Metro

Nigerian Christian body begs govt to rescue 89 remaining schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014

Published

1 month ago

April 14, 2024

As Nigeria marks the 10th year commemoration of the abduction of 276 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, a community in Borno State, by the Boko Haram terrorist sect in 2014, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the government to take deliberate actions to rescue the remaining 89 girls who are still in captivity.

National Director for Education, Youth and Women Development of the Christian body, Rev Ozumba Nicodemus, who made the plea on Sunday, said the fact that the girls were still in captivity had continued to “heighten the pain and anguish experienced by their parents and loved ones.”

Nicodemus also called on the international community, humanitarian organisations, and well-meaning individuals to join CAN in advocating for the release of the girls and unite them withtheirfamilies.

“The case of the Chibok girls cannot be swept under the carpet, as it represents a horrific tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s conscience. The trauma experienced by the 276 abducted girls from Nigeria is unimaginable,” the statement reads.

“The pain and anguish felt by their parents, who have endured sleepless nights filled with hopelessness, are deeply felt by CAN.

“We cannot remain silent while their children remain in captivity, yearning for freedom and reunion with their families.

“CAN hereby reiterate its unwavering demand for the government to intensify efforts and take decisive action to rescue the remaining children still held hostage.

“This is not only a matter of national importance but also a test of our commitment to upholding the rights and safety of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us.

“Together, we can amplify our voices and exert greater pressure on the abductors to bring an end to this prolonged ordeal,” the statement noted.

The Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, who also addressed a press conference on Saturday to herald the commemoration of the anniversary of the abduction of the girls in Maiduguri, confirmed that 89 of the girls are yet to be rescued, while 187 have been rescued so far.

“So far, 187 of the 276 abducted Chibok girls have been rescued and reunited with their families; 89 are still missing,” Tar told journalists.

He noted that the 187 girls who have regained their freedom over the last 10 years include 57 who managed to escape from their abductors on the day of abduction as well as 108 who have been rescued by security agencies.

“Most of the rescued 187 have been enrolled in different schools and capacity-building programmes within the country, while many have even graduated,” the commissioner said.

“We remain hopeful and determined that with the combined efforts of the security forces, intelligence agencies and communities, all the remaining girls still in captivity will soon be returned back home.

“With about 89 still in captivity, I can say that we are still in mourning period, and we still in prayer session in Mosques and Churches for their rescue,” the commissioner said.

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Metro

Church in Kasama warns government against misusing Cyber Security Act

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

In Kasama District of Northern Province, the Church has issued a caution to the government regarding the use of the Cyber Security Act to intimidate, harass, or oppress citizens and political parties.

Reverend Joseph Nkonde, Chairperson of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) for Kasama District, restated the importance of fair implementation of the law to prevent discontent among citizens.

Speaking to Zambia Monitor in Kasama, Nkonde stressed the necessity for the government to focus on the positive aspects of the law and refine problematic clauses to achieve the desired Act.

“In this age of information, today’s Zambia is vastly different from yesterday’s. Citizens now utilise cyberspace to access and disseminate information,” he said.

Nkonde highlighted that Cyber Security also pertained to media freedoms, which are crucial for democracy and the well-being of Zambians.

He cautioned the government against intimidating journalists or their media houses using laws like the Cyber Security Act, as it could impede their performance.

“It’s important to note that many people, especially in rural areas, are unfamiliar with or unaware of the Cyber Security Act. The government can use the media to educate them about its advantages and disadvantages,” Nkonde advised.

Regarding media freedom, Nkonde acknowledged government’s efforts to implement policies aimed at protecting journalists but stressed the need for further action to ensure their security.

He urged Parliament to consider enacting laws that safeguard journalists and, ultimately, ordinary citizens who rely on the disseminated information.

“I also want to caution ordinary Zambians against misusing social media and posting content that may sow division or prompt government action that could be perceived as harmful,” Nkonde added.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Nigeria targets 10,000MW hydropower through sustainable power project

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the federal government is targeting10,000 megawatts through its Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN) in collaboration with the World Bank.

Adelabu who disclosed this at during the African High-Level Roundtable on Sustainable Hydropower in the African Renewable Energy Mix of the 21st Century, held in Abuja on Wednesday, said the “primary objective of the project is to enhance the utilisation of existing storage facilities for both irrigation and hydropower generation.”

He added that the project aims to strengthen institutional frameworks related to integrated water resources management within Nigeria.

“SPIN aims to unlock additional 10GW combined capacity from existing dams with provision for hydro but not fitted, partially incomplete dams with provisions for hydropower, Greenfield projects and existing multipurpose dams that can be modified/redesigned and retrofitted,” Adelabu said.

The Minister who acknowled the immense potential for hydropower development in Africa, said it is important to also consider responsible development.

“We must address environmental concerns around dam construction and ecosystem disruption, alongside social impacts on local communities. This requires a commitment to sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and innovative solutions to financing these large-scale projects.”

The Minister also stated that for several decades, hydropower has played a significant role in Nigeria’s energy supply, contributing approximately 20 per cent to the nation’s total grid supply as of now.

Adelabu emphasised Nigeria’s wealth of water resources across its various basins while the country’s hydropower capacity is estimated at 14 GW, only around 15 per cent of this potential has been harnessed.

“The country has over 340 dams spread across different geo-political zones, under the management of the three government tiers and many are not optimally utilized or at risk of damage.

“For the small hydropower, a multitude of river systems, providing about 70 micro dams, 126 mini dams, and 86 small sites, supply a technically exploitable capacity of 3.5GW, but only 1.7per cent (0.06GW) of these resources are currently being tapped, while there are about 10GW of potential untapped capacities from the large and medium-sized hydropower,” he added.