Author: Naomi Sharang

jet

By Naomi Sharang

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The Senate, on Thursday, said  there was no request from the Presidency to approve the purchase of a Presidential aircraft.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, during  plenary, dismissed speculations that the Upper Chamber was debating  approval of a Presidential aircraft in the 2024 supplementary budget.

Opeyemi said:  “Senate is aware of  insinuations that the its President, Godswill Akpabio ,either had at one time, indicated that we had a request for  purchase of a new plane to  be approved for President Tinubu.

“And that President of the Senate had indicated that regardless of what Nigerians were going through, that it will be approved.

“As we sit here, a section of the social media had also been circulating that we had gone into an executive session to discuss about the presidential request for a new plane and how we are going to approve it.

“Let me alert Nigerians that there is the presence of a fifth columnist and some other propagandists who are doing everything possible to destabilise this country and also destabilise the parliament.

“I say for the record, as the Leader of this Senate, that there is no request before this us  as of yet.”

The Senate Leader added that there had not been a basis for the Red Chamber to debate whether to approve a Presidential aircraft or not.

“It has never been discussed either on the floor of this Senate or among individual senators or at the executive session.

“There is no such request. If the request comes, it is not about the  President of the Senate alone.

“It is for 469 elected representatives of the Nigerian people to discuss and take a position. 360 in the House of Representatives, 109 in the senate.”he said.

Reacting ,Akpabiosaid: “When you hear stories such as the death of the Vice President of Malawi as a result of a  defective plane and  then you hear stories such as the death of the President of Iran, as a result of defective helicopter, we should never dream and allow such to be our portion, it will  not be.

“The Senate is responsible, the National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country.

“Those speculating know very well that something like that may come in future, and if it is a necessity, the Senate will look into it. But ,there is nothing like that before us now,” Akpabio said.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Buhari Bolaji

Quick countering of fake news’ll curtail its damage – NAN MD

News
Abuja, June 26, 2024(NAN) Malam Ali M. Ali, the Managing Director(MD) of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has said that quick countering of fake news by communication specialists would curtail its damage.

He made this known in Abuja on Wednesday in a paper he presented at a roundtable organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), and Development Specs Academy (DSA).

The theme of the event was “Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development”.

Ali spoke on the topic “Professional News Management as Panacea for Infodemics, Misinformation and Fake news”.

He declared that there was need for timely countering of misinformation which entailed striking a balance between speedy response, and the volume of information available for the responding outlet.

“A burning issue should not be allowed to fester before we react, although there are times when silence is said to be golden until an auspicious time when a valid response would be desirable.”

The MD also said that the media, globally, play a very important role in practically every aspect of life.

“In an increasingly shrinking global space marked by exponential growth in media convergence and artificial intelligence, the dampeners of infodemics, misinformation and fake news have all but assumed lives of their own.

“This development rightly ought to be a source of concern and it is gratifying that NARC and the Development Specs Academy have given this issue more than a cursory attention.”

He said that Infodemics, as defined by David Rothkopf, a journalist and political scientist, is “a few facts, mixed with fear, speculation and rumour, amplified and relayed swiftly worldwide by modern information technologies”.

Ali said that infodemics was now dominating national life where purveyors of misinformation and fake news turned little facts on their heads to achieve a predetermined end.

Proffering solutions to infodemics, fake news and misinformation, the MD said that truthfulness and accuracy must be upheld in order to build trust with the public.

“The authenticity of a message reinforces that copy or communication. When people perceive the message to be authentic, they tend to believe it the more and show understanding.

“Genuineness or sincerity is critical in winning the people over,” he said.

He also suggested that institutions of state must promote digital literacy among their communications professionals, especially now that the media landscape was constantly in a state of flux.

“As communication specialists, we have to be innovative and refrain from a one-size-fits all communication approach,” he said.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Development Specs Academy (DSA), Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, said that the country had security challenges that were no longer easy to deal with, following traditional methods.

“As such, there is the need for a social reorientation of citizens to divulge information on threats in their communities, to security agencies.

“It is about a progressive change of social attitude, about security at the level of awareness, at the level of people knowing that they should have an interest in securing the society. And should tell persons responsible when they see danger.”

He said that to deal with the nature of Nigeria’s insecurity, it would require social reorientation, having greater partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),and community-based organisations.

“More importantly, education and reeducation of youth leaders. If they become part of the conversation, they will be in a position to tell those who don’t know, what to do with themselves,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said that the objective of the roundtable was to try to foster military-media cooperation and understanding.

Wahab, who was represented by retired Maj.-Gen. James Miyam, said that the media should continuously try to propagate what the Nigerian Army was doing and, by so doing, elicit community support among Nigerian citizens.

“What came out in the roundtable table is that there is an overarching need for perception management by media managers.

“This is for them to understand and balance the need to carry out their responsibilities well.”

He said that the community and citizen support was very critical to the operational activities of the army.

“So, we are trying to now sensitise the entire Nigerian citizenry on the need for them to come to us when they have information that can enhance operational activities of the military.

“They should not shy away; they should quickly come forward and give this information,” he said.

For a former spokesman of the army, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, there was the need to improve the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the public.

This, he said, was to have a better understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices and the efforts of the Nigerian Army in dealing with the security challenges in the country and defending its own territorial integrity.

He also said that non-violence communication could be integrated in the overall communication strategy of the army in dealing with their relationship with the public.

In his submission, a traditional ruler from Delta, Prof. Echefuna Onyebeadi, said that in spite of the overwhelming evidence of the importance of traditional rulers in the management of national security, there existed some challenges that mitigate their proper functioning.

“One of the challenges is lack of constitutional role. The Constitution does not make any specific provision for the role of traditional rulers in this country,” he fumed.

While expressing sadness over ‘security votes’ to state governors without much results in the fight against insecurity, Onyebeadi said that if part of the votes “trickle down to the traditional domain, it would aid national security”.

On the part of the NGO, Executive Director, Hedda Beautiful Hands, Ltd, Hope Ayabina, suggested that the military should get involved with the activities of NGOs.

“They should teach them a skill or two; security skills preferably. That, in itself, can be a tool for intelligence gathering,” he said.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
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Stakeholders call for social reorientation of citizens in tackling insurgency

Insecurity
By Naomi Sharang
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Stakeholders in the security and media sectors on Tuesday, in Abuja, have called for social reorientation of Nigerians in tackling insecurity in the country.

The experts in their submissions at the end of a two-day roundtable organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in collaboration with Development Specs Academy.

The theme of the event is “Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development”.

Executive Director, Development Specs Academy (DSA), Prof. Okey Ikechukwu said that the country has security challenges that were no longer easy to deal with following traditional methods.

“As such, there is the need for a social reorientation of citizens to divulge information on threats in their communities to security agencies.

“It is about a progressive change of social attitude about security at the level of awareness, at the level of people knowing that I should have an interest in securing myself. So I should tell persons responsible when I see danger.”

He said that to deal with the nature of Nigeria’s insecurity, it would require social reorientation, having greater partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and community-based organisations.

“More importantly, education and reeducation of youth leaders. If they become part of the conversation, they will be in a position to tell those who don’t know what to do with themselves, we give them what to do.”

“In our village, you notice a stranger, you tell the traditional ruler, they go to the police, that’s what enables security agencies to operate.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC). retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab said that the objective the roundtable was to try to foster military-media cooperation and understanding.

Garba who was represented by retired Maj.-Gen. James Miyam said that the media should continuously try to propagate what the Nigerian Army was doing and by so doing illicit community support among Nigerian citizens.

“What came out in the roundtable table is that there is an overarching need for perception management by media managers.

“This is for them to understand and balance the need for them to carry out their responsibilities well.

He said that that community and citizen support was very critical to the operational activities of the army.

