=By sdnonline=

In observance of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021, the International Press Centre (IPC) has called on the government of Nigeria, policy makers, media, civil society groups and related stakeholders to uphold the obligations of achieving gender equality in political representation, effective participation of women in the electoral process and mitigation of gender bias and inequality.

IPC made the call in a statement by the Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade to commemorate this year’s UN theme; “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in the Covid-19 World” with the #ChooseToChallenge, which accordingly is also focused on challenging gender inequality in government, workplaces, health care, sports and media coverage, etc.

According to the statement, IPC recognises that women’s political participation and gender equality are imperative as backed by several international and regional instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Political Rights of Women (CPRW, 1952), the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right of 1981.

Arogundade lamented that despite well-meaning provisions, women still suffer some sort of gender bias and so it had become imperative for all stakeholders to put in greater efforts to challenge stereotypes and gender biases. He added that the level of women’s political participation in Nigeria is relatively poor as women who constitute about 50 percent of the country’s population still remain systematically alienated from politics and decision-making processes in the country.

“Women deserve to be integrated into the development wheel of society and so the government and indeed, all stakeholders should rise up to the challenge to ensure that women have a life and future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence. Especially in the face of pandemic, women need to be assisted in order for them to achieve a future that is sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for al,” he noted.

While noting that political leadership remains a viable platform to break barriers, Arogundade also suggested that there should be concerted efforts to ensure needful reforms in the electoral system so that the hindrances to women participation in political leadership are done away with.

In promoting gender equality and women’s participation in politics, IPC therefore recommended among others:

Government should strengthen legal and policy frameworks to clearly provide for gender equality in political participation. The National assembly should develop action plans that will systematically increase the proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.
Journalists and media professionals should be gender sensitive in their reporting.
(Civil societies should develop programmes that promote gender equality in elections, should commit to defining and supporting gender related sustainable development goal results in their strategic planning.
Electoral stakeholders should implement procedures that prohibit or limit Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWE).

By sdnonline

As the world marks the International Women’s Day today, Journalists have for Christ (JFC) International Outreach joins in celebrating the social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual achievements of women in Nigeria and globally.

The organisation declared that men and women are created in God’s image and women have shown leadership in all areas of endeavours.

In a statement by JFC President, Lekan Otufodunrin, he acknowledges women’s achievements in all spheres of human endeavours , especially the mediaa despite the various challenges they have had to cope with.

“In accordance with the theme of this year’s celebration which is “Women in Leadership: Achieving Equal Future in the Covid-19 World” with the #ChooseToChallenge, we call for accelerated actions to ensure gender parity in the media.

“More women should be given equal opportunities in holding leadership positions in media organizations, just as there is need to have more women voices in media content.

“We choose to challenge lack of gender policies in media organizations which will make it possible to provide a more condusive working environment for women in the media,” he said.

Otufodunrin therefore called on journalists to go consciously audit those quoted in their reports to give more women the opportunities to air their views on issues of general interest to all.

Journalist For Christ is a faith- based Non- Govermental organisation devoted to enhancing the spiritual and professional development of journalists and other media professionals.

By sdnonline

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday led a delegation of state officials, traditional rulers and security commanders to Ibadan for a joint security meeting with his Oyo State counterpart Seyi Makinde and top officials of the southwestern state.

The meeting, which was called at the instance of AbdulRazaq, focused on the recent security breaches involving herders and local communities in Oyo State, the influx of displaced herders into Kwara State and the attendant socioeconomic and security issues, a need for the two states and traditional rulers across border communities to share intelligence while security agencies do joint patrols to curb criminal activities.

The initiative, which is part of the efforts of the administration to douse tension over the recent influx of herders into the state, is meant to further protect lives and properties.

Kwara and Oyo States share boundaries across many communities.

