Connect with us

Metro

Second UN helicopter crashes in eastern DR Congo in five months

Published

on

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP), on Friday, announced that another of its helicopter had crashed while flying over the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu province, making it the second of such crashes in the last six month.

According to the agency, the UN Humanitarian Air Service chopper which is managed by the WFP, went down near the city of Goma on Friday morning.

“There were no passengers on board and the three crew members sustained minor injuries in the crash,” the agency said in a statement, though it was not forthcoming with details on the crash.

In early March, eight members of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC were killed when a UN helicopter crashed in the area of Tshanzu, in North Kivu.

That helicopter, according to the UN, was on a reconnaissance mission following a clash between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group when it crashed.

The DRC government had blamed the rebels for the crash, saying it shot down the UN helicopter, a claim the M23 vehemently denied.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Metro

Nigeria: CSO urges President Tinubu to investigate missing funds in Humanitarian Ministry

Published

on

A Nigerian civil society organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch an investigation into the over N57 billion that allegedly went missing in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021.

The organisation, in a statement on Sunday, urged the president to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, as well as other anti-corruption agencies to commence a probe into the allegations without delay.

In the letter issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare and addressed to President Tinubu, the group warned against sweeping the allegations under the carpet as the Nigerian public has a right to know what happened to their money.

“The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations,” the watch dog group said.

“The allegations also suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anticorruption legislation, and international anticorruption obligations.

“Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviations and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, (the ministry) in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.

“The money was not directly paid to the beneficiaries. The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have been diverted. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.

“The ministry reportedly failed to account for over N2.6 billion of public funds meant for the home-grown school feeding programme during Covid-19, as the programme was never executed. The money was allegedly paid to five contractors to procure, package and distribute Covid-19 palliatives to Kano, Zamfara and Abia states, but without any trace.

“The ministry also reportedly spent over N78 million to carry out a survey on the ministry’s Covid-19 response to states and vulnerable groups but without any approval or document.

“The ministry also reportedly failed to account for N400 million meant to pay stipends to 4,450 independent monitors for October, November, and December 2021.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.

“SERAP urges you to immediately enforce the judgment by Hon. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordering your government to release the spending details of N729 billion by Mrs Sadia Umar-Farouk, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development,” SERAP warned.

Continue Reading

Metro

Zambian govt successfully repatriates trafficked toddler from Mozambique

Published

on

The Zambian government has announced the successful repatriation of a one-year-eight-month-old child who was trafficked to Mozambique.

Making the announcement at a media briefing held at the Ministry’s head office in Lusaka on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Angela Kawandami, expressed relief and joy at the child’s return, following the abduction from Lundazi District in October 2023.

Kawandami revealed that the case was reported to Lundazi Police Station on October 28, 2023, and following intense investigation, the child was trailed to a house in a care facility in Tete, Mozambique, before being repatriated.

Kawandami emphasized government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights, citing the Children’s Code Act of 2022 and the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2008 as essential tools in combating child trafficking.

“These laws mandate the state and relevant actors to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of children, especially those at risk of trafficking,” she said.

She further highlighted the role of Zambia’s National Referral Mechanism in ensuring a coordinated, multi-sectoral response to trafficking cases.

“Through effective collaboration between the Ministries of Community Development and Social Services, Home Affairs and Internal Security, the Zambia Police Service’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department, and Interpol, the child was returned safely after a year of continuous efforts,” she narrated.

She urged the public to remain vigilance and report suspected trafficking cases, noting the increasing threat of human trafficking.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the Director for Anti-Human Trafficking in the Ministry of Home Affairs Boris Mulengu, praised the strong cooperation between Zambia and Mozambique, stressing the importance of intergovernmental collaboration in combating trafficking.

Meanwhile, the child’s mother expressed heartfelt gratitude for her child’s safe return, acknowledging the emotional toll the abduction had caused.

She thanked the government and all involved agencies for their unwavering dedication to reuniting her with her child.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Metro4 hours ago

Nigeria: CSO urges President Tinubu to investigate missing funds in Humanitarian Ministry

A Nigerian civil society organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to launch...

Culture1 day ago

South African DJ Black Coffee bags World’s Best DJ 2024

South African disc jockey, DJ Black Coffee, has been named the World’s Best DJ 2024 at the Golden Moon Awards....

Sports1 day ago

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next...

Metro1 day ago

Zambian govt successfully repatriates trafficked toddler from Mozambique

The Zambian government has announced the successful repatriation of a one-year-eight-month-old child who was trafficked to Mozambique. Making the announcement...

Metro1 day ago

Finland-based Nigerians in panic as authorities search for Simon Ekpa’s sponsors

Some Nigerians based in Finland have been thrown into panic mode following the arrest and detention of the self-styled Prime...

Politics1 day ago

Mauritius’ Prime Minister to double as Finance Minister

In an effort to maintain a tight eye on the economy, Mauritius’ Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who took office this...

VenturesNow2 days ago

IMF mission concludes 4th loan program assessment in Egypt

Following the completion of a recent visit to Egypt, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that its mission had...

Politics2 days ago

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime...

Musings From Abroad2 days ago

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment...

Musings From Abroad2 days ago

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday. According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince...

Trending