“So we are trying to now sensitise the entire Nigerian citizenry on the need for them to come where they have information that can enhance operational activities of the military.

“They should not shy away, they should quickly come forward and give this information,” he said.

On his part, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali Muhammad Ali, spoke on the topic ‘Professional News Management as Panacea for Infodemics, Misinformation and Fake news”.

He said that the media globally, played a very important role in practically every aspect of life.

“In an increasingly shrinking global space marked by exponential growth in media convergence and artificial intelligence, the dampeners of infodemics, misinformation and fake news have all but assumed lives of their own.

“This development rightly ought to be a source of concern and it is gratifying that NARC and the Development Specs Academy, have given this issue more than cursory attention.”

He said that Infodemics as defined by David Rothkopf, a journalist and political scientist, is…” a few facts, mixed with fear, speculation and rumor, amplified and relayed swiftly worldwide by modern information technologies”.

Ali said that infodemics was now dominating national life where purveyors of misinformation and fake news turned little facts on their heads to achieve a predetermined end.

Proffering solutions to infodemics and misinformation, the MD of NAN said that truthfulness and accuracy must be upheld.

“We must also be timely in countering misinformation. This entails striking a balance between speedily responding and the volume of information available.”

For a former spokesman of the army, retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman, there was the need to improve the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the public.

This, he said was to have a better understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices and the efforts of the Nigerian Army in dealing with the security challenges in the country and defending its own territorial integrity.

He also said that non-violence communication could be integrated in the overall communication strategy of the army in dealing with their relationship with the public.

In his submission, a traditional ruler from Delta, Prof. Echefuna Onyebeadi said that in spite of the overwhelming evidence of the importance of traditional rulers in the management of national security, there existed some challenges that mitigate their proper functioning in national security.

“One of the challenges is lack of constitutional role. The Constitution does not make any specific provision for the role of traditional rulers in this country.”

While expressing sadness over ‘security votes’ to state governors without much results in the fight against insecurity, Onyebeadi said that if part of the votes “trickle down to the traditional domain, it
would aid national security.

On the part of the NGO, Executive Director, Hedda Beautiful Hands, Ltd, Hope Ayabina, suggested that the military should get involved with the activities of NGOs.

“They should teach them a skill or two; security skills preferably- that in itself, can be a tool for intelligence gathering.”

Similarly, Head of Legal and Training Services at DSA, Margaret Agbo, said that
the key strategies and methods that could be adopted in effective grassroots intelligence gathering included community engagement.

“This is in order to establish relationships and build trust.”

She also said that regular engagements with various levels of the local leadership, influencers and elders would help gain deep insights into various aspects of what held the community together.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Nigerian Army pledges continuous fight against insurgency without reservation

Security

By Naomi Sharang

Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has said that the military would continue to operate without any reservation in ensuring the safety and security of citizens.

Lagbaja said this at a roundtable held in Abuja on Monday, organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), in collaboration with Development Specs Academy.

The event is themed, “Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development”.

Declaring the roundtable opened, Lagbaja said that the Nigerian Army would not relent in combating insurgency and other security threats in the country.

“The Nigerian Army in collaboration with its sister services and other security agencies will continue to operate without any reservation in ensuring the safety and security of the country for the development of all Nigerians.

“The theme of the event is apt particularly at this time when the nation is facing various security challenges.

“I am optimistic that this interaction will deliver practical solutions that can be easily implemented.

“I assure you of the army headquarters’ engagement to a timely resolution of all insecurity issues in a manner that is favourable to the country and its citizens.”

He, however, appealed to Nigerians to support the army with the needed information on suspicious persons
in their communities.

“I appeal to all Nigerians to continue supporting the Nigerian army and other security agencies in their quest to bring rapid peace, which is necessary for sustainable development.

“Nigerians should continue to support the army; it is the people’s army. We are working to bring about the peace and security that Nigerians yearn so much for.

“I appeal to Nigerians to support the army with information and any other form of support that will grant flexibility to the troops, to be effective in combating the enemies of the state.

“Security is a whole of society’s responsibility and all stakeholders must understand each other and build trust and relationships among themselves,” Lagbaja said.

He further said that the position of the army to all forms of threat was that, “we will work in line with the constitutional provisions to combat all enemies of the state and bring about the much desired peace and stability within the country”.

Also speaking, Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab said the military owed Nigerians the responsibility to combat insurgency.

“We owe ourselves the responsibility to tackle our security challenges. We must find a way of ensuring that these issues are tackled.

“This forum is not about fault finding but finding solutions that will improve performance by the Nigerian Army,” Wahab said.

Similarly, Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, decried the situation where soldiers and the military no longer get intelligence from communities in the fight against insecurity.

“Soldiers and the military have been doing a lot. But that which they are doing is misunderstood.

“Most communities no longer give them intelligence. So you find the people whose job depends on the information they get from communities not helping them.

“These men are here to secure us, so we need to give them the needed information. This is our country. We need to fix it,” he said.

In his presentation, the President, Nigerian
Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, said that the media ought to carry out reporting and discussions with responsibility with regards to issues on insecurity.

“When we don’t take responsibility in whatever we are doing as we report our nation, we leave our nation vulnerable to the risk of assessment and perception by other nations and when that happens, our reputation will be in deficit,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable had as strategic partners, the Voice of Nigeria (VON), NAN and NIPR. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Terrorism

By Naomi Sharang
Abuja, June 21, 2024 (NAN) Retired Maj.-Gen Garba Wahab, Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, has urged the judiciary to carry out due diligence in handling cases of terrorism, insurgency and banditry.

Wahab told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that the call became necessary to guard against impunity by perpetrators of such acts.

”Let the judiciary start doing their job because if we don’t, we are encouraging impunity,” he said.

Wahab said that the centre would look at the security issues during a roundtable to be held on Monday and Tuesday on “Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development”.

He said that the security challenges in the country were well-known issues by all, adding that it behoves on all stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the myriad of the problems.

“We will like to trudge on to find a solution to the security challenges. We know the problems but what are the solutions?

“We have issues. We must find solutions; we must beg, if it means begging. This is our country and it must work.

“We must find a way to make sure things work in Nigeria. Prosecution is a two-way thing. The judge and the prosecuting officers must up their game.

“The judiciary must be up and doing. Series of allegations have been leveled and we are not leveling allegation against anybody, but we must work as a country,” Wahab said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, said that the meeting with newsmen was organised as part of public engagements designed to strengthen public awareness on asymmetrical national security challenges.

“The essence of our special attention to our strategic partners is to emphasise the roles and relevance of credible and highly professional bodies, institutes and institutions as well as agencies of government that are headed by professionals in public communication and the media.”

He said that asymmetrical security challenges ranged from embedded targets, refusal of the average person to help the army and other security agencies with local intelligence.

“We become illiterate enough not to understand that it is our duty to provide that intelligence for us to be protected.

“So, that is a security challenge for those managing security, but it doesn’t take the standard form that they are familiar with, and they could refusal to help.”

Ikechukwu listed the partners to the planned roundtable to include the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, among others.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
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edited by Sadiya Hamza

PRP urges FG to develop people-oriented agric, manufacturing policies

Policies
By Naomi Sharang
Abuja, June 20, 2024 (NAN) The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has urged the Federal Government to develop and put in place realistic and people-oriented agricultural and manufacturing policies to improve the Nigerian economy.

The National Chairman of the party, Malam Falalu Bello, made the call in a news statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the National Economic Management team of the government should consider a massive reduction in the cost of governance and reduction in waste to get the country out of its economic crisis.

“We urge this team, as a matter of urgency, to develop and get in place, a realistic and people oriented agricultural and manufacturing policies.

“We need to make agriculture an economically profitable activity as done before the IMF/World Bank visited this nation with their ‘No subsidy to agriculture’ mantra,” he said.

