve on it,” he said.

Mr Igwe said Nigeria’s transport sector had been divided into aviation, marine and blue, and land.

“We should not dismiss the fact that these modes of transport need to be connected to function efficiently.

“For instance, if there is no road network, there will be no flight because you cannot access the flight; it will not come to your house to pick you,” Mr Igwe said.

The federal government has called on business concerns in the South East region to take advantage of opportunities offered by the ECOWAS Free Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) to boost their businesses.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made the call on Friday during a workshop on ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The workshop, with the theme “Exploring the Benefits of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme in the Region,” was organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for manufacturers, importers, exporters, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the five states of the South East region.

The minister, who was represented by the Director of the Department of International Organization in the ministry, Ambassador Obinna Onowu, enumerated some of the benefits and opportunities offered by ETLS.

He said, “The primary goal is to establish a customs union among all member states (ECOWAS) with the ultimate objective of completely eliminating customs duties and implementing a unified customs policy.

“The ETLS represents an ideal opportunity to foster greater economic integration and unlock the immense potential of intra-regional trade.”

He stated that the ministry had already organized similar sensitization workshops in Kano in 2020 and in Lagos in 2023 for manufacturers, importers, and exporters in the Northwest and Southwest zones, respectively, but emphasized that the ministry viewed holding the program in the Southeast as very critical due to the huge number of stakeholders in the region.

Another official of the ministry, Mr. Yohanna Zacks, Head of the ECOWAS Unit on Trade, stated that ETLS synergizes with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and that the relationship creates a seamless gateway for free customs duties trade for bona fide manufacturers and traders under ETLS.

Earlier, Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the sensitization workshop.

He stated that the awareness being created among manufacturers and traders would help them improve their income and contribute to boosting the economy of the region.

The Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation has decried the alarming rate at which thousands of women die of cervical cancer in Nigeria annually.

Speaking at a one-day community engagement on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and cervical cancer prevention in Lokoja, Kogi State, the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Christy Abayomi Oluwole, said that over 8,000 women die annually from cervical cancer in Nigeria.

While calling on all stakeholders to join hands to support the intake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent the deadly disease, Mrs Oluwole said that in Nigeria, cervical cancer has been recorded as the second most common cancer among women and the fourth most common worldwide.

“We are here this morning to have a community engagement on the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine, which will be rolled out on May 27, 2024, in Kogi State and other states in the second phase of the HPV introduction,” she stated.

“The HPV vaccine is to prevent our women and girls from the infection of human papillomavirus, which mainly causes cervical cancer.”

In Nigeria, research has shown that every year, there are approximately 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer, and at least 8,000 women die from the disease annually.

This is why the federal government is passionate about curbing the spread of cervical cancer through the HPV vaccine.

Mrs Oluwole emphasized that the target audience for the intake of the HPV vaccine are girls within the ages of 9 to 14 years.

“We want to ensure that these target girls get vaccinated. All eyes are on deck; the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Federal Ministry of Health, and partners like IVAC are working together to mobilize eligible girls within the age range of 9 to 14 to get vaccinated against HPV, so that the issue of cervical cancer can be minimized in our society and country at large.”

She noted that while HPV affects both males and females, the burden of cervical cancer is the primary concern, which is why the focus is on girls within the age range of 9 to 14 years old, as they are not sexually active and are less exposed to HPV, which is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and body contact.

The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr. Abubakar Yakubu, appreciated the convener of the meeting, stating that measures have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free campaign.

He added that they have reached out to several groups for proper dissemination of the vaccines across the state and are optimistic that with the preparation in place, they will have a successful vaccine launch.

Dr. Abimbola Adesanya, a consultant with the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, admonished parents not to be scared to have their girl children take the vaccine.

She shared her personal experience of paying for her daughter’s vaccination two years ago and encouraged mothers to ensure their girls receive the vaccine, emphasizing that it is essential for their health.

The Medical Women Association has been appealing to the Federal Government to add this vaccine to the routine, and now that it has been done, they are overjoyed and strongly support the campaign. The human papillomavirus vaccine will be launched on May 27, 2024, in Kogi State. The one-day community engagement had representatives from CPI, Red Cross, WHO, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in attendance.

Hon Harrison Ogara, member representing Igbo Eze South in the Enugu State House of Assembly has decried the move by the state government to demolish the Ogige market and Nsukka Motor park.

DAILY POST reports that Governor Peter Mbah had recently directed the issuance of a 72-hour demolition notice to shop owners to vacate the market.

The move, however, is being resisted by some stakeholders who are worried over the economic crisis the planned demolition may impose on the citizens.

About three national and state assemblies members had in a joint statement, appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to suspend the exercise.

