A Malian employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross has been killed, in the northern Mali town of Gao late on Wednesday night, a spokesman for the aid organization and local residents said.
Jean-Nicolas Marti, the organization’s director in Mali, said Thursday that a colleague in the northern city of Gao
The deceased was said to have been shot to death by armed men who were on a motorcycle while he was in front of a store and then sped off.
The shooting takes place amid an increase in violence in Gao, where almost two weeks ago a French-Swiss woman was abducted. Authorities believe she is being held by jihadists, though there has been no official claim of responsibility for that attack, the star reported.
Gao was under the control of jihadists for about a year before a French-led operation in 2013.
There are strong indications that the Zaria water project in northern Nigeria will meet its completion deadline of July 2017.
The project which started in 1999 is costing Kaduna State Government almost N70 billion (about $200 million).
Last September, the government awarded contracts for the rehabilitation and replacement of old pipes, construction of 7.3 kilometre transmission lines, construction of 10 reservoirs of six million litres each, construction of three bolster stations and dams, among others.
“The entire length of pipeline is 75 kilometres, branching out to the seven local government areas the water project will be serving. There are also going to be 15 water tanks of six million litres each,” says Commissioner for Water Resources, Suleiman Lere.
Available data at the Ministry shows that Zaria water consumption alone is about 100 million litres per day. But it currently has less than 50 million per day supply.
According to government sources, the project would produce up to 150 million litres per day, that would serve Zaria and adjoining local government areas.
The project is expected to address the issue of perennial shortage of water for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes in Zaria and metropolis.
Special Assistant to Governor of Kaduna State on Media and publicity, Samuel Aruwan in a Facebook post showing video of the water project says, “Without any ‘abracadabra’ This is the Test Run of 150MLD Zaria Water Treatment Plant on 21 December 2016.”
He told AFRICA PRIME NEWS, “the project has a long history, but we are hoping with God on our side we will finish it this year.”
Aruwan recalled a town hall meeting which Governor Nasir El-Rufai had with youth leaders of Kaduna North Senatorial Zone during electioneering campaign in March 2015, where the governor promised to complete the water project.
“I stand here to tell you nothing but the truth and I will say it for all to know. By the special grace of God we will complete Zaria Water Project that has been going on endlessly. We keep on hearing billions upon billions being spent without an end.
“You asked for my candid position regarding the water project, and I told you that I will complete the project and bring water to our people without any ‘abracadabra’. We will not say what we will not do.
“There will be no more story and deceit if God and the good people of Kaduna state give us the mandate to run affairs of our state. We will make it real by the grace of God”.
#BringBackOurGirls (BBOG), a pressure group formed after kidnap of school girls in Nigeria, has set out a week long activities to mark the 1000 days of the kidnap of the girls, and also to compel Nigerian government to ensure release of the missing girls.
On 14th April, 2014 more than 200 school girls were kidnapped in their dormitories by Boko Haram members in the night. About 60 of the girls were reported to have escaped from the Boko Haram camp, days after the kidnap.
Nigerian military in December claimed victory of conquering Boko Haram by dislodging them from their Sambisa forest stronghold, and made a symbolic presentation of the insurgents flag to President Muhammadu Buhari. This followed a set target of defeating the insurgency group by end of 2016. A similar target set for December 2015 was unsuccessful.
With the fresh claim of defeating the Boko Haram by Nigerian military, the BBOG is asking Nigerian government and its military to stop contradicting themselves – the government had earlier said it will not declare victory against the Boko Haram insurgents without first rescuing the Chibok girls and all other victims.
A statement by Aisha Yesufu and Oby Ezekwesili said the presidency and military have repeatedly on several occasions plegded that they would not declare victory without the rescue of the girls.
“We are doubly disappointed that the Federal Government contradicted itself by the recent declaration and celebration of capture of Sambisa Forest as the end of the war. This action is contrary to the pledge that the President and the Military made repeatedly on several occasions that they would not declare victory without the rescue of our Chibok girls and all other abducted victims of terrorist abduction.
“With no additional rescue of any of our Chibok girls since 13 October 2016, what conclusion should parents, the Chibok community, our Movement, the Nigerian public, and the world at large draw from the fact that our President and Military are celebrating “the capture of Sambisa ‘Camp Zero'”, the same stronghold in which it stated the girls were held and the 21 released were released from in October?
“Painfully, we are only a few days away from #Day1000 of their tragic abduction with no communication nor clarification nor status report on the negotiation the Federal Government previously stated was on-going for the release of the remaining 196 girls still with terrorists. Our Movement is therefore again constrained to resume our marches to mark the #DAY1000 tragic milestone. Our Movement expects that the President to regard the #Day1000 milestone as an over due time to bring this horrific saga to a final closure. We shall therefore carry out a series of activities for a period of one week, using our 24-hourly marches to compel our Federal Government to accelerate the decision and actions necessary to bring back the rest of our Chibok girls to their grossly disappointed parents.
“Unlike our other Global Weeks of Action carried out over the last thirty two months of our advocacy the #Day1000 version in Abuja shall be themed along various issues related to our #ChibokGirls,” it says.
The statement says the group will relocate its sit-out venue to the State House for the week, noting that its unrelenting campaigns compelled the Nigerian government to pursue the release of the last 21 girls from their kidnappers.
“However, it shall principally be powered by a 24-hourly march to the entrance of the State House. What this means is that we shall relocate our daily sit-out venue from the Unity Fountain to the State House for the Global Week of Action starting from Sunday 8th of January to Saturday 14th January, 2017. We shall gather to commence our marches on Sunday the 8th at 3pm at the Unity Fountain and proceed to our designated destination. With effect from Monday until Saturday being 14 January, we shall daily gather at 9am at the Unity Fountain to proceed on our marches to the Villa Gate.”
The group outlined the daily themes for the one week march as follows;
*Sunday 8 January: #ChibokGirls – #Day1000
*Monday 9 January: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) – our Chibok girls are themselves IDPs (or refugees) as captives wherever they may be. The condition of IDPs in the Northeast is a humanitarian tragedy of immense proportion. The action necessary is too slow in coming from our Government. This has to change.
*Tuesday 10 January: Military welfare – our Nigerian troops at the frontlines of the counterinsurgency deserve better. Videos have emerged where they have been seen scrambling for basic supplies like water. They allege that many are still ill-equipped and that some do not have proper clothing for the harsh weather, arms and ammunition. Some have been unjustly sentenced to life imprisonment for mutiny/treason for declining to fight without arms.
*Wednesday 11 January: Corruption/Poor governance: There is corruption and poor governance in all sectors of our society including in the judiciary. The situation of the IDPs and our troops is a manifestation of this cancer. Corruption and poor governance created the enabling context for our girls to be abducted. The same cancer of corruption is a key reason why they remain in captivity 1,000 days after. The recent revelation about the N500million budgeted for the rebuilding of the Government Secondary School Chibok speaks to the depth of the corruption menace. Much more effective action is necessary from our Federal Government to stem the scourge.
*Thursday 12 January: Endangered Education – Our Chibok girls were abducted in their school. Their only ‘crime’ was seeking an education (despite all the odds). Education- especially girls education- is clearly under attack in Nigeria. We must unite to counter this and ensure that our children are safe and feel safe to be in school.
*Friday 13 January: Girl-child vulnerability – Our Chibok girls represent the horrors of the violence that a girl-child is exposed to, and many times undergoes. Another recent example is that of Habiba Ishiaku, abducted and forcefully “married” at age 14 without her parents’ knowledge, and ‘converted’ to another religion, all these done by the authority of the Emir of Katsina and the Katsina Emirate Council with the full knowledge and support of the Nigerian state.
*Saturday 14 January: Insecurity: In Zamfara, Zaria, Jos, Enugu, Agatu, Southern Kaduna, etc, killings have taken place and are continually going on with entire communities wiped out, with no consequences and no end in view. All lives matter. All lives are precious. No human being is more human than other humans, and no Nigerian is more Nigerian than any other Nigeria. We insist that our Federal Government must take every action necessary to restore dignity to EVERY Nigerian life.
