States currently under the jurisdiction of HYPPADEC include Niger, Kebbi, Benue, Plateau, Kogi and Kwara, however, Taraba, Gombe, Nasarawa and Kaduna have just been included because of the new provisions of the Electricity Act.

There are currently 10 states covered by the HYPPADEC, as the other four states of Taraba, Gombe, Nasarawa and Kaduna are authomatic members in line with the provisions of the new electricity law.

Since its inauguration in December 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the commission has continued to consistently deliver on its mandate by improving the living standard of the host communities.

Indeed, the programmes and policies put in place by the commission has continued to cushion the ecological, socioeconomic and psychological effects of the dams on the communities that suffered a great deal of imbalance from the projects without commiserate reward to bridge the gap created in their lives over the years.

With the way and manner the commission is being managed, one can safely say that the vision of the founding fathers to fashion out interventionist measures to communities affected by the activities of hydroelectricity, especially in host communities is being achieved gradually.

Over the years, the 227 political wards under the commission suffered neglect due to lack of proper attention by the Federal Government despite their huge contribution to the development of the country.

However, with the hope being given by the HYPPADEC management, it is safe to say that these communities that were hitherto neglected are beginning to enjoy better life.

Considering that the major challenge of the majority of the affected communities is ecological in nature, the steps taken by the Alhaji Sadiq-Yelwa-led management will, no doubt, resolve and ameliorate the sufferings of the people of the areas in no distant time.

With the assessment of the basic needs and challenges of the 227 political wards that make up the HYPPADEC and the efforts to resolve them, there is every hope that better days are here for the communities.

For example, the intervention of the HYPPADEC in the provision of education, housing, entrepreneurial programmes as well as transportation safety in all the six states under its operation has made lives of residents more meaningful and rewarding.

Re-echoing the challenges of affected communities, the commission’s managing director said: “The ecological challenges they are faced with are enormous, which deprived them of the chances to improve even on their livelihoods, those are the major challenges the communities are really going through.”

Therefore, the step taken by the HYPPADEC to construct houses in new settlements for those displaced by flood in most riverine communities in Niger, Kogi, Kebbi and Kwara States, is indeed a welcome development.

This will permanently resolve once and for all the recurring challenges of displacement of the people every rainy season.

Findings indicate that over 250 units of houses have been constructed under the first phase of the resettlement scheme designed to protect the communities from the annual incidents of flood.

Muregi and Ketso communities have gotten 100 and 50 units of houses, respectively, in the first phase of the project while 50 units each would be constructed in Kogi and Kebbi States.

On the other hand, the target to provide skill acquisition training to over 30,000 residents of the affected states by the end of 2025, is considered by many as a commendable ambitious initiative.

The Youth Transformation programme introduced by the commission has over the years enabled youths in the 227 political wards to fend for themselves and become employers of labour.

“Some of the 5,000 beneficiaries were coming with their friends and relatives to get the trainings and these are not in the proposal; but it’s a good development.

“Those that benefitted from these skill training, we are planning that by next year, we will commence the next step because of the success recorded.

“By the end of 2025, we will have over 30,000 beneficiaries of our programme that are self-employed.

“We are also talking with financial institutions to support them with loans at zero interest rates or interest rates that the commission can even shoulder by itself,” Sadiq-Yelwa said.

The 5,000 youths were selected for yearly training from the six states covered by the commission, namely Kwara, Kogi, Kebbi, Benue, Plateau and Niger.

According to him, the training programmes are usually from three to six months depending on the type of skill chosen, adding that beneficiaries also enjoy a monthly stipend of N15,000 based on regular attendance, attention during training and seriousness exhibited.

With these laudable initiatives and programmes introduced by the HYPPADEC, it is important to call on residents of the affected states to give the commission maximum cooperation to enable it have the conductive environment to roll out more programmes for the people.

It is also relevant to call on the youths and all beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes to take advantage of the initiatives and become entreprenuers, who will in turn become employers.

This will not only reduce unemployment but will also boost the economy of the states that make up the HYPPADEC.

The federal government on the other hand must do everything possible to increase funding for the commission to enable it continue to impact lives positively.

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Prof. Umaru Pate, President ACSPN, said this during a condolence visit by delegates of ACSPN to late Oso’s residence at Sagamu, Ogun on Thursday.

Our correspondent reports that late Oso, aged 67, died in a car accident on June 24, while returning from a conference at the Delta State University, Abraka.

He was a professor of Communications at the Lagos State University (LASU).

Pate who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Kashere, Gombe commiserated with the deceased wife, Bimbola Oso, the children and the entire family.

The ACSPN president who was represented by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lanre Arogundade, urged the family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a life of total service to humanity through his academic and public interest pursuits.

“His death is an unfortunate reality and a painful development because he was a noble and amiable personality to those he left behind.

“His accomplishments shall stand as monuments in the history of media and journalism, mass communication and advocacy for good governance in
Nigeria.

