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Over 70 CSOs Want Senate To Proceed With NBMA Re-amendment Bill

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

Say Science Must Align With Country’s Realities

Those Against The Bill Have No Regard For The Environment – Nnimmo Bassey

Groups of civil society organizations, researchers, farmers,
nutritionists and consumer groups representing millions of Nigerians
have called on the Nigerian Senate to proceed with the bill for an
amendment of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act (Amended
2019).

This call was made following the public hearing on the bill which held
on 31 August and 1 September 2022.

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In a statement signed by over seventy (70) CSOs, different groups of farmers and experts, etc, a soft copy of which was made available to INFO DAILY, the coalition condemned the fact that
there was no real representation of CSOs and farmers at the public
hearing, stressing that amendment to the bill is vital for the protection of Nigeria’s biosafety, genetic/nutritional diversity, the rights of local food producers, and for economic resilience.

The groups also noted that “scientific integrity, social responsibility and accountability are not negotiable, and no technology should be exempted from these values.”

On Friday 2 September 2022, it was reported that some “experts reject biosafety act re-amendment” on the grounds that it would retrogress science and development in Nigeria.

But responding to this claim, the coalition stressed that science and development
must align with the country’s realities/context, adding that it must pass through the test of safety and sustain-ability. “Anything beside this is an ambush.”

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Contributing to the argument, Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of the Mother Earth Foundation, one of the CSOs that signed the statement, said that those who are against
this bill have demonstrated utter disregard for the environment and the well-being of human.

READ ALSO: Oil Spill: Declare Environmental Emergency On Odimodi Community Now, Environmental Rights Action Urges FG, Shell

He emphasized that the bill in its current state is anti-people, and does not protect the consumers or farmer’s interest and allows all sorts of genetically modified products into the country with lax regulation.

Also contributing, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director of Corporate Accountability and Public
Participation for Africa, CAPPA, also a signatory to the statement, noted that science must be in the
interest of the people, the general public and not just a few industry
players.

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Oluwafemi added that having a strict regulation of GMOs in
Nigeria means that “we are able to utilize science in a way that is
consistent with the standards of biosafety, ethics and good judgement.”

On his part, the Coordinator, Food Sovereignty Programme at Friends of the Earth Nigeria and Africa, Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, noted that “lack of strict provision on the Precautionary Principle, the absence of strict
liability, the conflicting composition of the board of the NBMA (with
the National Biotechnology Development Agency as as well other promoters
of GMOs on it) and provisions permitting the Agency to receive gifts from various sources are just a few of the gaps in the watered-down NBMA Act that this bill seeks to address.”

According to Bassey-Orovwuje, “if the promoters of GMOs are so proud of their products, why do they have such a morbid fear of strict
regulation? If the technology is as safe as they claim then it should
meet up with the standards of safety and accountability.”

A Molecular Biologist, Ifeanyi Casmir warned that the direction science will take Nigeria with a lax regulatory system is one of disaster and
regret.

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We are not against science but those who take advantage of the
weak regulatory architecture to mastermind the importation and release of sundry untested and unproven GM products making the country an
experimental ground.”

On her part, Gloria Okon, leader of a woman farmer group in Katsina, stated that
farmers are most affected by GMOs, adding that the implications they bring and
thus their interest must be upheld.

She applauded the move by the Senate to ensure strict regulation of GMOs and implored that they see it
through despite the opposition from the promoters of the technology.

READ ALSO: Monitor, Protect Your Environment, HOMEF Charges N’Delta Communities

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The groups, therefore, encouraged the lawmakers to proceed with the amendment bill and not give up nor give in to pressure from the purveyors of GMOs and
accompanying toxic chemicals.

We need a regulatory system that can assure the country of its biosafety and not just dance to the tune of
those it is set up to check or merely imitate other countries whose
socio-economic and ecological systems are different from ours,” the coalition added.

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Shettima Launches NEDC’s School Enrollment Drive Programme

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the Accelerated Senior Secondary School Education Programme (ASSEP) initiated by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) in collaboration with the office of the VP to enhance child enrollment drive in schools within the North-East sub-region.

Speaking during the launching of the programme in Bauchi on Saturday, the VP said that consequences of the nation’s action and inaction were evident in all indices used to assess development.

He said while primary education provides a foundation, secondary education is a bridge, adding that the Northeast sub-region has been the victim of inability to enforce a uniform policy to drive school and the persistent cultural perversion to formal education in the country.

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READ ALSO: Excitement, Dance As ‘Looted Ancestral Stools’ Return To Oba Of Benin

We in the Northeast occupy a quantum of position in ranking of essential services. Education being a key sector of this country, this is especially pronounced in the post primary education, while the Northeast secondary school enrollment drive stands at 19 percent, far below the nation’s 39 percent,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, said that the primary education completion level of 85 per cent in the Northeast is among the best in Nigeria, but secondary school enrolment is a mere 15 per cent, the second worst nationally.

According to him, due to the challenges in the post-primary education segment, JAMB UTME applications and admissions into tertiary institutions in 2019 were the lowest for the Northeast compared to other regions.

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READ ALSO: Three Children Rescued As Fire Guts Storey Building In Delta

He added that, nationally, the Northeast has the lowest number of teachers and the highest percentage 55 per cent of those available are without literacy skills.

The MD also revealed that the challenges in the post-primary education segment include weak quality indices and a wide demand-supply gap driven by economic and cultural factors.

“The Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme seeks to boost the post primary education rating across the North East region through improved enrolment into tertiary institutions.

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“It’s also to improve skills development as well as the elevation of teacher quality. It would pay special focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and communication.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Governing Board Members For 111 Tertiary Institutions

“These would foster creativity and critical thinking; motivates and inspires young people to generate new technologies and ideas to learn from inquiry-based tasks,” he said.

Alkali also explained that the programme would also raise awareness about after-school possibilities and the potential for diligent students to become successful and prominent contributors to the North East region and Nigeria at large.

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He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government especially, the Vice President for the deep interest and commitment to human development in the North-East.

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Edo Police Break Silence On Operatives Fighting Dirty In Viral Video

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The Edo State Police Command says a trending video showing two operatives of the command engaging in a fight is a handiwork of mischief makers.

In the video which has gone viral on the internet, two policemen are seen fighting themselves, while a voice commentary in the background claims they are from the Igueben Decisional Police Station headquarters in the state.

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A writeup also attached to a version of the video sighted by Info Daily also claims that the policemen were fighting because of sharing formula of money collected from motorists on the highway. The writeup also claims that the incident happened yesterday, May 17th, 2024.

READ ALSO: Three Children Rescued As Fire Guts Storey Building In Delta

But reacting to the viral video in a statement issued by SP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer, the command said contrary to the claim, the incident happened in 2020, adding that disciplinary measures were taken against the erring policemen.

The statement which issued electronically to newsmen in Benin on Saturday evening partly reads: “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it’s aware of a video trending on the internet showing two policemen that engaged themselves in a fight in public spaces and wishes to state as follows that;

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“The now trending video happened in April 2020 in a community called Ebelle in the Igueben local government area of Edo State.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tinubu Appoints Governing Board Members For 111 Tertiary Institutions

“The two erring policemen, namely; (i) F/NO.491112 CPL Ozimeade Aidonojie and (ii) F/NO. 516384 PC Salubi Stephen were attached to Ebelle Police Divisional Headquarters.

“They defaulted, tried in an orderly and upon conviction dismissed from the Force for the offence of discreditable conduct contrary to Paragraph ‘E’ Sub Section 111 of the Police Act and Regulations 370 Cap. P19 of Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

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Nwabuzor in the statement reiterated the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, commitment to “making Edo State a desired secured state where the law abiding citizens and the general public go about their lawful businesses in making Edo State economic hubs of Nigeria without fear or intimidation.”

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Excitement, Dance As ‘Looted Ancestral Stools’ Return To Oba Of Benin

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It was a moment of joy, excitement and dance at the palace of the Oba of Benin as the revered monarch, Oba Ewuare II took custody of two looted royal stools from the German government.

They were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM on behalf of the Nigerian government by the German authorities in 2022.

The Director-General of
National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government on Saturday May18, 2024 in Oba of Benin Palace, Benin City.

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According to history, the artefacts — Bronze and wooden Royal stools (Ekete), made during the reign of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie several Centuries ago, were looted from Oba Palace during the punitive expedition in 1897.

READ ALSO: Over 100 Priests, Palace Chiefs Storm Court For Oba Of Benin In Solidarity 

Addressing the Benin Throne during the presentation of the artefacts, Mr Holloway, pledged on behalf of NCMM, to work-hand-in hand with the Benin Royal Court in uplifting and displaying Edo heritage.

He revealed that as the Benin Bronzes and other art works are gradually making their way home (Nigeria), “NCMM will join hands with the Royal Court to create a befitting destination for people around the world to come and appreciate these works”.

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“What you see before us were originally taken away from the Royal family in 1897.

“We have a stool made of Bronze and a wooden stool.

“I speak for every member of my team, to say that we remain loyal to the Royal Court. And if there is anything we can do, we will do to support this laudable initiative.

READ ALSO: Oba Of Benin Suspends Six Officials For Posing As Palace Emissaries To Ooni Of Ife

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“This heritage is not just Benin heritage, but Nigeria’s heritage.
When we speak of Benin heritage, there is nobody that doesn’t know the great works of ours.

“I appreciate you, we will always do what we can do with our powers to make His Royal Majesty lineage in memory”, he said.

After unveiling the repatriated Artefacts, Oba of Benin, who danced joyfully to Benin traditional rendition in dramatic dance steps, with excited Chiefs and members of the Royal family, offered prayers to Almighty God and his ancestors.

The traditional ruler, who was visibly overwhelmed with joy, appreciated the German government and the Federal Government and the NCMM leadership for their efforts.

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The royal father, thereafter, in a historic move, sat in one of the royal stools (Ekete), and personally presented a chunk of white, which, according to belief, symbolizes peace and blessings to the Director-General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway.

Oba Ewuare II also prayed for Mr Holloway and his team, accompanied by the Curator, National Museum, Benin, Mr Mark Olaitan, Director, Legal Services, NCMM, Barrister Babatunde Adebiyi on the visit where Royal Drummers gave a good account of their stewardship.

 

 

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