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NHRC calls for collective action against torture

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Dr. Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed the need for engaging with stakeholders from diverse sectors to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to preventing human rights violations including torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment.

Ojukwu took the position on Wednesday in Abuja while welcoming participants at the “Strategic Meeting on Prevention of Torture in Nigeria.”

He explained that “by harnessing the expertise, insights, and perspectives of all stakeholders present, we aim to develop a robust frameworks and initiatives that effectively safeguard the rights and dignity of all individuals in Nigeria”.

According to the Executive Secretary, this strategic meeting on prevention of torture in Nigeria represents a critical step towards fulfilling Nigeria’s commitments under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) and enhancing the protection of human rights in places of deprivation of liberty.

“By engaging stakeholders and fostering collaborations, we aim to build a robust and effective National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) that upholds the dignity and rights of all individuals that have been deprived of their liberty”, he stated.

In addition, he recalled that on 27 July 2009, Nigeria became a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), committing to establishing a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) to prevent torture and ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty.

“Specifically, under Article 17 thereof, each State Party is under obligation to maintain, designate or establish independent national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture at the domestic level. Accordingly, in April 2023, the National Human Rights Commission has been designated as Nigeria’s NPM”, he stated.

In his presentation at the occasion, Mr. Abdallah Ounnir, Head African Regional Team & Country Rapporteur for Nigeria, United Nations Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture stated that the first step towards addressing issues of torture is to create a national mechanism that would assist member nations to comply with all the necessary international legal instruments prohibiting torture.

Aside from establishing a national mechanism, she pointed out that there is a need to provide financial assistance to enable the mechanism to realize its objective of preventing torture and other degrading treatment.

On her part, Ms. Lisa Henry who leads the International Rehabilitation Council of Torture Victims/Survivors (IRCT) Global Secretariat said that her Office is working to ensure that torture is prevented from happening.

She stated that in order to prevent torture from happening, there is a need to have in place relevant personnel who are well-trained and well-resourced to be able to detect when torture occurs and take the appropriate steps to tackle it head on.

In his goodwill message, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun said that the Nigeria Police Force is aware of national and international laws as well as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) that prohibit torture pointing out that the era of torture is gone in the Force’s operations especially as it relates handing crime suspects.

The IGP who was represented at the occasion by Barrister Kehinde Oluwole noted that there are decent ways of extracting information from crime suspects other than subjecting them to torture.

Other stakeholders who gave a similar goodwill messages are Deji Ajare- Project Director, Access to Justice & Executive Director, Sterling Law Centre and Member, CAT – Nigeria, and Angela Uzoma- Iwuchukwu, Head of Office, Avocat Sans Frontiers (France) Abuja Office & Member, CAT-Nigeria, among others.

 

 

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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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