News
Mark Assures Of Passage Of FoI Bill
Senate President David Mark yesterday assured Nigerians that the Senate would pass the Freedom of Information Bill already passed by the House of Representatives.
Mark gave the assurance when the executive members of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) led by its President, Chief Olushola Ogunshola, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
“Ordinarily, there is no need for you to come because we have assured that we are going to pass the bill. “The bill is not for the media alone but for everybody. However, there is need to guarantee that the media will use the bill responsibly,’’ he said.
He added, “Passage of the bill into law is not a problem but we must show enough restraint and responsibility in order to avoid recklessness in the discharge of our duties. The media must be able to protect the ordinary man from abuse and recklessness by some of its members.”
Mark noted that the Nigerian Press Council had failed in its duty of sanctioning any media organisation found to have gone against the ethics of the profession.
Earlier, the President of the NPAN, Ogunshola urged the Senate to pass the Freedom of Information Bill.
He also pleaded that the Senate should not change the name of the bill to Access to Information as done by the House of Representatives.
Ogunshola noted that although the bill was passed by the last National Assembly but was not signed into law, noting that there was still another historic opportunity for the current National Assembly to pass it.
“There is still another historic opportunity for you to pass the bill and allow President Goodluck Jonathan to sign it.
Nigerians will remember you for that. The bill should be passed before the general elections,’’ he said.
He said that efforts had also been made to correct the initial misconceptions about the bill.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Muhammed Abba-Aji, had denied reports credited to him on Igbo presidency and the Freedom of Information Bill.
Abba-Aji was quoted in the media as saying that there was no vacancy for the Igbos in 2015 and that he would prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan not to sign the Freedom of Information Bill.
Briefing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Abba-Aji said that he had not at any time made such a statement.
“I hereby categorically state that I have not at any time made such a statement.
Contrary to this statement, I strongly believe that my Igbo brothers and sisters have equal rights with all members of other ethnic groups to seek any public office including the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“As it relates to Vice President Namadi Sambo, it is entirely my personal view, which he neither desired nor solicited. I therefore, hereby withdraw it, and regret any misunderstanding that it might have generated,” he said.
He added: “On the issue of the Freedom of Information Bill, what I did was to draw attention to the conflict that in my view, it is likely to have with Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as it relates to the oath of office and the Official Secrecy Act, which is yet to be repealed.
“I also tried to make the distinction between the Freedom of Information Bill, which seeks to compel public officers to reveal official matters and the Freedom of Press, which is already enshrined as Section 39 of the Constitution.”
However, mixed reactions have greeted the amended Electoral Act, especially the aspect that stopped the removal of governors through the courts.
Some politicians, who spoke to newsmen in Lagos yesterday, said that the removal of the power of the court to remove a sitting governor was in order.
However, others argued that it would give governors, who won an election through rigging, a second chance to rig.
Our correspondent reports that the former Electoral Act 2006 empowered the judiciary to nullify elections and give the mandate to the authentic winner of an election.
The newly amended act strips the court and the tribunal of the powers to remove from office a sitting governor for irregularities except through a re-run election.
When a sitting governor is found guilty, he should be disqualified from that election and its party should nominate somebody else,’’ Onimisi said.
But Malam Yusuf Buba, National Chairman, Advanced Congress for Democrats (ACD), commended the National Assembly for the amendment.
According to him, the power given to the judiciary to remove a sitting governor found to have rigged into office could corrupt the judiciary.
“If the power still lies with the judiciary, it can make it corrupt, but a re-run election will make it easier for people to come out and still exercise their civic rights, he said.
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi