Maritime
Road Accident Injuries, Major Mortality Cause Among Young People – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Road Traffic Injuries are the major cause of death of children and young people globally.
WHO said most of these deaths occur in ages between 5 to 29 years, globally.
WHO’s Head of Mission and Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, stated this at the commemoration of the 2022 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Crash Victims in Abuja.
Mulombo, who was represented by Dr. Mary Dewan, said over 1.3 million people die from road traffic crashes annually, with over 50 million killed since the first road death 125 years ago.
“It was worth noting that Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) was the 8th leading cause of death worldwide and now the number one cause of death among children and young adults aged 5-29 years old.
“In addition to the trauma of injury and bereavement, RTIs also have a devastating economic impact on countries, communities, and families”, he said.
Mulombo commended all stakeholders under the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety and Injury Prevention (UNDARSIP) for facilitating strong multi sectoral collaboration.
He said the collaboration involved ministries, departments, agencies, international and local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations, the academia and organised private sector, among others.
Mulombo said RTIs have multiple determinants and affect many people, as such require collaborative action to tackle.
“Together with the UN regional commissions and in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, WHO developed the 2021-2030 Global Plans.
“This is for the Decade of Action with an ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
“The plan emphasises a holistic approach to tackling road safety and aims to inspire countries, including governments and partners.
“This is also to act boldly and decisively, using the tools and knowledge gained from the last Decade of Action to change the course of this menace,” he said.
Also Speaking, Country Director, UNDARSIP Nigeria, Prof. Sydney Ibeanusi, said the menace of road crashes was worst among low and middle income countries like Nigeria.
Ibeanusi said UN Resolution in 2010 facilitated the first UN Decade of Action to address the expected rise in the number of persons killed and injured from road crashes predicted at about 1.9 million persons by 2020.
He said despite modest gains in stemming the trend, the efforts of various governments and groups, particularly in countries like Nigeria where the burden was highest, have not fully yielded the desired results.
“Failing to meet the target of reducing RTCs by 50 percent by the end of the 1st UNDARSIP by 2020, the UN by another resolution declared the 2nd UNDARSIP, thus providing us another good opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past,” he said.
Maritime
Hunger Protest Paralyses Port Activities In Nigeria
![](https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2c.jpg)
The ongoing hunger protests and EndBad Governance in Nigeria embarked upon by Nigerians have paralysed seaport activities across the six Seaports in the country.
Ports operational activities were shutdown at the six nation’s seaports: Tin Can Island Port, Apapa Port, Onne Port, Rivers Port Complex, Warri and Calabar Port.
Àgrieved Protesters took to the streets nationwide to demand an end to economic hardship and bad governance.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began in major cities across the country on Monday, August 1,2024, crippled socio-economic activities and forced shops, business centres and commercial activities to shutdown, including air and seaports.
Following the hunger protests, maritime activities were paralysed as all the busy seaports were deserted by port users.
Ships birthed at the ports were not discharging cargos, neither did trucks load consignment to their destinations and to the consumers.
Seagoing vessels with cargos were stranded at the sea as marine workers were not on duty to carry out their marine operations.
Heavy security presence was noticed at major ports, including Apapa, Tin Can, Onne, and Port Harcourt as operations were grounded to a near halt.
Aggrieved youths, students and civil society organisations stormed major streets in various parts of the country, demanding that President Bola Tinubu should, as a matter of urgency, review or discard some of his harsh economic policies, which have brought hardship to Nigerians.
The protesters armed with various placards chanted solidarity songs, defled heavy downpour to protest harsh governance and hardship in the country.
They called on the President Tinubu government to review its economic policies, saying many Nigerians have been subdued by poverty and frustration since the advent of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Maritime
Nigeria’s Fish Import Bill Hits N138bn In Nine Months
![](https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2b.jpg)
The Federal Government has said it spent over N138 billion in fish import bill in nine months in 2023, saying its yearly fish import bill stands at 2.4 million metric tonnes.
Government said such import bill drains the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Director, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Wellington Omoragbon, stated this during a courtesy visit by the National Working Group on Gender and Blue Economy.
He called on government to tackle challenges facing fishery and aquaculture, including dredging activities.
To address the challenge, Omoragbon said government is launching initiatives to increase local capacity, including locally-designed technologies such as storage facilities and inclusion of women and youths in production.
The Director emphasised the need for state and local governments to prioritise fisheries projects, particularly in supporting women and youth as 70 per cent of the population lack necessary support in the fishing industry.
He highlighted the need for market and technology development to reduce reliance on fish imports.
“The government plans to intervene in the fishing sector, signing an MoU with the Ministry of Water Resources to utilise the country’s water bodies for fishing”, he said.
He acknowledged the skill gap in the sector and called for a need assessment to identify targeted issues across fishing communities.
Maritime
Corruption At Ports: Group Writes To Presidency
![](https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2a.jpg)
National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, has charged the Federal Government to implement the Single Window Environment (SWE) to curb corruption-related problems at the nation’s seaports.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Amiwero noted that apart from curbing corruption-related problems at the seaports, implementation of the SWE has many other benefits.
The Council listed some of the benefits to include provision of standardised information, single entry point, and reduced malpractice associated with import-export and transit-related regulatory requirements.
NCMDLCA also added that “the SWE will help facilitate the accelerated flow of service in Customs release and Cargo clearance, enhance the availability and handling of information, and harmonise better sharing of relevant data across Government system.
“It will reduce malpractice associated with Import- Export and Transit regulated requirements, provide trade related government information and receive payment of duties and other charges”.
The Council added that the provision of Section (1a) of the Customs Act provide for lead agency and one stop-shop process under the control of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The implementation of SWE is expected to simplify the administrative process, reduce costs, and enhance the availability and handling of information, making trading easier for both government and private sector stakeholders.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic
-
News4 days ago
Fubara Vows To Curb Sea Piracy In Rivers …Advises Residents To Give Accurate Information To Security Agencies
-
News4 days ago
Commissioner Drums Support For Fubara
-
Business4 days ago
Expert Harps On Female Entrepreneurs’ Well-Being For Biz Success
-
Rivers4 days ago
Insects Not Our Enemy, Don Declares
-
News4 days ago
Wike’s Threats Unbridled, Irresponsible -PDP Govs …Restate Support For Fubara
-
News4 days ago
Fight Against Oil Theft Yielding Positive Result– GOC
-
Business4 days ago
FCMB Moves To Empower Nigeria’s Female Tech Entrepreneurs
-
Rivers4 days ago
Royal Father Declares Kalabari An Ethnic Nationality Calls For Unity Of Kingdoms