In a similar vein, Hon Harrison Ogara, in a statement on Friday drew the attention of the state government to the “dangers of evicting over 7000 traders from Ogige Nsukka Market without any alternative market to relocate them.”

According to him, the traders with “market value of over N10 billion have moved their wares to their homes because there are no alternative markets”.

He said, “As of the last time I checked, the Aku road market was essentially conceptualised by the then Nsukka Local government under Barrister Tony Ugwu to be a GSM market with less than 150 shops.

“It is then surprising that that was where the “Ahithophels” of our time wrongly advised the Enugu government to move the thousands of traders.

“The worst anybody close to His Excellency could do to him is to continue to sycophantically advise him to shut his eyes against the impending catastrophe and deaths that could be recorded in time to come because of this singular action.

“The current chaotic situation at Ogige Market is better imagined than experienced.

“Inside the market, there are thousands who are just traders as well as tenants. There are thousands who picked facilities from the nearby community banks to stock up these shops, paying back as they make sales.

“If we compensate the shop owners, what do we do to the displaced traders who feed from their daily incomes?

“It is even more scorching when we learnt that these traders in the past few months have paid 25k as yearly taxes to the government. If we knew we would be demolishing the market, why did we force them to pay the tax for the year 2024.

“My advice was that the Government could release funds, go to the Ikpa market some three kilometres away from town and get the market fixed for the traders to move in.

“The other suggestion I made was that to avoid heavy collateral damage, an interchange like this will not be too good inside the town Opi junction (the gateway to the North) with a large expanse of land could have made more sense to serve vehicles coming to and from the Northern region and other parts of Nigeria.

“It is dangerous to continue to urge the government, on an issue as delicate as this.

“It will certainly be an act of cowardice if I decide to keep mum in the face of the impending tragedies that may follow an action such as this. I salute you all.”

Residents of nine communities in Minna, Niger State capital, have called on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to as a matter of urgency restore electricity supply in the area to avert imminent breakdown of law and order.

They alleged that since rainstorm disrupted their power supply from the Birgi feeder two months ago, supply from the Lapai feeder to which they are currently connected, have been epileptic.

The residents alleged that the distribution company appears unconcerned, and does not seem prepared to reconnect them back to their original feeder.

Speaking on behalf of the communities, the Chairman of Imani City community, Mallam Abdul Idris told newsmen that the problem started two months ago after poles conveying power from their transformer were brought down by rainstorm.

“From our observations, AEDC is trying to play on our collective intelligence. When rainstorm brought down our poles, they connected us from the Birgi feeder where we have been for over 16 years with over 10 hours supply to Lapai feeder which has been very epileptic. They want to leave us there.

“Now that they have decided to reconstruct the poles, they are asking us to wait until they are done with that of Alhaji Sani Basket while also using some of our poles to complete the work they are doing for him.

“So, because, we can’t trust them to finish and attend to us, we mobilized and stopped the work on Wednesday. We have observed that they don’t want to take us back to the Birgi feeder with better power supply.”

The community chairman added that appropriate authorities that include the state government, the police, TRADOC, NAF among others have been adequately communicated on the issue in the event of any outbreak of crisis as a result of the development.

Some members of the communities, who spoke to our correspondent, called on the electricity company to fix their power supply to Birgi feeder by retrieving some of the poles in the possession of Alhaji Sani Basket, an uncle to former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and owner of a rice and leather factory, to ensure peace in the area.

They insisted that they will mobilize and resist any attempt by AEDC to fix the poles supplying power to Sani Basket’s company before those of the communities.

According to them, “The company is asking us to wait for one week that they have applied for poles from Abuja. We have written over 15 letters to AEDC asking for transformers, poles among other things and have never gotten any response. How do we believe that they will keep to their promise now? That is why we are insisting that our poles in possession of Sani Basket should be returned. We can contribute and get the additional ones required ourselves.”

The AEDC, in a letter of complaint against the Imani Community addressed to the Niger State Police Command and other relevant authorities, which made available to the DAILY POST, alleged that despite its commitment to fulfilling its obligations and providing essential services, the community’s actions have hindered its efforts.

The letter, signed by the Regional Manager, Engr Samuel Odekina, dated 24th May, 2024, with Ref. No. AEDC /273/NGR/143/2024, explained that a tripartite agreement on the issue was reached between AEDC, Sani Basket and representatives of the communities where it was agreed that the company should undertake the temporary reconstruction of Sani Basket’s industry, pending the arrival 22 44 feet high tension poles, since the communities are already temporarily connected to the Lapai feeder.

AEDC alleged that upon arrival of its workers on site, members of the Imani community denied them access and prevented them from performing their duty, hence the decision to involve the law enforcement agents.

However, when DAILY POST visited the Sani Basket Rice and Leather factory for a reaction, the security guards at the gate said no one was on ground to speak on the issue.

“Professor Amechi Enyi Denies Involvement in Ebonyi Student’s Suicide Amid Threats from Deceased’s Relatives”

Professor Amechi Enyi of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, has refuted any connection to the tragic death of Miss Favour Ugwuka, who recently took her own life. Enyi, a lecturer in the Department of English Language, revealed that he had been threatened by the deceased’s relatives on multiple occasions prior to the incident.

Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, Enyi addressed the allegations, particularly those made by a woman claiming to be the mother of the deceased student in a viral video. He emphasized that Ugwuka’s death was not linked to academic issues and questioned why someone who hadn’t faced victimization would resort to suicide over an exam failure.

Enyi recounted his interaction with the student’s mother, stating that she accused him of unfairly targeting her daughter after she failed his course. However, he asserted that the examination process is governed by university rules and that any grievances should be addressed through proper channels, not through threats or intimidation.

Despite the challenges he has faced, Enyi remains firm in his denial of involvement and his commitment to the university’s procedures for handling academic matters.

“Prof. Dung Pam Urges Tinubu: Convene Presidential Dialogue on Electoral Reform Amidst Electoral Process Concerns”

In his address at a one-day Multi-stakeholders dialogue on rebuilding trust in the electoral process and election organized by EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, Professor Dung Pam of the Department of Political Science at the University of Jos, made a fervent appeal to President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate a profound commitment to electoral reform by initiating a presidential dialogue. This call for dialogue comes at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s electoral landscape, marked by widespread concerns regarding the integrity and transparency of electoral processes.

One of the primary issues highlighted by Professor Pam is the necessity for the National Assembly to address the ambiguities present in the 2022 Electoral Act. Specifically, he emphasized the need for clarity in provisions related to pre-election matters, election petitions, results collation, and electronic transmission of results as outlined in Section 64 of the Electoral Act 2022. By eliminating these ambiguities, the electoral framework can be strengthened, fostering greater confidence in the electoral process.

During his discourse, Professor Pam lamented the inadequacies and flaws in Nigeria’s electoral processes, citing examples such as unreleased voter cards, discrepancies in the voter register, and allegations of manipulation by various stakeholders. He pointed to the recruitment practices within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the complicity of ad-hoc staff and political actors in manipulating election outcomes. Additionally, he criticized the judiciary for its perceived impartiality and the security agencies for their partisan tendencies, both of which undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

Furthermore, Professor Pam highlighted the detrimental impact of incumbent governors’ influence on party structures, candidate imposition, and electoral rigging. He underscored the urgent need to rebuild trust in the electoral process, recognizing that restoring faith in institutions and procedures requires comprehensive reforms across multiple fronts.

To address these challenges and restore confidence in the electoral system, Professor Pam proposed several measures. These include strengthening the electoral legal framework, granting developmental autonomy to local government councils through constitutional reforms, aligning State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) laws with national electoral laws, and enhancing the autonomy of Elections Management Bodies, particularly INEC, to ensure their political, administrative, and financial independence.

In conclusion, Professor Dung Pam’s impassioned plea for a presidential dialogue on electoral reform underscores the pressing need to address the deficiencies and restore credibility to Nigeria’s electoral processes. His recommendations provide a roadmap for policymakers and stakeholders to enact meaningful reforms that uphold the principles of democracy and ensure the integrity of future elections in the country.

Inyang E. Umoh, a seasoned officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has been appointed as the new Sector Commander for the Osun Sector Command. This appointment follows the relocation and promotion of Corps Commander Henry Benamaisia to Rivers State as the Zonal Commander.

Agnes Ogungbemi, the Command Public Education Officer, announced Umoh’s deployment to Osun in a statement released in Osogbo. The statement highlighted Umoh’s extensive experience and qualifications, emphasizing his suitability for the role.

Umoh, hailing from Akwa Ibom state, is a distinguished graduate of the University of Uyo, where he obtained an honors degree in Accounting. He is also a member of the National Accountants of Nigeria.

His career with the FRSC spans back to 1996, during which he has held various positions within the organization. Rising through the ranks to Corps Commander, Umoh has consistently demonstrated exemplary performance and leadership qualities, earning him the trust and recognition of the Corps Marshal.

With this new appointment, Umoh is tasked with overseeing the operations and management of the FRSC in Osun State, continuing the organization’s mission to ensure safety on the roads.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to “immediately halt” its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
CNN reports that the development further increases international pressure on Israel over its war against Hamas.

United Nations’ top court issued the order in a suit filed by South Africa.

South Africa had accused Israel of using forced evacuation orders in Rafah to “endanger rather than protect civilian life”.

Israel, which has rejected the allegations, is yet to officially react to the ICJ ruling.

DAILY POST reports that ICJ rulings are final and binding, but the court doesn’t have a mechanism to enforce them.