“We at ACSPN can further attest to his outstanding scholarship and expertise in the field of media and mass communication, not just in Nigeria but
globally.

He has mentored younger generations of scholars and professionals in the two fields which explained why he willingly served as external examiner to many universities.

“He was a scholar who helped to make scholars out of scholars through
knowledge building, scholarly articles and book publication,” he said.

Recounting some of the late don’s achievement as a pioneer president of ACSPN, Pate said his meritorious service in the association provided the deceased a desired platform to pursue his ambition.

According to him, late Oso’s zeal made him to make the gown to meet the town in the fields of mass communication and the media for the two professions to serve as catalysts of democratic governance and development.

He said: “Late Oso began the process which led to the unbundling of the Mass Communication curriculum, following a curriculum development workshop for journalism courses organised by ACSPN and UNESCO in 2015.”

The president prayed for the wife, children and entire family that the Almighty God strengthens them during these difficult times and abide with them in the days and years to come.

It was reported that the late don also worked as a correspondent in both Radio Nigeria and the News Agency of Nigeria.

He taught Media and Communications at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun; Caleb University, Imota, Lagos; and LASU, Ojo, Lagos.

Our correspondent also reports that ACSPN special delegates that visited the family are, Prof. Balance Akeredolu-Ale, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, LASU.

Others are, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, ACSPN National publicity Secretary, Dr Yemisi Bamgbose, Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Dele Odunlami, HOD Mass Communication, Olabisi On a banjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun.

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The argument is that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) commonly known as petrol by is lower than international benchmarks.

Proponents of subsidy therefore say Federal Government has to take care of the excess through the subsidy policy.

Opponents of the policy disagree, insisting that it is a waste of public funds, a drain on the commonwealth. They want it stopped.

Removing subsidy means leaving the cost of PMS in the hands of international market forces of demand and supply.

They say it would also to pave the way for vibrant competition in PMS procurement and distribution.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its Petrol Price Watch for February 2023 indicated that the average retail price of one litre of petrol rose from N170.42 in February 2022 to N263.76 in February 2023.

The figure represents an astronomical 54.76 per cent increase.

Sector operators have hinted that PMS pump price could go up as high as N600 per litre if subsidy for the product is removed.

They say it will likely drop to around N400/N500 if government encouraged Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allocate forex to marketers at official rate.

Nigeria spent over N13 trillion subsidising PMS between 2005 and 2021, a figure equivalent to Nigeria’s entire budget for health, education, agriculture and defence in the last five years.

Orji Ogbonaya Orji the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative disclosed this to the Ad-hoc Committee investigating subsidy regime between 2013 and 2021, chaired by Hon Ibrahim Aliyu.

It is almost the country’s capital expenditure for 10 years between 2011 and 2020.

According to a 2022 World Bank report, subsidy payments could significantly impact on public finance and pose debt sustainability concerns for Nigeria.

Recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) revealed that the amount being spent as subsidy on PMS had crossed N400 billion monthly threshold.

Malam Mele Kyari, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), explained that the NNPCL was spending about N202 as subsidy on every litre of petrol consumed nationwide。

He said NNPCL was conscious of the occasional disruptions in the supply of the product but assured that as the sole importer of petrol the company would continue to meet its obligations to Nigerians.

Kyari said at the final cutover ceremony of NNPC and the birth of NNPCL in Abuja that “we are transferring to our customers at N113/litre, which means there is a difference of close to N202 for every litre of PMS we import.

“In computation N202 multiplied by 66.5 million litres of PMS, multiplied by 30 will give you over N400 billion of subsidy every month,” he said.

Mr Lawal Musa, Senior Business Advisor to the GCEO, NNPCL, said opportunity cost of the subsidy spending could, among others provide basic infrastructures including 7.500 kilometres of road network annually at N400 million per kilometre.

He spoke in Abuja at a joint National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), sensitisation workshop on the NNPCL operations.

“Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa, possessing 28 per cent of Africa’s reserve, with petroleum contributing significantly to the country’s economy.

“However, the benefits derived have over the years been eroded due to the amount paid on subsidy, a regime that has been fuelling the vicious circle of poverty in the country,” he told the audience..

To add to the controversy Mr Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, he said the Federal Government was committed to subsidy removal but was considering all indices, to ensure that the effect would not be harsh on average Nigerians.

“As we speak we are still taking a very close look at how best to achieve subsidy without disrupting the entire ecosystem of livelihood in Nigeria.

“We have to ensure that the buffers are in place and forex is made available for imports,” Aduda said, he was recently quoted by the media as saying.

The National Economic Council (NEC) said recently that consultations were still ongoing with state governors and other stakeholders on the most appropriate ways to approach the policy.

“NEC deliberated on the issue extensively and came to the conclusion that the subsidy must be removed as it is not sustainable.

“There is the need for further consultations especially with members of the incoming administration and the representatives of state governments”, said Dr Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

She said this in a statement signed by Tanko Abbdullahi, her media aide.

