President Muhammadu Buhari will inaugurate the Governing Council and Board of Trustees for the implementation of the clean up of Ogoni land on Thursday in Abuja.
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
The Nigerian Air Force, NAF has assured members of the public living around the area of air strikes against Arepo oil pipeline vandals of their safety.
A statement issued by the Airforce Director of Public Relations on Wednesday said that the air strikes were carefully planned to avoid collateral damages.
“It has become necessary to allay the fears of the people with a view to sustaining public confidence and support for the ongoing operations against pipeline-vandals codenamed Operation Awatse in the South West region of the Country.
“Therefore, the NAF wishes to assure the general public, within the affected areas, of their safety as the ongoing air operation is carefully planned to avoid collateral damage to the civil populace and property.
“The NAF is careful to ensure that only legitimate targets, such as observation post, anti-aircraft gun position, boats laden with suspected stolen petroleum products and armed combatants, are selected for strike.
“In aligning with this global best practice, the NAF usually undertakes surveillance flights before and after each strike to mitigate incidental harm to civilians and property.
“While pre-strike assessment missions are undertaken to help identify and select legitimate military targets for neutralization, post-strike or Battle Damage Assessment missions are meant to ascertain whether the desired degree of impact was achieved or not, and if a follow-up re-attack is required.
“It may also be necessary to state that NAF pilots are adequately trained, and as professionals, would not engage in human right violations and abuses.
“The successes recorded in the past 5 days since the NAF commenced strike mission in Arepo, in support of surface forces under Operation Awatse, attest to this display of absolute professionalism by NAF pilots involved in the operation as no single incident of collateral damage has been recorded.
“Meanwhile, it is necessary to add that the NAF, working in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services (SBS), has set on fire the hideouts and camps used by the pipeline vandals in Arepo.
“As a result, Community leaders and members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the fleeing vandals and other criminal elements are please requested to oblige such information to the Security Agencies.
“Furthermore, the civil populace is please advised not to panic but to go about their legitimate businesses.”
The Nigerian Army has announced the arrest of two Boko Haram kingpins by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.
The two terrorists identified as Mohammed Mohammed Zauro and Lawal Aboi were nabbed on Tuesday, according to Army spokesman Col Sani Usman.
"Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE with assistance of Vigilantes on routine checks, identified and arrested a high profile suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Mohammed Mohammed Zauro at Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State. Preliminary investigation shows that the suspected terrorist kingpin was arrested as he was trying to flee to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from Sambisa forest. The troops recovered a Gionee brand of mobile telephone handset and a fake SAIE/JIBWIS identification card to perfect his escape and the sum of N7,900.00k.
"Similarly, troops also intercepted another suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Lawal Aboi, along Damboa-Bale road. According to him, he was on his way to voluntarily surrender to the troops in Damboa because he was tired of fighting for no just cause. Both suspects are being further interrogated," he said.
Immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday where he had a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
When asked what he was doing to ensure peace in the Niger Delta, Jonathan said that Nigeria was better off as a united country.
His words:
"It's not just about me but about all the traditional rulers, elders and opinion leaders that are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. We have been in touch to see that peace reigns in the country. Those of you that have followed my talks when I was here, my emphasis is that we need a United Nigeria and I always emphasize that Nigeria is great not just about the oil.
"So many countries produce more oil than Nigeria nobody notices them. We are great because of our size, the human resources we have, the diversity we have, if we fragment the country into small components, we will be forgotten by the world.
"That has been my focal position and without peace there cannot be development anywhere in the world. We are all working collectively to see that issues are resolved."
Expectant mothers in Nigeria have been advised to commence breastfeeding within 30 minutes of delivery in order to ensure survival and healthy living for their babies.
The Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu gave the advice in Abuja on Monday during the inauguration of the 2016 Breastfeeding Week organized by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN.
Speaking on the theme of the program, “Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development,’’ Isokpunwu described breastfeeding as crucial to child survival and protection from illnesses.
“Breast milk is good for the child and exclusive breastfeeding protects the child from ill-health, frequent illnesses and also ensure that there is a reduction in the number of time a child is exposed to infections.
“We need to protect breastfeeding and support breastfeeding in work places, and we are calling on the private sector to set up crèches, especially the big ones.
“The small ones can set up breastfeeding rooms and encourage women to go on breastfeeding break to adequately breast feed their children,’’ he said.
The Governor of Taraba State, Mr Darius Ishaku has faulted the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, for failing to inform the state government of her five days official visit to the state and her intention to distribute relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Sylvanus Giwa, the governor said that Alhassan broke protocol as a Minister from the state by not informing him that she was coming to donate relief materials to the IDPs who in any case are under the care of the state government.
“The minister said she refused to intimate the state governor on her official visit deliberately, but the presidential relief materials were conveyed by NEMA and handed over to Taraba State Emergency Management Agency.
“The Permanent Secretary from Taraba State is under the governor that is working at the agency. Tell me how the state government is not involved in this exercise?”
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