The meeting, which took inputs from the traditional rulers and security commanders, also discussed the prospects of the National Livestock Transformation Programme of the federal government ending the decades of open cattle grazing and the perennial herders-farmers’ clashes and a need for leaders to stand firm and speak with one voice for peace and national unity.

The leaders observed that states bordering one another ought to collaborate and devise ways to tackle security challenges and foster economic cooperations without relying entirely on the federal government.

Reading the resolution at end of the closed doors meeting, the host governor Engr Seyi Makinde:

“We held a joint security council meeting and we acknowledged the efforts of our security agencies and thanked them for the work they are doing for the country. We do appreciate them and we encourage them to do more.

“We acknowledged the fact that non-state actors are getting upper hands in communicating and spreading hatred within the country and we asked our leaders to speak with one voice, especially at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. We have to be firm. We have to be decisive in dealing with security challenges the country is faced with.

“We have also noticed the fact that our intelligence gathering efforts have to be deepened. Some of the situations that we faced recently showed that we were only able to react instead of being able to act before those issues erupted and this is due to intelligence failure. The meeting noted that we should deepen our intelligence gathering efforts.

“Our traditional rulers in border towns of Oyo and Kwara states are encouraged to come together in fostering unity and exchange of information. With that, our security agencies will be able to proactively deal with the situation instead of being reactive.

“We agreed that a more detailed working team is to be set up between Oyo and Kwara States. Issues to be addressed will have wider national ramifications.

“Asking some people to leave Oyo State has created issues in Kwara State with internally displaced persons now spread across Kwara State. They are in 13 villages across seven local government areas of Kwara State with its attendant challenges of maintaining those individuals.

“So, a working group is to be set up to dispassionately address those challenges and come up with solutions and the governor of Kwara State and myself will be able to resolve those issues.”

The Kwara team comprised House of Assembly member Ahmed Saidu Baba; Secretary to the State Government Professor Mamman Saba Jubril; former Special Adviser on Special Duties Yinka Aluko; and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Muyideen Aliyu.

Others are the state’s Commissioner of Police; Brigade Commander, Nigeria Army, Sobi; Director, Department of State Service; Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; the Director National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency; and the Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service in Kwara State.

The Emirs of border communities Okuta, Ilesha Baruba, Yashikra and representative of the Emir of Gwanara were also in attendance.

By sdnonline

The International Press Centre (IPC) has frowned at, and totally condemned police brutality against Eniola Daniel, a reporter with The Guardian Newspaper while performing his duty at Apapa-Oshodi, Lagos on Sunday, February 28, 2021.

Information of the police unwarranted brutality collated by the IPC Journalist Safety Alert Desk, describes the inhumane treatment of the Nigeria Police Force, who physically and mentally assaulted Eniola, while covering the activities of a government taskforce at Apapa-Oshodi expressway in the early hours of Sunday.

Eniola’s personal belongings and work tools were destroyed and vandalized during the unfortunate incident.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said, “This incessant action or excessive use of force against journalists and civilians is dangerous to our democracy and a major threat to press freedom. Such acts of brutality also violate the fundamental human rights of the journalist.

We urge the men of the Nigerian Police Force to be mindful of events around the world and not continually create an environment where journalists will be afraid to work and discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.”

IPC therefore called on the authorities at the Nigeria Police Force to take adequate and swift measures to bring to book those who violated the journalist while putting in place machinery to compensate Eniola Daniel for this inhumane treatment.

The organisation also called on the Nigeria Police Force to step up the training of its officers to be more respectful and courteous while discharging their duties saying they should be reminded constantly that the primary responsibility of the police is the protection of citizens including journalists and every other civilian.

By sdnonline

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned in the strongest of terms the remarks made on Arise TV last Wednesday,. 24th February, 2021, by Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi where he labeled Journalists as criminals for calling bandits criminals saying we do not see any correlation between journalism and criminality.

Specifically, Sheik Gumi said “you are emphasising on criminality, I don’t know. Even the Press (journalists) are criminals too because they are putting oil into fire [sic]. These people are listening to you, don’t address them as criminals”. It is instructive to note that one of the gangs that was recently interviewed by Nigerian journalist, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz and published in Daily Trust of today where the bandit leader insisted on being introduced properly as “Kachalla Halilu Sububu Seno, Leader of all Terrorists. He is the Leader.” Yet Malam Gumi insists they are not criminals.

In a statement by the NUJ National President,Chris Isiguzo this unnecessary and unprovoked attack on members of the media by a hitherto respected cleric who decided to embark on strange errands, is unacceptable and it is becoming clearer now that he is pursuing a different agenda. We equally recall a recent statement credited to Sheik Gumi where he was inciting bandits, by encouraging religious biases among soldiers on the battlefield.

“We are more shocked that the same Sheik Gumi who has used the media to speak to leaders and to advance the course of his mission to the bandits across the Northwest, is at the same time attacking the Journalists for simply describing bandits as criminals.

“Sheik Gumi’s attempts to seek amnesty for killers and abductors of innocent citizens, especially school children is most unfortunate.

“We invite Sheik Gumi to explain to Nigerians why despite his recent negotiations with bandits in Zamfara State, the criminals have continued maiming, killing, raping and kidnapping innocent citizens, including the 300 female Students just abducted in the same State.

“In saner climes, Sheikh Gumi, a non-state actor involved in negotiations with criminal elements, should have been behind bars, but alas, thanks to the weaknesses of our Leaders, he continues with his reckless comments and forays into bandit territory unabated,” he said.

Iziguso declared that by insulting the Press as “Criminals” Sheikh Gumi has exposed himself the more as an intolerant person who will not want his activities closely scrutinised by the media. It is instructive to remind Sheik Gumi that by embarking on such an errand and choosing to speak for the bandits, the Press will continue to scrutinise his activities and also hold him accountable for his actions as enshrined in the Constitution.

“His reaction was totally unacceptable, dishonourable and reprehensible and we demand a retraction of his untoward, irritating and awkward utterances which negate simple decorum and civility. We therefore caution him to remember that “riding the tiger might be an exhilarating experience but the consequence are bound to be unpleasant.” He should thus be guided,” he said.

“We equally invite the global community to document the utterances and actions of Sheik Gumi and to hold him to account for any bandit related mishap that may happen to Journalists around the country,” the statement read.

By sdnonline

The Lagos State Government will shut down the Third Mainland Bridge from midnight Friday, 26th to midnight Saturday, 27th February, 2021 for equipment removal having completed the replacement of the 12th expansion joint.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde stated that the total closure of the bridge was slated to enable the contractors move the equipment used during the rehabilitation process off the bridge completely to allow both the Oworonshoki and Adeniji bound lanes open fully to traffic.

Oladehinde therefore, advised Motorists from Ogudu, Alapere and Gbagada to use Ikorodu Road, Jibowu and Yaba as alternative routes, while Iyana Oworoshoki-bound traffic from Lagos-Island, Iddo, Oyingbo, Adekunle and Yaba are enjoined to use Herbert Macaulay Way, Jibowu and Ikorodu Road as alternative routes.

He assured that traffic management personnel would be deployed along the affected routes to minimize and address any traffic impediments during the closure.

Commending Lagosians for their cooperation during the prolonged repair works of the bridge, the commissioner assured that the bridge is now safe for use by all and sundry.

=By sdnonline=

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday flagged off the enrolment of another 21,000 indigent residents of the state to a regime of free healthcare services under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme.

The flag off, which took place in Ogbondoroko area of Asa local government, came barely six months after the administration onboarded 10,000 vulnerable people into its healthcare insurance scheme.

Beneficiaries of the free healthcare services are spread across the 16 local government areas of the state.

“Today’s flag off of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund Programme in our state is another pointer to the dawn of a new Kwara. Under this programme, 21,000 indigent Kwarans will henceforth benefit from 100 percent free healthcare services for antenatal, baby delivery, surgeries, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, emergencies, chronic and non-chronic diseases,” AbdulRazaq said shortly before handing the cards of the free services to the indigents at an event attended by top government functionaries including Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi and Speaker of the House of Assembly Salihu Yakubu-Danladi.

“This is one of the beautiful fruits of the counterpart funds that we paid and continue to pay since coming on board in 2019. Besides, we were able to key into the BHPF programme because we have made our health insurance active through funding as well as our proactive steps to bring our primary healthcare under one roof.

“On our own (last September), we enrolled 10,000 indigents to the state health insurance scheme while additional 10,000 will be onboarded in the next six months. Added to the 21,000 now being added through the BHPF programme, our administration would have given free access to comprehensive healthcare to at least 41,000 indigents/vulnerable people within a space of nine months. This 100 percent health subsidy is unprecedented in the history of our state.

“The target of this administration is to make Kwara the go-to destination for qualitative healthcare and other areas. That journey has begun already. Various projects and initiatives are underway to not only restore the glory of the state but to also place Kwara above its peers in the northern region. When our ICU facility is completed at the IGH, it will be the largest and the best in central Nigeria. We are also investing in infrastructure for dental and eye care to best our contemporaries in the region.

“We are doing these for posterity. However, we need the support of everyone to succeed. To make our state great again, everybody has a role to play — government, the masses, and the bureaucracy. I urge all of us to work for a legacy that will outlast us and make life a lot better for the people.”

=By sdnonline=

Lagos State Taskforce on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods has shut 16 illegal, substandard and unregistered pharmacies, patent medicine stores and premises at Ajegunle and Alaba Suru axis of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government area of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi who disclosed this on Tuesday while reviewing report of the monitoring, inspection and enforcement exercise carried out by the Task Force through the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit (PIU) of the Pharmaceutical Services Directorate of the Ministry of Health, stated that the sealing of the affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provisions of Section C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1999.

He explained that the affected pharmacies and patent medicine shops were sealed for offences bordering on operations without license, engaging unqualified persons to man and dispense drugs to unsuspecting citizens, operating beyond scope through sale of ethical products and displaying and storing drugs in unconducive environments which compromises the potency of the drugs, rendering them ineffective.

The Commissioner however stressed that only licensed patent medicine vendors are authorized to sell drug products in their original and approved pack size as produced by the manufacturing companies noting that the law prohibits wholesaling of drugs by patent medicine vendors and prohibits wholesalers from retailing drugs.

While noting that the recent operation of the taskforce was coming on the heels of the war being waged against fake drugs and illegal drug shops, Abayomi warned that the activities of the State Task Force on Fake Drugs would not only be sustained, but intensified until operators in the sector adhere strictly to the provisions of the law on running of pharmacies and patent medicine shops, in order to safeguard the health of the citizenry.

He stressed that the State Government remains committed to putting a halt to the ugly trend of having unqualified personnel deal with drug and will continue to insist that the environment for the dispensation of medical care should be suitable for the promotion and maintenance of good health.

Speaking in the same vein, Director Pharmaceutical Services in the Ministry, Dr. Mosunmola Beckley said that the State Government will not relent in its efforts to stop the inherent dangers associated with the operations from unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and drug shops.

She added that the Task Force has been re-energized to intensify the on-going war against fake, expired and substandard drugs being peddled by unlicensed and illegal premises.

“This closure is thus part of the government’s renewed efforts to sanitize the drug distribution system and curb proliferation of fake drugs in the State” She said.

Beckley disclosed that an investigative meeting would be held with owners of the sealed premises to make further inquiries on the status of the sealed premises and to notify them of the procedures and appropriate conditions to be met for reopening in line with government regulations.

The enforcement exercise was carried out in collaboration with the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Federal Taskforce on fake drugs and the Police Officers from Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) of Lagos Police Command.