“All the above themes and focuses have connections with and are relevant to our Chibok girls and the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy. As is our culture we shall as usual follow the laid down procedure in notifying the police of our activities to enable them to do their constitutional role of facilitating our activities.
“MR PRESIDENT, NO MORE EXC– — — USES! MR PRESIDENT, NO MORE DELAYS!! MR PRESIDENT, DECIDE NOW!!! MR PRESIDENT, ACT NOW WE WANT MORE RESULTS!!!!,” the statement reads.
The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has slammed some governments and leaders on the continent for causing their people to suffer.
Enca reported that, she singled out South Sudan where violent atrocities have been committed against civilians in the aftermath of a fall-out between President Salvar Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, continues.
Some 500,000 people have been killed and about two million displaced in the world’s newest country.
Delivering her New Year message in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Dlamini-Zuma blamed the leaders of Burundi, Central African Republic and The Gambia for the crises in their countries.
“Our governments and leadership are there to protect the vulnerable, to serve the people, not to be the cause of the people’s suffering and retrogression,” she said.
“Enough is enough. Africans deserve better, and we must all work towards better days, and towards peace, stability and development.”
Dlamini-Zuma said the crises overshadowed several successful elections held in some AU member states.
She urged aggrieved parties to respect the will of the people, abide by their national and international obligations, as well as resort to all non-violent and legal means in resolving electoral disputes.
Gambia’s army chief pledged his loyalty on Wednesday to President Yahya Jammeh, who has refused to accept defeat in last month’s election and faces the possibility of regional military intervention to enforce the result of the vote.
Jammeh initially accepted his loss in the Dec. 1 election but a week later reversed his position, vowing to hang onto power despite a wave of regional and international condemnation.
Guardian Reported that West African regional bloc ECOWAS, has placed standby forces on alert in case Jammeh attempts to stay in power after his mandate ends on Jan. 19. Jammeh has called the bloc’s stance “a declaration of war“.
“May I please seize this opportunity to renew to your Excellency the assurance of the unflinching loyalty and support of the Gambia Armed Forces,” General Ousman Badjie wrote in a letter to Jammeh published in a pro-government newspaper.
Many Gambians, who have lived through 22 years of Jammeh’s increasingly authoritarian rule, were stunned when the elections commission declared opposition figure Adama Barrow the winner of last month’s election. Jammeh’s initial acceptance of the result sparked nationwide celebrations.
Badjie declared his allegiance to Barrow soon after the poll results were announced, according to a spokesman for the president-elect. However his position remained unclear following Jammeh’s dramatic about-face.
Also on Wednesday, Jammeh’s ruling party, the APRC, filed a second petition at the Supreme Court asking it to nullify the election results because of alleged voting irregularities.
The court, which has not heard cases for years, is scheduled to consider an earlier challenge by Jammeh’s camp on 10 January, nine days before Barrow is due to be inaugurated in a ceremony West African leaders say they will attend.
In another illustration of the growing pressure on Gambian officials as the 19 January deadline looms, Alieu Momarr Njai, the head of the elections commission, fled Gambia on Friday due to fears for his security, family members said.
Last month Gambian security forces seized control of the commission’s headquarters, which holds the original poll records and told staff, including Njai, to leave.
Over the weekend Gambian security agents closed three private radio stations, making it harder for the incoming government to communicate with its supporters.
“It is a sign of weakness for any side of the political spectrum to resort to media closures rather than engagement to put one’s position across,” Barrow’s office said on Wednesday in a statement.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that 6,330 HIV patients registered in Libya in 2016.
Premium Times Reported that, WHO said that 10 people also died in the out-gone year as a result of inability to access anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs.
According to a statement by WHO, “Last year, there were 6,330 registered HIV patients in Libya; 10 people aged 18 or 19, died due to lack of ARV drugs.
“Many other patients have been forced to scale back on their drug regimens, meaning that many are now in the advanced stages of the disease and that they face increasingly high mortality rates.”
The global health body said just a few weeks ago, it began distributing much-needed ARV drugs to patients living with HIV in Libya, following the country’s collapse in medical services and inability to provide life-saving drugs.
“After the start of the country’s civil war in 2011, rates of HIV have continued to rise.
“A recent WHO analysis of the country’s health system indicates a general collapse in medical services, including a lack of drug availability.
“Severe shortages of ARV drugs are threatening the lives of those with HIV and have even led to public protests demanding that the Ministry of Health take immediate action to resolve the problem.’’
It said following the pressure on the ministry, it subsequently reached out to WHO for support in drug procurement and distribution.
According to it, so far, WHO has provided three months of drugs to some 450 patients?
“The agency is working closely with the Ministry to develop and implement surveillance and health system assessment mechanisms, particularly those regarding blood safeties,’’ WHO said.
WHO said the initiative was intended to reinstate the HIV-related infrastructure that was halted at the start of the war in 2011.
“For years, cultural barriers and stigmatization have impeded effective HIV prevention programmes.
“The WHO is advocating for universal access to HIV treatment and care by focusing on planning, surveillance, and delivery of healthcare services to HIV patients in order to undermine some of these barriers.
“In order to meet its goals, the WHO is requesting 1.2 million dollars from donors, which would allow the agency to guarantee a supply of ARV drugs throughout 2017.”
Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) has approved the redeployment of eight (8) Assistant Comptrollers-General and 238 Deputy Comptrollers of Customs with an immediate effect.
A statement by the Services’ Deputy Public Relations Officer Joseph Attah, noted the redeployment was done in a bid to strengthen operations and reposition the Service to meet the challenges of 2017.
According to the statement, the Assistant Comptrollers-General affected are:
ACG Charles Edike from Zone A to Human Resource Development (HRD) • ACG Ahmed Mohammed from HRD to Zone B
ACG Aminu Dangaladima from Zone B to Enforcement • ACG Francis Dosumu from Enforcement to Zone D
ACG Augustine Chidi from Zone D to Excise, Free Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives (Ex,FTZ, & I I)
ACG Monday Abueh from Ex,FTZ, & I I to Zone A • ACG Umar Sanusi from HQ to Zone C
ACG Abdulkadir Azerema from Zone C to HQ
“The redeployment of Deputy Comptrollers of Customs affected the Service Public Relations Officer, DC Wale Adeniyi, who is now posted to Apapa Customs Area Command, Lagos.
“As all the affected officers report at their new Zones and Commands, the Comptroller-General reiterated the Federal Government’s ban on importation of Rice and Vehicles through the land borders,” the statement added.
He charged all Officers and Men of the Service to ensure maximum collection of revenue and strict implementation of fiscal policy of Government.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – As part of strategy to reduce rates of road accident in 2017, the Federal Road safety Corps (FRSC) in Kaduna state (North-west Nigeria) has announced a banned on the sales of alcohol and other illicit drugs in motor parks across the state, saying, it would collaborate with the Kaduna State Government, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers and other relevant agencies to enforce the ban.
The FRSC Sector Commander Francis Udoma, made this known while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna.
According to him, the ban became necessary following reports that a lot of driver takes all kinds of illicit drugs before driving, thereby engendering their life and that of passengers.
He noted that, drivers would equally be sensitize in all parks across the state against the habit of drinking alcohol or taking any form of illicit drugs, which contributes to high number of accidents.
On the total number of people that lost their lives in car accidents, Udoma said, from January to December, 2016, no fewer than 413 people lost their lives in 596 accidents, involving 821 vehicles and 4,616 people in the state; adding that, 2,448 people sustain various degree of injuries within the period, making the total number of casualties to 2, 897, an increase from 2,481 recorded in 2015.
He also said that there was equally an increase in number of accidents from 485 in 2015 to 596 in 2016.
“There was however a decrease in the number of deaths from 443 recorded in 2015 to 413 in 2016 and an increase in the number of injured from 2,038 in 2015 to 2448 in 2016, “he said.
Udoma however caution motorists on over speeding and urged them to install speed limit device to check against untimely death, saying “speed thrills, but kills”.
He also pointed out that, all commercial tricycles and buses that do not adhered to the prescribed state colour, plate number and registration would be impounded as part of efforts to bring sanity to the road.
A Malian employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross has been killed, in the northern Mali town of Gao late on Wednesday night, a spokesman for the aid organization and local residents said.
