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Last minutes fever: Nigerian Hunters Service optimistic as Buhari signs five Bills into law
The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has said it is optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari will sign its establishment Bill into law before handing over power to incoming president, Senator Bola Tinubu on Monday.
The Deputy Commander General (DCG) of the NHFSS in charge of Technical Service, Dr. John Metchie expressed the optimism, while reacting to the news of the President’s assent to five Bills few hours ago.
Buhari had on Friday, signed five Bills into law but the establishment Bill for the NHFSS which has since been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, was not among those on the list.
The Bills assented to by the President on Friday include, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Bill, Arbitration and Mediation Bill, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Act for the provision of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ogoinbiri, Bayelsa State; the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (Establishment) Act; and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria (Establishment) Act.
Reacting to the development, in a statement Saturday morning, Metchie who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, said a President can do so much in two days, adding that officers and men of the NHFSS are expectant that the Bill would be assented to before Monday’s handover.
He said the President would sign the Bill because of the strategic roles officers and men of the NHFSS are expected to play towards effective security of lives and property of the people of Nigeria.
He said that most criminal elements known as terrorists, gunmen, bandits and kidnappers, among others, use the forests as their hideouts and also retire back to the forests after carrying out their nefarious activities.
Metchie said- “On behalf of the Commander General of the NHFSS, Dr. Joshua Wole Osatimehin, I wish to urge all officers and men of our Service, to remain calm and optimistic that Mr. President who understands the strategic importance of effective national security, would sign the Bill into law.
“Two days is a lot of time for a President to do so many things and I believe signing the NHFSS is one of the most important actions the Buhari would take in the last two days of his administration.
“We therefore use this opportunity, to once again, urge the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, to as a matter of national importance, give presidential assent to the Nigerian Hunters and Forestry Security Service Bill which has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“Knowing that the primary responsibility of the NHFSS, is to curb crimes and criminalities in Nigerian forests, the President’s assent to the Bill would empower Officers and Men of NHFSS and further motivate them to occupy strategic positions in the forests and farms, and that way, make it difficult for those using the forests to carry out nefarious activities against the state and people of Nigeria.
“Apart from curbing banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other anti-people activities, signing the Bill into law, would enable government recruit thousands of young men and women as hunters, which would help to solve the issue of unemployment, one of the most serious challenge facing the nation,” Metchie concluded.
News
Breaking: NHRC, LEDAP begin consultative forum on eliminating harmful traditional, religious practices
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
A consultative forum to seek ways of eliminating harmful traditional religious practices that impact rights of women and gender equality in Nigeria is set to begin in Abuja.
Organized by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and the Legal Defence and Advocacy Project, LEDAP, the gathering is themed- “Empowering Traditional Rulers in Nigeria to Adopt and Implement Community Guidelines for Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Against Women.”
Among dignitaries to speak at the event are Dr. Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Chino Obiagwu, SAN, National Coordinator, LEDAP and Prof. Joy Ezeilo, SAN, Executive Director, Women Aid Collective.
Details later…..
The Director General of AGRHYMET, Dr. Issoufou Baoua, led a high-level delegation to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as part of the Joint Mission on the operationalization of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS).
He was accompanied by the WMO Representative for West, Central & North Africa, Dr. Bernard Gomez, and the ECOWAS Representative, Prof. Mansur Matazu.
The mission focused on advancing regional collaboration required to fully operationalize RCC-WAS — a key initiative designed to enhance climate services, strengthen resilience, and support informed decision-making across West Africa and the Sahel.
During the engagement, the AGRHYMET DG outlined the core objectives of the mission, which include strengthening institutional partnerships, aligning regional priorities, identifying capacity-building needs, and setting actionable milestones for the effective take-off of RCC-WAS.
Receiving the delegation, the Director General/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to the successful establishment of RCC-WAS. He emphasized that NiMet will provide technical expertise and tools — including MeteoWiz — participate in joint research efforts, and contribute to the development of advanced climate monitoring and forecasting capabilities for the region.
The visit marked a significant step forward in consolidating regional cooperation. Both institutions reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening climate services, and the meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the operationalization of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel.
President Bola Tinubu has set up a high level committee to resolve issues on N4 trillion owed to federal contractors in the country.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President also expressed displeasure over the huge debt.
He made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by the President at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the President was enraged after learning that about 2,000 contractors are owed.
Onanuga, who stood in for the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said: “He made it very, very clear he is not happy and wants a one-stop solution.
“An important highlight in the course of the FEC meeting is that the President expressed very, very grave displeasure about the fact that contractors are being owed money.
“The DG (Director-General) of the Bureau of Public Procurement actually told the President that about 2000 contractors are being owed money and this made the President very, very upset.
“So the ministers are going to look into the problem to really find a solution, to find the money to be used in paying the contractors.”
The presidential aide explained that the committee has as members, the Ministers of Finance (and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Works, Dave Umahi; Education, Olatunji Alausa; Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa; and Marine & Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, along with the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Kurfi; and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji.
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