Nation
‘FG Committed To Protecting Nigerians In Bakassi Peninsula’
The Federal Government on Tuesday restated its commitment to the protection of the
rights of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula.
The Attorney-General of
the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, made the statement in Abuja at the 30th session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed
Commission (CNMC).
He said:
“the Federal Government will continue to do everything possible to protect the
rights of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula.
“The government will also ensure that it assists in the resettlement of those who have indicated willingness to return to Nigeria,’’ he said.
Adoke,
who is also justice minister and leader of the Nigerian delegation on the CNMC,
said that the government was
concerned
about reported cases of maltreatment of citizens in the peninsula.
He noted
that the most significant achievement of the CNMC remained the prevalence of
peace in both countries.
Adoke
said that the peace and cordial relations existing between the two countries
had led to the attainment of the transfer of sovereignty of the villages
affected by the judgment at International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Lake
Chad Area in 2003.
The
minister urged the two countries to continue to give their best, “especially
now that the work of the commission is near completion.”
“I wish
to commend the Government of Cameroon and the UN team for its unrelenting
efforts toward the provision of social amenities in the affected areas of the
Bakassi Zone.”
Adoke
also urged the Cameroonian Government to urgently investigate and address the
Greentree Agreement and other international human rights instruments, which
both countries are signatorie to.
“This is important as it will provide an enabling
political environment for the activities of the CNMC and the Follow-Up
Committee.
“It will also strengthen the government in its resolve
to faithfully implement the ICJ judgment,’’ he said.
Adoke commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the
Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, for their commitment to peace between the
countries.
Also speaking, Dr Muhammad Ahmad, the Director-General,
National Boundary Commission, said that the meeting would bring a significant
achievement in the mandates of the Mixed Commission.
“This gathering will boost the efforts we are making to
enhance the mixed commission and to bring a greater change and stronger
relations between the two countries,’’ Ahmad said.
He appreciated the Federal Government, the UN Team and
the Cameroonian government for their dedications and efforts toward the success
of the commission.
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.