Bello decried the level of inflation, which he said, was “inching up to 40 per cent and rising poverty level was exacerbating”.

“Unemployment and under employment levels are increasing because of low capacity utilisation and factory closures.

“Their is also the closure of over 300 companies by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) on account of unreasonable increase in electricity tariff.

“More companies are folding up. We urge the government to do something to address this situation,” he said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Sadiya Hamza

FCT: Southern leaders urge Wike to ignore distractors

Leaders
By Naomi Sharang
Abuja, June 17, 2024 (NAN) Some leaders from the southern Nigeria have advised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, to ignore political distractors bent on frustrating his efforts to transform the area.

The group gave the advice on Monday, while addressing newsmen in Abuja under the auspices of the Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria.

It said that the appointment of Wike by President Bola Tinubu was one of the best decisions of the administration.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr Raphael Okorie, said that the minister had achieved in nine months, what former ministers could not in eight years.

Okorie appealed to Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu, saying that he was striving to fix the economy, restore security and bring relief to Nigerians.

“Wike has done a lot in just nine months.

“We know that there are people who want to distract him from replicating his sterling performance in Rivers.

“He is not even bothered about the crisis in Rivers. He is busy with developing Abuja,” the group said.

It furthet said that Wike had transformed the FCT, adding that it was strongly behind him and praying for him to succeed as minister.

Okorie said that the group had taken time to assess the performance of the administration of President Tinubu and Wike, adding that both were poised to urgently deliver the dividend of the Renewed Hope Agenda as promised.

According to him, from the rapid infrastructure development to  stabilising the economy, there is no doubt that Nigeria is on the part of recovery.

“Here, thereto, we micromanaged the value of the naira against other currencies of the world,” he said.

He further contended that the country’s infrastructure development became stunted before the inception of Tinubu’s administration.

Okorie said that the international community could not invest in Nigeria “because of inconsistent policies and over interference by the government in the affairs of the private sector.

“Confidence in our economy that hit its highest under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was completely eroded, Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) were near zero.

“Today, we have attained relative and realistic stability in the management of the naira and FDI is growing by the day.

“The private sector is getting the required support to grow and produce what we consume.

“Local content is being seriously encouraged and the government has opened its doors to all Nigerians to build an all-inclusive country, where no Nigerian is shortchanged by those that have invaded to destroy our dear nation.

“Our praises also go to Mr Project, Nyesom Wike for proving the president is right in appointing him as the minister of the nation’s capital,” he said.

He said that the minister had succeeded in bringing insecurity, which was a major challenge in Abuja, under control within the six months of his appointment.

“Today, the entire territory is relatively safe.

“We are not there yet, but with Wike in charge, we are optimistic that FCT will be completely safe soon,” Okorie said.

He appealed to the president to ignore those that were plotting to have Wike removed as FCT minister, and urged Tinubu to continue to support him.

“We also call on residents of the FCT to join hands and support Wike to succeed,” Okorie said. (NAN)(wwww.nannnews.ng)

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Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Sam Oditah

Bill

By Naomi Sharang

Abuja, June 13, 2024 (NAN) The Senate has passed 25 out of the 447 bills introduced on its floor  since the  inauguration of the 10th Senate in 2023.

Senate Leader ,Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, who disclosed in Abuja on Thursday, also said that the upper chamber adopted 115 resolutions .

He said  the 25 bills fully passed into law, comparatively, accounted for 5.24 per cent of the entire bills introduced within the timeframe.

According to him, aside the 25 fully enacted pieces of legislation, no fewer than 275 bills (57.65 per cent) were read for the  first time within the timeframe.

“About 135 (28.32 per cent) awaiting first reading; 45 (9.43 per cent) awaiting the second reading; 43 (9.02 per cent) currently at the committee stage and three bills (0.63 per cent) were refused on different grounds.

He added that while only 13 (2.73 per cent) of the total bills originated from the executive arm, 464 (97.27 per cent) were private member bills.

