News
World Water Day: Privatization Of Water Antithetical To Principles Of Commons – Bassey
By Joseph Ebi Kanjo
As the World Water Day is being celebrated globally, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has called for a collective action to save freshwater and its ecosystems.
INFO DAILY reports that World Water Day is held yearly on March 22nd to draw awareness of the need to tackle the global existential water crises.
In a statement to mark the Day with the theme: Water for Peace, Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, said peace becomes a mirage in the absence of justice.
He lamented that “many people across the world are going through a lot of stress to access clean water, and some are forced to travel over long distances just to get a few liters of potable water,” due to “crude capitalism.”
READ ALSO: Environmental Activist, Nnimmo Bassey, Harps On Benefits Of Renewable Energy
In the statement made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communications Lead, HOMEF, the Executive Director, said the “enclosure, grabbing and privatization of water is antithetical to the principles of commons.”
According to him, “it is important that our rivers, creeks, lagoons, and oceans are treated sanely and not seen as waste dumps.”
Bassey added: “With the massive destruction of water bodies by mining, oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities, dredging activities and the development of infrastructure in critical freshwater ecosystems, it is imperative to call for the restoration of degraded water bodies and wetlands everywhere in Nigeria and by extension, Africa and globally.”
He continued: “Valuing water must not be construed to mean that water can be commodified or privatized, but that the intrinsic value of this prime gift of Nature be respected and protected.
READ ALSO: NABDA, NACGRAB Merger Dangerous For Nigeria’s Biosafety, HOMEF Warns
“Water is not a commodity for privatization. We must treat our waters with respect because water is life and access to clean, the right to safe water to meet daily needs is a fundamental human right.”
Bassey further noted that “beyond our need to secure our potable water sources, our entire aquatic ecosystems must be secured to promote cultural practices, preserve knowledge and enhance livelihoods especially for our fisher folks.
“Polluters must be adequately sanctioned. We must be mindful of the fact that plastics and toxic items dumped in our waters get eaten by fish and enter our food chain thereby endangering our own health. Water for peace should be a wake-up call to take responsibility for protecting our waterways and to oppose all forms of privatization of water.”
READ ALSO: HOMEF Trains Women On Climate Change Adaptation
On his part, Coordinator of Fishnet Alliance, Stephen Oduware, stated that “while climate change can be blamed for droughts and related water crises faced in the world today, there have been direct interference with our waterbodies causing pollution from the dumping of wastes and release of harmful chemicals from industries, including those in the petroleum sector, into our water bodies and intensify shortages of potable water. The intrinsic value of water cannot be over-emphasized because it is the basis of life forms on Earth.”
They, therefore advocated for a “realignment of our relationship to our water bodies including the oceans as zones of life and not zones for exploitative and polluting economic activities.”
They also urged the government at all levels to ensure that polluted waters and other destroyed environments are cleaned and restored.
News
Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.
Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.
“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.
READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole
He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.
According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.
Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.
READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku
He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.
One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.
He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.
News
Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan
Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.
He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.
READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack
Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.
“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”
He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.
He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.
Watch the video here
News
Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint
Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.
The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached
Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.
He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.
Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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