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C’River Debunks NBS’ Child Rating

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The Cross River State Government has described the state’s rating on child labour by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as “spurious” and not a true reflection of what is happening in the state.
The government demanded to know the parameters used by the NBS to carry out the research that rated Cross River number one in the country involved in child labour with 67.4 percent.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, who made the demand in an interview with The Tide’s source, said Cross River remained the most “child friendly” state in Nigeria.
Ekpang explained that Cross River showed the value it placed on the rights of every child by being among the first state in the country to domesticate the Child Rights Law.
“The United Nations is aware of what we are doing in this regard. So, it is preposterous for us to degenerate into such a high lows even when there are a number of violations of the law.
“To say the least, we are concerned about such statistics and would want to verify this claim which I still consider as spurious.
“We have continued with sustained advocacy on the existence of the Child Rights Law in the state. The Law provides for criminalisation of violators and offenders of the law.
“As a state, we created a special Ministry to be in charge of this, which is the Ministry of Women Affairs with Desk Offices established in the 18 council areas to cascade this advocacy to the wards and villages.
“Government has gone ahead to involve traditional rulers, opinion leaders and women groups to strengthen this campaign against child labour and child abuse respectively.
“Of course, note that some violators have been and are being prosecuted in the courts. Even in my ministry of information, my orientation department has been doing a lot to sensitise and orientate the citizenry on the existence of the Law and implementation in the state.
“All these are helping and would continue to change the narrative in this regard”, he stated.
The NBS report indicates that over 24 million Nigerian children are involved in child labour, with 14.3 millions of these children engaged in hazardous work as of 2022 when the last report was conducted.
The northwest geopolitical zone bears the brunt of these figures, with the highest number of child labourers (6,407,102) and children in hazardous work (3,266,728).
The South East region emerged the highest in terms of percentage prevalence of child labour with nearly half of the children involved in child labour at 49.9 per cent.
Nationally, 39.2 per cent of children (24,673,485) are in child labour, and 22.9 per cent (14,390,353) are involved in hazardous work, painting a grim picture of the conditions under which nearly two out of every five Nigerian children live.
The report also shows that children in the 5–17 age group in child labour commit an average of 14.6 hours of work per week.
The data further revealed the top 10 states grappling with high percentage of child labour in Nigeria.
According to the data, Cross River, Yobe, Abia, Plateau and Taraba are are top five with 58.6, 58.9, 60.1, 62.6, and 67.4 percent respectively.
Taraba State is followed by Ebonyi with 56.2 per cent, Imo with 56.2 percent, Kogi with 54.4 per cent while Bauchi and Akwa Ibom came 9th and 10th with 53.3 and 52.2 percent respectively.

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Niger Delta

Rotary Club Gets Kudos Over Humanitarian Activities

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The District Governor, District 9141, Rotary Club international, Rotarian Chinedu Ikegwuani, has commended the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt for its high. level of humanitarian activities.
Rotarian Ikegwuani said this in Port Harcourt while handing over for use thousands of mattresses and pillows donated by the Rotary club of Port Harcourt in conjunction with Nestello Nigeria limited to the transit hostel also build by the club for the Trans Amadi Police Station.
He said the club has continued to touch members of the society in several ways, describing it as the Rotary magic.
According to the District 9141 Governor, Rotary club has distinguished itself as far as humanitarian activities are concerned, adding that virtually every areas of human lives have been impacted on by Rotary club both locally and internationally.
He charged the the police to make the best use of the materials, stressing that the club will not relent in assisting the police and other security agencies to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
Also speaking, former district Governor of the club, Rotarian Ijeoma Okoro, urged for regular maintenance of the facility.
She said the gesture will enable the Trans Amadi Police Division to discharge its duties effectively.
Speaking, the President, Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Rotarian Victor Wariso, said the club will not relent in its support to security agencies.
Wariso said the Rotary club of Port Harcourt has remained consistent in assisting members of the public since it foundation years ago.
He also urged for proper maintenance of the facility while the mattresses and foams be given to those in need.
Managing Director of Nestello Nigeria Limited, Ernest Illochukwu, who noted that he is a Rotarian, said the club has continued to do good across the world.
He said the club is working in different areas of human endeavours , stressing that the activities of the club have continue to impact positively on members of the society.
Earlier, the representative of The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Trans Amadi Police Division, DSP Patrick Arawumi, commended the club for the gesture, promising that the Division will put it into judicious use.
The club later planted trees at the police station and Commissioned of billboards at the Rotary centre.

John Bibor

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Niger Delta

Police Parade 17 Over Cultism, Murder In A’Ibom

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The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, paraded 17 persons over alleged involvement in cultism, fraud and murder of a police inspector in the State.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Uyo on Monday, said the suspects were arrested for different offences in different parts of the state.
Ayilara said some of the suspects were arrested over the alleged murder of an Inspector, Usang Egbe, on January 1.
He said the young men, suspected to be members of Debam cult, were also responsible for the murder of Dr. Udofia Sunday-Umo at Ikot Epeyak Ikono Village in Uyo Local Government Area.
Ayilara said two locally made guns, two bottles containing concoctions suspected to be charms, and illicit drugs were recovered from the suspects.
The Commissioner further said the Police Command in Akwa Ibom State also arrested a suspected kidnapper residing at Nepa Line in Uyo metropolis.
He said an AK49 Rifle, SMG Rifle, two magazines and six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from him.
“While being interrogated, the suspect confessed to being a member of the Vikings Confraternity.
“During the period, the Command also arrested some suspects over alleged advanced fee fraud involving the sum of N320, 000.
“The Command also foiled a planned kidnap mission and arrested four suspects in the process.
Ayilara said all suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded on their matters.

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Niger Delta

Angry Youths Shut Down SEEPCO OPL Oil Field In Bayelsa

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Some aggrieved youths of the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, and Onuebum Community, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday barricaded the site of an oil well project in OPL 2005 located in the community.
According to the youths, the owner of the project, sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) allegedly disregarded the state government’s directive on resumed negotiations with host communities and compliance with local, state and federal laws including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The angry youths, numbering over a hundred, arrived the dredging site of the project at about 9:30 am and shut down operations.
They were also supported by Onuebum youths led by the Chairman and Secretary of the Onuebum Oil and Gas Task Force, Mr John Bailiff Egapekpar and Engr. Ebitimi Egbenpere, respectively
The youths, chanting Ijaw songs, displayed placards with inscription such as ‘SEEPCO comply with section 12 of the EIA Act’, ‘IYC demand implementation of Section 236 of the PIA for Onuebum community’, ‘We reject your non-compliance with Petroleum Industry’, and ‘Desist from your violatory operations in Onuebum’.
Speaking with The Tide’s source IYC Chairman, Ayama Clan, Comrade Samson Insurance Lucky, said, “We were in Onuebum to counter the anomaly of the Sterling Global in the areas of the non-conduct of EIA, the disrespect to the Onuebum community and disregard for extant laws.
“We call on the company to resume discussions with the community and respect the relevant laws. The company have also rebuffed and shunned efforts by the IYC to assist in the resolution of the contentious issues.”
The traditional heads of Onuebum community led by the Paramount Ruler, HRH ObanemaKineKobolotaOsain, Ogo XVI and his Deputy, High Chief John Alpheus Edede, Opalama XIII, confirmed that despite the protest staged by the IYC and the youths of the community, the State Government should call the Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) to order.
The Paramount Ruler said, “What we are asking is for the company to conduct EIA and respect existing laws. Instead of complying, they embarked on divisive tactics. They have disregarded the community authority.
“We call on the State Government to call the Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) to order.”

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