“Apart from the bills, the Senate arrived at 115 resolutions, which are far-reaching in consequence; profound in their significance to our economic development and strategic to the cohesion, growth and stability of our nation.

“Each of these resolutions arose from motions of national importance, which different distinguished senators sponsored after due diligence was conducted.” he said.

According to him ,Senate also received and treated petitions from members of the public on diverse matters of grave concern within the timeframe.

“In spite of time constraint, 50 of the public petitions were successfully and satisfactorily resolved.

” The Senate equally screened and confirmed 215 nominees for different political offices at the request of President Bola Tinubu and in accordance with Section 147 (2-6) of the 1999 Constitution and other Acts of the National Assembly.

“Among others, the confirmations include key appointments into the Federal Executive Council, Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the leadership of the Nigeria Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force.

“Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission”, he said .

He explained that the confirmations were key to national development and speeded up the process of forming or constituting the national government at a very critical time when the economy was struggling to stay afloat.

“National security under threat and internal cohesion was seriously gasping for fresh breath.

“Already, the first year has passed by and we have decisively addressed issues of strategic national interest with utmost priority,” he said.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Buhari Bolaji

Flood: NDDC begins construction of emergency shelter

Shelter

By Naomi Sharang

Abuja, June 10, 2024 (NAN) The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said it has begun construction of Multipurpose Emergency Shelter designed to serve as a refuge during flood emergencies in the Niger delta region.

Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, made this known on Monday in Abuja, while defending the commission’s 2024 budget estimate of N1.911 trillion before the Senate Committee on NDDC.

In his presentation, Ogbuku said that from the proposed 2024 budget, N38.5 billion was for personnel, while N29.2 billion was for overhead and N1 trillion earmarked for legacy projects.

He said that the Multipurpose Emergency Shelter, which was a flagship of NDDC’s present administration, with a capacity of over 1,000 accommodations, was designed to serve as a refuge during flood emergencies.

“In a response to the frequent flooding challenges faced by Niger Deltans, we have commenced construction of Multipurpose Emergency Shelter with a capacity of over 1,000 accommodations, designed to serve as a refuge during flood emergencies.

“The facility includes essential amenities such as a school, hospital, cafeteria, police post, and recreation centre, aimed at providing comprehensive support to the community.”

He said that once completed, the multipurpose emergency shelter would play a vital role in offering temporary accommodation and necessary services to the population in the event of emergencies in the region.

“The NDDC’s proactive approach in addressing the needs of the affected communities through such initiatives underscores the Commission’s commitment to enhancing emergency response and resilience in the Niger Delta region.”

Ogbuku further said that in the area of infrastructure, the commission came up with “Operation Light Up Niger Delta Region”.

“This has seen a reasonable number of the communities being lit up using solar powered street lights, which have boosted the economic activities of communities at night.

“In education, we have awarded foreign scholarships to 750 individuals between 2023-2024 (for 2022, 2023 and 2024 years) and provided educational grants to 84 individuals.

“Additionally, we are distributing 45, 000 Ulesson tablets preloaded with Nigerian and WAEC syllabus to schools in the nine states in the Niger Delta region.”

He said that the commission had commissioned a programme, to enable enrolment of poor and vulnerable people into the various Social Health Insurance Schemes of the nine NDDC states.

This, he said was in view of the prevailing poor health indices of the country and particularly the region.

“This is to also facilitate easy access to essential health and social services towards Universal Health Coverage.”

Ogbuku said that the commission was working toward completion of some ongoing projects, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

The MD also said that his administration was committed to payment of legacy debts because, “we are committed to the welfare of our people in the Niger Delta”.

He said that N100 billion was earmarked to begin payment of legacy debts, adding that in 10 years’ time the commission would have offset the legacy debts.

Chairman of the Senate Committee, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, while noting that although the budget was brought late, said NDDC had recorded salient achievements like ‘light up Niger Delta’.

“I hope that the 2024 budget will consolidate on already existing projects. I commend the NDDC’s scholarship programme,”he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru