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Flooding: Dredging of Rivers Niger, Benue, Kaduna To Gulp Over $20bn – HYPPADEC

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The Managing Director, of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, says the dredging of Rivers Benue, Niger, and Kaduna will cost more than 20 billion dollars.

According to him, this has made the clamour for the dredging of the three rivers to check perennial flooding in affected areas difficult.

Yelwa disclosed this at the 2023 stakeholders meeting on flood mitigation and other related issues in Ilorin on Thursday.

He said it would be difficult for the Federal Government to handle without intervention from international donor agencies.

He said this is because the estimated cost for dredging the rivers as of 1983 when the federal government asked for the cost was $2 billion, adding that the cost had astronomically gone up over 10 times.

He said that the funding of the project was beyond the commission and the federal government.

“The dredging of River Niger or Benue, as the case may be, has always been repeatedly suggested in all the places we have visited.

”We have visited about five states including Kwara, almost all the states were asking for dredging.

“In 1983, when former President, Shehu Shagari’s government asked for the cost of dredging of River Niger and Benue, a bill of $2 billion was given.

”You can imagine the scope now, even if the dollar had remained the same, the scope would have gone up 10 times. That is why it is difficult.

“It is not what HYPPADEC nor the federal government can do without making recourse to international organisations for intervention and that is what we are working towards to mobilise international donor agencies for intervention,” he said.

To mitigate the 2023 flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Yelwa said the commission would embark on an afforestation program, where trees would be planted in five hectares of land in each of the five local government areas in Kwara North senatorial district, being a flood-prone area of the state.

Also speaking, one of the civil society organisations at the event, Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), called for a multi-sectoral approach toward mitigating floods in Kwara.

The foundation’s CEO, Mrs. Christy Abayomi-Oluwole, said that the Rapid Response Team on flooding should be reviewed towards addressing challenges associated with flooding and their effects on dwellers of riverine areas.

The Kwara Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Remilekun Banigbe, who was represented by the Director of Ecological Services, Malam Ilyasu Yahaya, said the high risk of the imminent flooding predicted by NIMET could cause a high rate of disease and displacement of people, if not addressed early enough.

The state Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Segun Adeyemi, said the way we manage our environment pre-deposes us to flood.

He said the NOA would work in all local government areas to sensitise people on what is ahead of them.

The Kwara Coordinator of, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Salihu Abdullahi, said the rapid response team should be reviewed to involve necessary stakeholders that would look into different aspects of the flooding.

On his part, the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Halliru Yahaya, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers at the meeting, called for the mapping of the flood-prone areas to reduce the impact.

Yahaya also advised government agencies to enforce all environmental laws to ensure sanity in the communities.

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Education

Children’s Day: London Academy Business School Celebrates Nigerian Children

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...Reiterates commitment to provide high-quality education to Nigerian Child***
Dr. Larry, the Director of London Academy Business School (LABS), joined other Nigerian leaders from other industries to celebrate children on children's Day. In his words, Dr. Larry stated that children remind us of the future.
While speaking to reporters, he emphasized the aura of love that children create in the homes and throughout society, Also that "the joy and happiness from children are amazing, sufficient enough to drive energy for nation building."

Dr. Larry also advocated for effective child protection policies and implementation, urging all critical stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and the government, to protect and celebrate children.
  To ensure that high-quality education is available to children in Nigeria, London Academy Business School has established a Lagos Study Centre with state of the art facility and modern technology with plans to expand across all cities in Nigeria.

Dr. Jones-Esan, who has big plans to change the face of education in Nigeria, has also urged the government and private stakeholders to work with him and his team of professionals to change the face of education in Nigeria. He claims that many children have big potentials but can't realise them because they're not in school.
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Tinubu To Adopt Price Control Mechanism For Agro Products

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… Vows to Defend Nigeria From Terror, Criminality – Tinubu***

President Bola Tinubu says he will take steps to ensure price control for agricultural products.

Tinubu said this in his inaugural address on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, rural income shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products.

He said that agricultural hubs would be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processes.

“The livestock sector will be introduced to best modern practices and steps taken to minimise the perennial conflict over land and water resources in the sector.

“Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less,” he said.

On foreign policy, Tinubu said that the crisis in Sudan and the turn from democracy by several nations in “our immediate neighbourhood were of pressing concern”.

He said that his primary foreign policy objective would be the peace and stability of the West African continent.

“We shall work with ECOWAS, the AU, and willing partners in the international community to end extant conflicts and to resolve new ones.

“As we contain threats to peace, we shall also retool our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental quest for collective prosperity, ” he said.

The President called on all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to support his government in his bid to take Nigeria to greater heights.

“Our administration will govern on your behalf but never rule over you.

“We shall consult and dialogue with, but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

“We are here to further mend and heal this nation not tear and injure it,” he said.

In the meantime, President, Bola Tinubu, has promised to defend Nigeria from terror and all forms of criminality threatening the peace and stability of the country and the sub-region.

Tinubu said this in his inaugural address after he was sworn in as the 16th democratically elected president of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

He said that security shall be the top priority of his administration, saying that neither prosperity nor justice could prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

“To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security Doctrine and its Architecture.

“We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number.

“We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay and firepower,” he said.

Tinubu said his mission was to improve the lives of Nigerians in a manner that nurtured humanity, encourage compassion toward one another, and duly rewards collective effort to resolve the social ills that sought to divide the nation.

“Our constitution and laws give us a nation on paper, saying we must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding,” he said.

He called for the development of a shared sense of fairness and equity, adding that the South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests were served when good come to the North.

“The North must see the South likewise.

“Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people.

“As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.

“In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme,” he said.

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Economy

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Don Predicts Reduction In Fuel Price

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Prof. AbdulGafar Ijaiya of the Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, has expressed optimism at President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural remarks on the removal of fuel subsidies, saying this may reduce prices at the long run.

Ijaiya, who spoke on Monday in Ilorin, observed that with commitment from the Federal Government in revamping existing refineries alongside Dangote refineries, will increase the availability of petroleum products.

The expert who however explained that though such effect may not be felt immediately, noted that the present pump price is about N200, depending on filling stations across the country.

He questioned if the present fuel price at about N200 was as a result of the subsidy removal, adding that if it is not, then fuel may likely increase with about 50 per cent rate after the removal.

“But the thing is that very soon, what has gone wrong with the refineries will be corrected and Dangote refineries will commence by July/August,” he said.

Ijaiya, who teaches in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university, pointed out that in the beginning there might be an increase in the prices of foods and services.

He however asserted that in a society like Nigeria where people are used to hike in prices, it would not mean much to the citizens.

“By Economics principle, we have adjusted our expenditure profile consumption to particular items. We have moved from consuming luxury and unnecessary items to necessary items.

“This means people go for what is necessary and do away with those that are not,” he said.

Ijaiya affirmed that in the long run, the fuel pump price will adjust downward and there would be more supply of the products.

He further added that when there are more supply of a particular product in the market, it will automatically reduce the price.

“If we have enough supply, with time and there are no other man-made distortion that has to do with our behaviour, I see us buying it between N80 and N100 per litre,” he predicted.

The economist also foresee filling station advertising and competing for sales, saying it will be good for the nation.

He, however, cautioned that “we are in an uncertain world”, but maintained that fuel subsidy removal would be good for the country eventually as only a minority are benefiting from it.

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