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Exclusive: No more hiding place for human rights violators in Nigeria – Ojukwu, NHRC boss

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The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has said that it can now track incidences of human rights abuse whenever and wherever it happens in Nigeria.

Dr. Anthony Ojukwu, SAN, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Commission, revealed this in an exclusive interview with the Editorial Team of African Leadership Scorecard Magazine/Nationwide Reports, led by the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Bonaventure Phillips Melah at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Ojukwu who holds the national honour of Officer of the Niger, OFR, said the fight against human rights abuse has been revolutionized and attributed the development to the adoption of several policy mechanisms, including the use of modern technology by his management.

He therefore warned that anybody dealing with his fellow citizen should treat them with dignity as officers of the Commission are working day and night to ensure that rights abusers, perpetrators of violence, especially against civilians are brought to book.

The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria, thanked the federal government and international partners of the Commission for providing legislative and other supports for the organization to carry out its statutory functions.

Ojukwu stated that the setting up of NHRC offices across all the states of the federation, has contributed immensely to the successes achieved by the Commission so far, adding that efforts are being made to establish offices in all the 774 local governments in the country to make it easier for citizens living in the hinterlands to access the agency on time to report abuses like domestic violence, rape and forced marriage, obnoxious traditional practices and child abuse, among others.

He said- “A- If you look at where we are coming from, a situation where we did not have any state office and you can imagine if there is no state office in any state, you cannot think of doing anything. Now, we have been able establish offices at the state level. With the presence of our offices there, it has led to an increased level of sensitisation and awareness at the grassroots.

“They may not have all that is required to work, for instance, vehicles to be up and doing at the local government level but we will get there. So, yes, you can say the states offices need to do more but you can also see that the presence of the state offices has really improved the capacity of the Commission in the entire country. You will recall during the sixteen days of activism the whole state offices of the Commission were on the street. That’s a lot. Creating awareness, visiting traditional rulers, religious institutions, legislators, offices of governors and wives of the governors, states chief judges’ etc. and also working with the civil societies as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA to create awareness around these issues.

“We also visit the prison and police cells in all the states on monthly basis. That was not possible when we were not in all the states because we would have led our team leaving from here to visit the states. Now we have resident offices in all the states that visit the police detention centres and the prisons on monthly basis. So, yes, maybe we are not able to be in all the market places to see the women, motor parks or embark on town hall meetings in all the local government areas, but I believe that we are making impact at the state level.”

More to follow…..

 

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Petrol price to drop by N50 as independent marketers load at N990/litre at Dangote

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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has disclosed that over 30,000 of its members are set to buy Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in bulk.

IPMAN also revealed that the price of petrol from the refinery was N940/litre and N990/litre when purchased using ships and trucks, respectively.

Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, IPMAN President, Abubakar Garima, said the pump prices of petrol at its retail outlets will drop following the agreement with the Dangote refinery to lift products directly from the plant.

On Monday, IPMAN agreed with the Dangote refinery to directly lift petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.

This agreement follows months after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation suspended its plan to serve as the sole off-taker of petroleum products from the 650,000 barrels per day refinery.

The IPMAN president explained that the Dangote refinery had been obliged to allow marketers to lift PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for onward supply to their depots and retail outlets but didn’t reveal the price.

Giving an update on pricing during the interview, the IPMAN national officer said the Refinery has provided two different rates for marketers based on their preferences.

He said marketers can load at the gantry at a price of N990 per litre or N940 through vessel transportation.

Garima said, “Presently, we have been given two different arrangments on how to buy fuel from the refinery. There is the one that we can load the vessels and carry to our various depots at the rate of N940 per litre. Then for the depots, it is at the rate of N990 per litre.

“The difference is because we have to load it and carry it to another part of the state. We use vessels to carry these products and there is another one to load from the gantry.

“For Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, we have to use vessels because there is no Dangote loading gantry there, we have to carry it to our private depot and discharge and distribute it to our members.”

 

 

 

 

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Zulum reinstates 23 suspended health workers, deploys others

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Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.

This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.

Dauda Iliya, Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, in a statement Tuesday, said the health workers had initially been suspended after Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.

Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.

“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”

In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.

He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.

“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”

In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.

He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.

The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.

 

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Dangote to begin direct supply of petroleum products to marketers

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Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.

IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.

He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.

“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”

Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

“IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”

The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth.

The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.

 

 

 

 

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