Subsidy removal is already backed by law through Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021). Signed into law in 2021 by the President Mohammadu Buhari, the Act provides for total deregulation of the downstream sector.

Some operators in the oil and gas sector have decried the fact that deregulation which is one of the the most fundamental aspects of PIA 2021 has not been implemented.

Mr Olumide Adeosun, CEO, Ardova PLC., Mr Tayo Akinwunmi, Chairman, Petroleum Contractors Trade Session (PCTS LCCI) and Mr Oladotun Isiaka, Executive Director, Deepwater, Exxonmobil Nigeria called for full deregulation of the downstream sector of the industry.

However, some experts have urged caution in the implementation of subsidy removal sections of the Act.

Prof. Olanrewaju Aladeitan an Associate Professor of Energy and Natural Resources at University of Abuja said before its removal, proper planning, including revamping the nation’s refineries should be carried out.

“We expect those indices to be in place for us to benefit from the competitive advantage of being an oil producing country to avoid an untoward hardship on the citizenry”, he told our correspondent.

“For us at IPMAN, our position remains that the subsidy should be removed because of the preferential for dollar which is so difficult to source”, said Mr Chinedu Okorokwo, National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Okoronkwo said if subsidy was removed, PMS could be sold at N500 per litre, adding that it was therefore necessary for government to make concerted efforts to cushion its effects on the citizenry.

Mr Charlse Majomi, Managing Director, Trajan Energy Ltd and an Adviser to the Federal Government on Gas-based Industrialisation, said continuing with subsidy meant spending funds that could have gone to critical sectors such as education and health on PMS.

He said diversifying energy sources would mean that the country will not virtually rely on PMS for power.

“If that is done we will not need to rely on PMS; because of that, we will not need to import and we would not require to subsidise costs”, he told NAN.

One of the opponents of subsidy removal is the organised labour. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said in a recent media interview the union remained opposed to the policy because of its potential to aggravate workers’ hardship if poorly implemented.

“We are opposed to the removal of fuel subsidy until the Nigerian government acts responsibly by fixing our moribund refineries,” Hakeem Ambali, NLC national treasurer of the NLC

“Let the government license and serve as the regulator by standardising the operation of private refineries to service the domestic value chain”, he said.

As the fuel subsidy removal controversy rages observers of developments in the sector urge the relevant authorities to take a decisive decision on the matter after thoroughly considering its pros and cons.

They say it is necessary that this process is completed as quickly as possible by the incoming administration.

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Bolt, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the pledge formed part of the company’s newly launched campaign called “Women at the Wheel”.

The company said it sought to address under-representation of women in the mobility sector, and to help women access the additional earning opportunities provided by working as a driver on a ride-hailing platform.

Venus Lim, Bolt’s Director of Central Operations for Ridehailing, said: “Women are under-represented in many parts of society, but in the mobility sector the inequality is particularly stark.

“There are many reasons why many women are unlikely to consider becoming drivers and this campaign aims at raising awareness of some of the prejudices held against female drivers.”

Lim said it would make it easy for women to access flexible, independent work on Bolt and other ride-hailing platforms, something which is particularly important now when cost of living is going up for everyone.

He said that the campaign came at a time when almost nine out of ten women reported seeing their living costs rise in the past twelve months.

According to him, this was revealed by a survey of 2,000 women which Bolt conducted across four countries in Europe and Africa.

“According to the survey, the vast majority (93 per cent) of women surveyed say that they have sought new opportunities to earn additional income over the same period.

“Only 7.2 per cent had considered working as a driver on a ride-hailing platform to earn extra money,” Lim said.

Yahaya Mohammed, Country Manager, Bolt Rides, said that in Nigeria, Bolt had continued to champion women empowerment in the ride-hailing industry.

Mohammed said the company had done this by offering opportunities to women to get a career head start in the tech industry through its Women in Tech internship programme.

He said that the internship programme, now in its third year, offered young women with keen interest in the tech and ride-hailing industry, a three months paid internship while being mentored by top women in Bolt leadership.

“As a business, we value all our drivers and recognise that they play an integral role in the continued growth of our brand, and we do not take their commitment and efforts for granted.

“Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls (UN SDG 5) is a key pillar of our work.

“We at Bolt believe that we have an opportunity to contribute to bridging the gender gap by allowing women to be self-employed in the digital e-hailing space,” Mohammed said.

He said that through the “Women at the Wheel” campaign, Bolt would continue offering more women in Nigeria, viable economic opportunities to empower themselves.

Mohammed added that it would also advance the growth of the industry in the market.

Mohammed said that the campaign was running across eleven countries, which included Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Romania, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Latvia and Estonia.

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Recently, in Nairobi, Kenya, prominent Africa’s political and business leaders, civil society organisations, multilateral and regional institutions and Africa’s international partners gathered to brainstorm on issues vital to Africa’s interest on the global scene.

