Reunion Wire

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Wednesday, distributed relief materials to victims of flood in Yangoji community, Kwali Area Council, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed included food and nonfood items, such as rice, maize, spaghetti, macaroni and cooking oil.

Others are mattresses, mosquito nets, plastic buckets, soap, cups cooking stuff, pots,wrappers and building materials – cement, zink, nails and ceilings.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Abass Idriss, said during the event at the palace of the Village Head, that the gesture was to cushion the effects of the flood on the victims.

Idriss said that the flood, which occured in the early hours of July 4, destroyed 70 houses, washed away several farmlands, properties and affected more than180 people.

He advised residents of the community, particularly those living on flood plains to relocate to higher ground to avoid reoccurrence.

He also urged the residents to heed to early warnings by relevant agencies on eminent flooding to prevent flooding.

“People must learn to stop building houses on water ways and dumping of refuse in drainages to prevent flood,” he said.

Mr Olusade Adesola, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said while handing over the items to some of the victims, that the gesture was to help the victims to recover from the shocks.

Adesola added that the support would assist the victims to rebuild their lives while finding lasting solution to the recurring flood in the area.

He expressed President Bola Tinubu’s sympathy, adding that the relief materials was his way of saying, “I feel your pain and agony” .

He promised that the FCTA would work with relevant agencies to address some of the causes of the flood.

He commended the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, for the support, and urged him to establish Local Emergency Management Committee in the area.

According to him, the measure will ensure a well coordinated approach to emergency response in the area.

Earlier, Chiya thanked the FCTA and FEMA for the support, which he described as “very timely”, to ease the pains of the victims.

Also, the Village Head of the community, Mr Dantani Chindawa, said that apart from flood, the community was equally faced with security challenges.

Chindawa said that many of the more than 12,000 people of the community were forced to relocate to other communities due to security challenges.

He urged the FCTA to deploy more security personnel to improve security in community.

One of the victims, Mrs Dinatu Daniel, a mother of three, said that their house was destroyed by the flood and washed away their belongings and other valuables.

She commended FEMA and the FCT Administration for coming to their aid, saying ‘it will go along way in reducing their pains.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to immediately reverse all anti-poor and anti-workers’ policies or face a nationwide strike from Aug. 2.

The NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, said this in a communique, he jointly signed with Mr Emma Ugboaja, General Secretary of the union, on Thursday in Abuja.

The communique was issued at the end of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC held on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Ajaero said CWC had observed the crippling economic situation faced by Nigerians and its consequences on the masses such as suffering and poverty.

He said CWC noted that these are clear results of the insensitive policies and actions of the present administration.

According to him. the CWC-in-session subsequently resolved to give the federal government a seven-day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands.

“We will embark on a nation-wide action beginning Wednesday, 2 August, 2023, to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti-workers policies

“We have directed all affiliates and state councils to begin immediate mobilisation and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities, including the ones already on the streets, to ensure that government listens to the people,” he said.

He said“CWC also demands the immediate reversal of the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld Salaries of University lecturers and workers and increase in VAT.”

The NLC president said the CWC had also called on government to immediately inaugurate the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues.

“To also begin the building across the nation of a Coalition of all Nigerians where all will be leaders and all will be followers.

“To call on all civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilization to take action on their own to save our nation

“The union directs all affiliates and state councils to begin immediate mobilisation and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities, including the ones already on the streets, to ensure that government listens to the people.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have strongly condemned the coup attempt in Niger.

In a statement issued today, the chairperson strongly condemned the attempt by certain members of the military to undermine the stability of democratic and republican institutions in Niger “tantamount to an attempted coup d’etat”.

He noted that it is tantamount to an attempted coup d’état.

Such actions by members of the military acting in total betrayal of their republican duty are unacceptable, Moussa Faki Mahamat added.

The chairperson, who said that he was informed of the attempt by certain members of the military to undermine the stability of democratic and republican institutions in Niger, urged immediate cease to these unacceptable actions.

He finally called on the people of Niger, all their brothers in Africa, particularly in ECOWAS, and around the world, to join their voices in unanimous condemnation of this coup attempt, and for the immediate and unconditional return of the felon soldiers to their barracks.

In related news, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to which Niger belongs as a member, has also denounced the attempted coup in Niger and warned of consequences if the plotters do not desist from their action and release President Mohamed Bazoum, who is reportedly held hostage.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Antonio Pedro stressed the role of ECA together with its partners in rescuing the SDGs and accelerating the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063.

The Acting Executive Secretary made remarks yesterday while opening the 2023 Second Quarter Accountability and Program Performance Review Meeting (APPRM) with an emphasis on the need for urgency in meeting the twin agendas – 2030 and 2063.

He also emphasized the need for “proactive and adaptive responses in a changing global environment,” calling on staff to “respond to new and emerging challenges through innovative and creative approaches.”

He reiterated that accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA in promoting economic transformation and inclusive diversified growth; addressing the challenges of climate change, green economy and energy transition as well as strengthening macroeconomic policies and governance are the major strategic tracks of the ECA.

These tracks must be buttressed by an ECA theory of change with clear value propositions and comparative advantage in order to achieve the agreed strategic objectives, he pointed out.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency