A 16-year-old girl is killed in Niger by a tanker driver.

 

A 16-year-old girl named Priscilla Galadima was killed in Minna after being run over by a tanker driver, according to the

Wike at Abuja building collapse site and declares that unapproved projects would fall

 

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was on hand on Thursday when a structure in Garki II, Abuja, fell.

A two-story structure with numerous business centers collapsed on Wednesday night at 10 p.m.

Speaking to reporters Thursday morning at the scene of the event, Wike restated his earlier statement that structures in the nation's capital without the required approval will be demolished.

"This is what we're saying: Any unapproved buildings will be demolished.

"Nobody is hated by us. All we are advocating is that the right thing be done, he said.

Niger situation increases the risk of millions children, UN predicted

 

According to Stefano Savi, UNICEF's representative for Niger, "the current situation is of great concern and adds a heavy burden to an already dire humanitarian landscape."

"At this time, the crisis has affected more than two million children, who are in urgent need of humanitarian aid."

He claimed in the statement dated Saturday that even before the most recent instability, it was anticipated that 1.5 million children under the age of five would be underweight in 2023.

The landlocked Sahel state, which frequently places near the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index, a measure of affluence, is among the most unstable and impoverished nations in the world.

Mohamed Bazoum, the nation's democratically elected president, was overthrown on July 26. This prompted to international censure as well as trade penalties from Niger's neighbors.

UNICEF stated that despite increasing obstacles, it was still providing assistance. It was concerned about the loss of energy because it was necessary to keep basics like immunizations for children cold.

Bring the latest world news everywhere you go! Get the France 24 app now. Concern was also expressed for 21 containers of "life-saving supplies" that were allegedly stranded at the Benin border and the Cotonou port.

 With syringes and emergency food, 29 additional containers are currently at sea bound for Niger.

"UNICEF urgently calls on all parties to the crisis to ensure that humanitarian workers and supplies safely reach the most vulnerable children and families where urgently needed," stated Savo.

 We also demand that crucial humanitarian programs be protected from the effects of sanctions and budget reductions.

Former Niger Delta protesters praise Tinubu for restoring the NDDC to the presidency

 

Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's alleged decision to relinquish executive control over the Niger Delta Development Commission, or NDDC.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt, the National Secretary of the First Phase Ex-agitators, Mr. Nature Dumale, said it was heartening to learn that the NDDC would now directly report to the President, similar to the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

He referred to the outcome as "like a prayer being answered" and noted that he had before led an effort to have the panel immediately under the President's control.

Dumale, who also serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Communication Committee for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), claimed that Tinubu had shown, via this one gesture, his sincere desire to improve the fortunes of the NDDC.

He argued that the lack of development in the Niger Delta over the years was caused by greedy people being permitted to turn various Federal Government interventions for the area into personal estates.

"We would like to take this occasion to thank you, Mr. President, for your prudent decision to reinstate the NDDC in the Presidency.

"We think that this will hasten the region's development and end the practice of using the Commission as a cash cow.

"For us, it is evidence that the President has excellent intentions for the Niger Delta since he has rallied political support to return the interventionist agency to the Presidency. This indicates that he desires proper management of the NDDC.

We can state with confidence that the Niger Delta has suffered because of poor administration since we were once agitators. The much-touted development of the Niger Delta would materialize as a result of this action, which will foster accountability and transparency.

"This is a positive step Mr. President has done for us as regional leaders. We think the NDDC, under the direction of the Presidency, would promote significant growth.

"The only time we saw any progress was when NDDC was directly supervised by the Presidency. The Niger Delta Cartel, whose sole goal is to keep the Niger Delta underdeveloped, turned it into a cash cow as soon as it was transferred to the Ministry of the Niger Delta, he claimed.

The Niger Delta Recovery Plan (NDRP), which required the ministries of petroleum, environment, and Niger Delta affairs to work in concert in defining the region's development, was also found, according to Dumale. This was in addition to the NDDC and the PAP.

We live in a society where the federal government regularly takes away a lot, but there isn't anything to show for it, he said. The state of the East-West road's Ogoni-Onne-Eleme Road immediately comes to mind. Free movement of products has been rendered impossible since the road has continued to be a death trap.

"We support President Tinubu and look forward to the rapid growth of our country with great enthusiasm and renewed vigor."

He forewarned that the former agitators would no longer put up with poor management of their commonwealth since they were equipped with knowledge and tactics to hold their leaders accountable.

"We have the power, and we won't use force against anyone," he continued. We have received training in effective communication and how to present our case to the United Nations.

"As a result, we will challenge and interrogate our leaders in a civilized and strategic manner. People misuse funding intended for our region without being held accountable, thus there is no responsibility. It won't be business as usual if Niger Delta youngsters are exposed and unearth financial crimes committed against them on a regular basis.

Dumale urged President Tinubu to order the NDDC to release the commission's forensic audit report, adding that those liable for misusing the commission's funds must face justice.

Tinubu changes ministers' positions and reassigns responsibilities

 By Musa Suleiman

The redeployment of four ministers-designate, whose portfolios were revealed last Wednesday, was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday.
Ajuri Ngelale, the president's spokesperson, made this announcement on Sunday evening.
According to Daily Trust, the president will ordain the designated pastors today at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
In addition, yesterday, President Tinubu named Engr. Abubakar Momoh as the Minister of Niger Delta Development in response to criticism from Niger Delta stakeholders over his earlier failure to select a minister for the ministry.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which is chaired by South South leader Chief Edwin Clark, asked the president to immediately fix the error on Friday.

PANDEF had warned Tinubu to exercise caution because any erroneous move at eliminating or engulfing the ministry would foster an unfavourable environment and have unfavourable repercussions.
It would be a grave disservice to the people of the Niger Delta region not to have a minister, according to a statement released by PANDEF National Leader Chief Clark and National Chairman Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien following an emergency meeting of its Board of Trustees (BoT). The ministry was established with the specific goals of focusing on infrastructure development, environmental protection, and youth empowerment in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Momoh, who had previously been allocated to the Ministry of Youth following the protest, was yesterday transferred to the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.
The president stated that a new youth minister would be named soon in the statement.
Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State, was recently transferred from the Ministry of Transportation to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Bunmi Tunji-Ojo has been transferred to the Ministry of Interior from her previous position as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Sa'idu Alkali was transferred from the Ministry of Interior, where he had previously been appointed, to the Ministry of Transportation. 

Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources is now home to both ministers of state for the oil and gas industry, with the following titles: "Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources. The announcement identified Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo as the Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources.
The Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management's name change to the Federal Ministry of Environment was also approved by the president.
According to the president's directions, "all aforementioned changes take immediate effect," the statement continued.
All ministers-designate have now received their paperwork from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

According to OSGF Director of Information Willie Bassey, the documentation, which started on Saturday at the OSGF's Shehu Shagari Complex in Abuja, was finished yesterday.
The 45 ministers-designate successfully finished the documentation process as a whole, and they also picked up three invitation cards for their visitors.
To get the ministers-designate and their three invited guests to the State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, Abuja, Bassey stated, "adequate transportation arrangements have been concluded."
Additionally, he stated that it is suggested for permanent secretaries in various MDAs to see their respective ministers for additional interaction following the swearing-in event at the OSGF.