The event tagged, “Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW), came under the aegis of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

During the three-day event, in which Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, and President William Ruto of Kenya featured conspicuously, discussions focused on: “Global Africa.”

At the forum, Africa’s potential and deliverables in a world confronted by multifaceted challenges such as climate change, pandemics, conflicts, under stress global financial architecture were put in the front burner.

Speaking at the event on the theme “Africa in the World: Multiple Assets”, Osinbajo it was imperative for Africa to develop an education curriculum that relevant to the dynamics of a changing world.

The vice-president participated in the session alongside Donald Kaberuka, AU Special Envoy and former President of African Development Bank and Hafou Toure, Deputy Director of Cabinet for the Minister in charge of promoting Small and Medium Enterprises in Côte d’Ivoire.

Osinbajo said the creative industry remained one area that African countries can tap into to boost job and wealth creation without much intervention from government.

“The creative industry in Africa was a phenomenon that many would say happened without government.

“I think that in many ways what is important is to see how the creative industry can be supported.

“It is evident that there is a huge amount of talents and it’s evident also that the regulatory environment favours it because there are no impediments.

“One would say that, as much as possible, what we should seek to do is to see how we can expand that space and to support with credit where that is possible and infrastructure that will be helpful,” he said.

He said that in Nigeria, the National Theatre as an entertainment hub had shown great promise in supporting the industry.

He said there was the need to strike a balance between government’s intervention in the industry and the desire to allow it to function on its own without government’s meddling.

“I would say that we should be cautious in not interfering too much; at the same time, we need to provide infrastructure, we need to provide credit with such an exposure that they may need”, he said.

According to him, there is need to have a clarity of vision on where Africa is headed in terms of education.

“So understanding what such of educational programmes we need to put in place and even the vision for that programme you have to understand that we are dealing with several demographics.

“We are in a new place where the world has changed so dramatically and particularly in the past 10 years; where we have robotic, artificial intelligence; what sort of education makes sense to create job opportunities today?

“This is the time to think through the educational curriculum.

It is the time to decide how this curriculum will be relevant and would deliver the sort of persons that we want and create the sort of opportunities that we require,” he said.

Earlier, Mo Ibrahim, who is also the founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said it had become urgent for Africa to adjust to the fast-paced world.

“The world is changing; I think everybody knows that; all the previous assumptions are being broken; we see different powers rising; tensions, camps being formed, where exactly is Africa’s place.

“Things are really changing around us and where are we? What is our relationship with these people?

“We need to understand and define our relationship with rest of the world; what does Africa offer the world and what does the world offer Africa?” he asked.

As part of activities lined up for event, the Osinbajo also participated in the Africa Europe Foundation (AEF) themed “Earthshot 2023 Milestone.”

At the event he posited that Africa had the potential to change the narrative and become the solution to the net zero ambitions of the world.

“I think that agenda is important—the Climate Positive Growth Agenda…

“For me, the next steps are crucial; first, we need to get African governments and Heads of State around this agenda and that is crucial because it is one climate positive that is a win-win situation for Africa and the rest of the world,” he said.

The Osinbajo said there was need to present to each government, where the benefits and trade-offs might lie so that consensus could be reached quickly and effectively.

He said Africa should be clear about what it wants from the rest of the world, adding that African leaders needed to take a common stance on climate change.

In his submission at a session with Ibrahim and Ruto, he argued that the global financial system was struggling to respond the challenges of the time.

“The whole system was focused on prescriptions from the World Bank, IMF and other institutions and most times, the prescriptions went the wrong way.

“There wasn’t room for emerging frontier, new ideas on how to finance development; and as a result, you find out that the system has not responded to frontier economies, emerging economies”, he said.

“While it is true that you can get overseas development assistance at 0.5 per cent; concessional facilities at 0.5; but when you need real development resources, you want to run your own development the way know how, you end up with 10 per cent 15 per cent, 20 per cent.

“Which means that the current financial architecture, to put it bluntly, is rigged against those of us in the global South.

This is because we cannot meaningfully address our development need using the financial resources from this architecture,” he said.

Stakeholders are of the view that Africa’s common interest can only gain traction in international discourse if there is a concerted pursuit of the continent’s interest by African governments.

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They incur extra costs in making sure that their wards with disability are not left behind or secluded from their peers.

It is for this reason that the Irede Foundation dedicates its works to putting smiles on the faces of children amputees in Nigeria.

They do this by providing prosthetic limbs to children amputees from ages one to 18 to enable them have some form of independence.

Over the years, the foundation has been staging the Out –On- A- Limb walk to advocate inclusion for PWDs and to be their mouthpiece against stigmatisation in the society.

For the past 10 years the foundation has remained faithful to the provision of artificial limbs to children amputees free of charge.

The foundation is giving out about 200 limbs to children amputees in 2023.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, the Executive Director of Irede Foundation, Mrs Crystal Chigbu, says the foundation’s beginning was quite emotional and filled with the wonder.

Chigbu tells the story of how she gave birth to her first daughter with congenital limbs and how the search for meaning and solution for her family gave birth to the foundation.

She says that it is like walking in the road less travelled, but added that looking back she remain grateful to God and to the sponsors of the foundation; NNPC, SNEPCo, Prembly and P & G for their huge support.

The executive director says that the foundation has moved further to advocating for the rights of PWDs, fighting against stigmatization and advocating for inclusion and education of PWDs.

She affirms the possibility of a child amputee living life to its fullest .

“One thing that is also very crucial as we think of limb loss awareness month is that different things cause limb loss.

“For some children or people, it’s congenital; so, they were born with a congenital deformity and some come about it by negligence,” Chigbu says.

She notes that lack of seeking proper medical care at the right time sometimes lead to amputation in some people.

“One of the rising cases of the reason for amputation in the world today is diabetes, so from time to time we continue to engage with a lot of people that have their limbs amputated,” Chigbu says.

She adds that the 2023 Out- On -A -Limb walk is targeted at advocating for inclusive society for PWDs in about the 60 locations across the world where the walk took place.

Wuruola Kayode, Senior Programmes Lead, Irede Foundation, says the media play a critical role in advocating for the rights and needs of Persons With Disability (PWDs).

Kayode recalls how media advocacy in 2022 brought in a lot of referrals to the foundation.

According to her, there is need for greater synergy between the foundation and media representatives.

She notes that there is much the foundation can do through the collaboration of the media and good spirited individuals who can support the work of the foundation.

The senior programmes manager believes a solid media partnership will help the foundation fulfill its role of putting smiles in the face of PWDs.

For Abimbola Odukoya, Programmes Officer, Irede Foundation, the foundation approaches PWDs in an holistic manner to ensure that no child is left behind.

He says that some children are not able to access education because of their disability, adding that the foundation is focusing on giving access to education to these categories of children.

According to him, the association does a lot of advocacy work in ensuring that PWDs have access to quality education.

It also ensures that schools and authorities provide infrastructure that serve the needs of PWDs.

He added that the foundation enjoins well-meaning Nigerians to contribute their quota to the empowerment of PWDs by providing inclusive education.

Jamiu Bamgbose, a volunteer for the Irede inclusion walk at Alimosho, expresses delight in taking part in the disability walk.

Bamgbose, who describes himself as an advocate for inclusion and equality says he loves bringing smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society.

Also, Moshood Sanni, Chief Operating Officer, Smak Foundation and Mandela Washington Fellow, argues that absolute inclusion implies removing the barriers of PWDs to accessing full social and economic opportunities.

“I have long realised that lack of access to physical environment and transportation, the unavailability of assistive devices and technologies, non-adapted means of communication for the hard of hearing/deaf were major challenges on the way of PWDs to participating in the affairs of the economy.

“Joining the 2023 Out- On –A- Limb Walk will alleviate or reduce drastically the level of discrimination, prejudice and stigma against PWDs in the society.

“Despite the ratification of PWDs rights by over 185 countries by the UN, most developing nations still perceive PWDs as those who deserved charity rather than acknowledging their fundamental rights.

“I hope that the walk will assist policy makers in making informed decisions as to the needs of children and people with special needs.”

At the rally held in Kogi State, Mr Peter Onyekwuo, the Kogi Coordinator of the foundation, describes the walk as a “huge success” and “historic”, being the first edition in the state.

He notes that the walk serves as enlightenment and sensitisation to the residents of Kogi on inclusion for PWDs.

Onyekwuo says, asides children,agess one to 18, the foundation also offers opportunity for adults who may also be in need of a limb.

“The difference is that adults are expected to pay half of the cost unlike that of children that is for free,” he said.

He said that the foundation was also going round placing hand bills in banks, hospitals, super markets/shopping malls, hotels, eateries/restaurants and parks.

“It is towards sensitising the public of the presence and offers of the foundation to the residents of the state,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that April is dedicated as Limb Loss Month and the foundation is leaving no stone unturned in its crusade for inclusion for PWDs.

The walk for inclusion took place in 60 locations across the world including Lagos, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Kogi, Kenya, U,S, Luxembourg, Texas, Netherlands and Dublin, to mention a few.

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From the onset of the race to the exalted Lugard House, Kogi Governor’s Office, Lokoja on April 11 with primary elections, various political party loyalists had begun ploy to ensure that their respective political party remains relevant.

Mr Promise Ogbodu, a legal practitioner, notes that the primaries and the results had left much to be desired by which stakeholders could identify the good and the bad sides of whatever roles they played in the primaries.

Lugard House, Kogi Governor’s Office, Lokoja, will be vacant on January 27, 2024 and Gov. Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have completed the eight-year tenure as the state governor.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done the needful, designing a time table for the race.

According to the timetable, there was a deadline of April 17 for all the political parties to produce their respective candidates for the Nov. 11 governorship election.

The exercise was also organised and concluded within just a week by all the interested political parties but not without the good, the bad and the ugly sides.

The political parties that participated were APC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Action Alliance (AA), Labour Party (LP), Action Democratic Congress ADC, Young Progressives Party (YPP) New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and People’s Redemption Party.

Bu while the primary election exercises of AA, NNPP, YPP and PRP went smoothly, peaceful and successful, those of APC, PDP, ADC and LP did not go as expected.

An entrepreneur, Mr Olayinka Braimoh picked AA ticket, a prominent politician, Alhaji Mubarak Musa got the NNPP ticket, Dr Abdullah Bayawo sailed through to be the flag bearer of PRP while Dr Samson Omale, an active party members picked YPP’s ticket in the state.

The ADC and LP had parallel primary elections while APC and PDP, on the other hand, had other candidates disagreeing and contesting the results of the primaries, creating a threat to the unity of the members in both parties.

For instance, in PDP, the former deputy governor of the state, Mr Sunday Awoniyi challenged the emergence of Dino Melaye as candidate of the party and in APC, Alhaji Ahmed Usman-Ododo, the state Auditor-General for Local Government, is opposed by Mr Murtaza Yakubu-Ajaka, Mr Sani Ohiere and Sen. Smart Adeyemi, claiming that there was no primary election on April 11.

Worse still is two members of APC have filed a case before an Abuja Federal High Court challenging the emergence of Ododo as candidate of the party for the Nov. 11 governorship election.

Mr Realwan Akpanachi and Yahaya Seidu-Nuhu in an originating summons filed by their counsel, Mr Promise Ogbodu, sued six of the contestants as first to sixth defendants.

They joined the APC and INEC defendants for what they described as violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The first to sixth respondents are Abdulkareem Jamiu (Chief of Staff), Jibril Momoh (Account-General), Yakubu Okala (Auditor-General), Asiwaju Idris (Commissioner for Finance), Salami Ozigi (Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) and Ahmed Usman-Ododo (Auditor-General for Local Government Areas).

They prayed the court to declare that the seventh respondent — APC — cannot validly nominate any of the first to sixth respondents as its candidate for the governorship election.

In Labour Party, two factions held separately primaries, producing two candidates.

Shortly before Dr Ayo Olorunfemi-led LP governorship primary election committee could declare the results of the election there were several gun shots that sent everyone at the venue away.

The story is not different in ADC which had produced two candidates — Leke Abejide and Dele Bello-Williams by direct and indirect primaries respectively.

Observers express concern that the agenda of these political parties that have been in controversy in the conduct of party primaries might have been compromised.

However, they advise that public office holders should be determined to discharge their responsibilities effectively irrespective of the prior intrigues and differences in their interests.

According to them, governance requires leaders who are courageous and disciplined to provide solutions to the country’s challenges.

All in all, a critic, Prof. Afolabi Aribigbola of Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo, believe that the obvious expectations of Nigerians is primary elections outcomes that will produce good and credible candidates that will be committed to development.

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It is in the light of addressing the effects of this that the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) was established.

It is meant to basically produce interventionist measures to communities affected by the activities of hydroelectricity, especially in host communities.

With its effects such as destruction of lives and property, displacement, negative effects on economic and social life and food production, among others, concerned citizens note that flooding has been recurring in such flood-prone communities across country.

For instance, reports from various response agencies indicate that not less than 20 local governments out of the 25 local government areas of Niger have been affected by flooding caused by rainfall that has resulted in the death of no fewer than 14 people.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) says 20 local governments in the state — Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro and Wushishi — were affected by flooding.

In another HYPPADEC host community of Benue, the state emergency management agency says the flood destroyed no fewer than 20,000 households and 2,000 farmlands, while more than 20 persons sustained injuries.

“No fewer than 134,797 persons have been affected by this flooding in 12 local government areas including Guma, Vandeikya, Otukpo, Katsina-Ala, Makurdi, Apa, Agatu, Tarka, Gboko, Gwer west, Logo and Buruku.

“We have recorded more than 24 deaths, no fewer than 24 persons injured, close to 2,000 hectares of farmlands have been submerged and close to 20,000 households have been affected,” a competent source confirms, pleading anonymity.

Similarly, in Kebbi, flash flood caused the destruction of no fewer than 1,000 houses in Birnin Kebbi, Jega, Shanga, Koko/Besse, Ngaski and Arewa local government areas of the state in 2022.

The state emergency management agency explains that in Jega alone, more than 300 houses were washed away and two persons died, while in Shanga, no fewer than 307 houses were razed in Yar Besse, Dugu tsohowa, Tungar Tsamiya and Hundege villages.

These woes have been the lifelong cry since the river Benue and Niger passed through these communities, villages and towns, analysts observe.

President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated HYPPADEC in December 2020 to cushion the ecological, socioeconomic and psychological effects of the dams on the communities that suffered a great deal of imbalances from the projects without commiserate reward to bridge the gap created in their lives.

At a recent retreat, the Chairman of HYPPADEC, Mr Joseph Ityav, explained that the commission was set to commence addressing the lingering challenges of the hydroelectric power producing communities.

He stated that HYPPADEC had carried a need assessment of the 227 political wards under the commission’s coverage area, adding that the major challenge of the majority of the communities was ecological problem.

“We have gone round, we have looked at those issues, we have come back and sat down, we are trying to see how we can begin to alleviate some of the hardships being experienced by those communities.

“With the kind of board and the management staff we have in place, we are assuring Nigerians that HYPPADEC will be a success story, we are very confident that soon, you will begin to see projects being executed by HYPPADEC,” the chairman stated.

Also, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq, said that the commission discovered that the major issues in the host communities were that during rainy seasons, the communities become devastated because their farms, homes, schools, hospitals and business premises are flooded.

“The ecological challenges they are faced with are enormous, which deprive them of the chances to improve even on their livelihoods, those are the major challenges the communities are really going through.

He stated that more than 227 political wards were assessed to know their basic needs and challenges and their most pressing needs in their order of priority.

Residents in these communities note that the commission has been touching the lives of the host communities in various aspects over the years.

According to them, the commission has also given intervention in the areas of education, housing, entrepreneurial programmes as well as transportation safety in all the six states under its operation.

The commission has also proposed an overall resource requirement of N359 billion to finance its five-year Medium Term Strategic Plan, according to Mr Sam Juwe, HYPPADEC consultant.

“HYPPADEC requires a total indicative investment size of N323 billion to fund its interventions over the next five years.

“These figures were arrived at following a baseline study conducted by the commission in flood-ravaged communities from the HYPPADEC states in the country.

“The essence of the proposed Medium Term Strategic Plan (HMTSP) from 2022 to 2027 HMTSP is to articulate and present the development thrusts and strategies for achieving them during the five-year period.

“Fortunately, the plan shows the policy direction and courses in all the eight mandate areas, including education, health, road infrastructure, energy, agriculture, water resources, entrepreneurship and environment.

“They will also serve as a veritable tool for the mobilisation of civil society organisations and the private sector as well as development partners at all levels,” he said.

Juwe further explained that HMTSP had set forth the framework for collaboration and partnership among the commission, state governments, the local governments, the private sector and development partners, to meet the target.

The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, said that the commission had planned, under its housing scheme, to build two-bedroom apartments for the neediest victims in the flood affected communities.

He said that as a lasting solution to the flood challenges, the commission had brought the issue of dredging to the front burner to help to ameliorate the danger flooding is inflicting on the citizens.

Yelwa also pledged to give out more motorcycles to riverine communities to beef up security and hope to address post-harvest issues and make youth’s transformation and scholarship an all-inclusive intervention.

The communities affected by the operations of the HYPPADEC would definitely see the difference in their ways of lives through the interventionist approach towards complementing major projects by the National Emergency Management Agency, states emergency management agencies as well as development partners.

All in all, stakeholders warn that the dream for establishing the commission must not be allowed to be derailed such as other laudable people-oriented democracy dividends.

According to them, the commission must continue to be fully funded to carry out its interventions without hindrance for the good of the host communities.

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One had wished that Audu Bola Innocent would end well. Now, he has been tamed. Dimmed too were his impulsiveness and intrepid disposition. His travail was a self-inflicted hubris. And today, the hunter is being hounded and hunted. Quite unfortunately, Audu is an iconoclastic fall guy. Bola Audu had assumed office in July 2020 as the National President of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria with the effervescence of a man born to lead.

He was held as a man who would dare. Bola raised dust about others’ malfeasances. His several altercations with Comrades paints a picture of a President with an angelic toga who can be qualified as Mister integrity, who will go all way to ensure that ASCSN members interest will be his topmost priority.

But little did we know of the chameleon nature of the Edo State born Kogi State indigene Bola Audu who at inception exhibited the chivalry of a trained soldier when he picked up his gauntlet to fight every battle. His case can be likened to well liked Jacob Zuma of South-Africa, who came to top echelon of political post through the support of the poor and already exploited South-Africans but ended up stealing from the commonwealth and hard-earned resources of the Country.

He began to display his greed dictated attributes in less than two months into office as the National President of the most populated and populous industrial union in West Africa, ASCSN. First was his request for increased organizational expenses, honorarium and his public relation expenses. He subsequently hijacked the contract to supply December gift items for members and associates of the union and also made frantic efforts to also personalize members foreign training contract, which he intended to give to his wife.

The Ondo State affiliated Bola Audu without consideration to the poor state of the rebates of his constituent members at ASCSN (CHAPTER ELECTED OFFICERS) in August 2020 requested for sixty-nine million naira (N69, 000,000.00) worth of car as his official car. What an exuberant privileged civil servant who forgot his root.
This amount was however paid to his bank account between October 2020 and December, 2020. Apart from the above enumerated financially induced transactions of BOLA, without any official responsibility, he left his place of work in Abuja and relocated to Lagos in order to be milking the union’s finances further through night allowances claims, hotel accommodation, honorarium claims and even provision for side-chicks and entertainment allowance on a daily basis.

His travail started barely seven months into office on the 22nd February, 2021 when security operatives of the National Agencies for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) arrested the former National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Audu Innocent during an in-house meeting with some Central Working Committee members in Abuja on allegation that he was involved in human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable.

This allegation to many of us came as a rude shock due to the angelic tainted posture he wore while assuming office as the National President of the union. Our expectation was however that he will go all out to exonerate self from this inhuman, cruel and uncomradely allegation but instead, the then embattled President chose the path of chasing shadows rather than clear his name.

Instead of looking for workable medium to clear his name from the legal issue against him, he decided to work hard to drag the Union into the mud he is in because he sees the union as his work-CHOP. In achieving this goal, he employed the services of one carry-ka-chop commercial activist who has been desperately looking for means to drag the image of the UNION into sludge. The irony of the issue is that the individual standing tall to pull the union down was severally saved by the same union when he was caught on occasions having sexual intercourse with under-aged secondary school female students while he was serving at one of the unity colleges in the Country.

As if all he did at soiling the name of the union through making efforts to forcefully take possession of the union’s Abuja annex office was not enough, Audu who is supposed to be well abreast of the constitutional medium of solving intra-union crises as entrenched in the constitution resolved to approach the court and even berates the thinking faculty of the National Executive Council (NEC) members of the union who in the interest of saving the face of the union and also employing other approaches to pull him out of the self-inflicted crises decided at its emergency meeting in Abuja earlier in the year that he should step aside in the interest of the platform.

I’ve also discovered through my personal observation that Bola Audu did not respect the organs and constitution of the union. His approaches to issues is more like a dictatorial Hitler in civilian regalia, who doesn’t believe in either the CWC and even the NEC members in taking decision that will protect, promote and advance the course of our members and platform in his absence but little did he know that the platform has been in existence before him and will continue even after him.

For us, ASCSN has moved on with the elevation of Comrade Tommy Etim as the substantive National President of the union; a Central Working Committee decision that was cemented by the National Executive Council members during its meeting on 16-17 August, 2021 at Airport hotel in Lagos. My prayer is that your name, INNOCENT will prevail by showing your innocence and clean you up from this horrible human trafficking related allegation….

Comrade Balogun, Chairman ASCSN Oyo chapter, writes from Ibadan

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“The lockdown … has been a great time for me to breathe, to re-evaluate how I’ve been living my life and trying to focus more on the things that truly matter to me,” said Adetona Omokanye, a 29-year-old photographer who lives in Lagos. Alexander Caiafas, from the same teeming Nigerian city, has also seen the bright side of being cooped up at home. The data analyst, 25, has relished time spent with family, on his studies and connecting with friends online.

But in rural Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, housewife Zodidi Desewula drew little comfort from weeks in her tiny, cylindrical “rondavel”. “Myself and my husband were stuck in this single room house unable to go to work. We were struggling in getting food to eat because there was no income,” she told Reuters.

For Yael Ben Ezer, a performer with Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, there is something to be said for doing nothing. “I will miss the comfortable feeling of ‘it’s OK not to do anything, it’s OK not to be productive in the way we usually think’,” she said. “Things would come and go, the sun would rise and set, and I would just be living. And that’s totally enough.”

For her and many others, there are also plenty of downsides to life away from friends and work.She craves the adrenaline rush of dancing on stage, and the open expanse of the sea. In the Egyptian capital Cairo, Nada Maged, a 20-year-old student, described lockdown as “prison”.

“When I look out I see the same view but have a different feeling – the streets are more sad and mysterious, and there is no hope of getting out soon,” she said. Zineb Mohamed “Om Hany” also lives in the city, and misses regular contact with her family and friends.

“I need to go to the zoo with my grandchildren,” the 59-year-old concierge said in a sparsely furnished room with the television glowing through the gloom. “Also, I want to take them to the sea – I dream about that many times.” With a sea view from her window in the ancient Lebanese city of Tyre, Lama Nadra, 28, has the luxury of seeing it every day.

“I like the calm and being away from the noise of the capital, Beirut,” she said, adding that once she was free to move around she wants to go swimming again. For her, the end of lockdown will mean seeing family less. “My brother will go back to Dubai and I … to Beirut. I will be separated from my father and mother too.” For many though, the pandemic has brought little noticeable change.

Abu Ghazi lives in a makeshift tent on the edge of a cemetery in Syria’s northern town of Maarat Misrin. Like millions of his compatriots displaced by nine years of war, he longs to return home. “We quarantined ourselves with the dead,” the 53-year-old told Reuters. “We wake up and sleep looking at graves.”

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