Consensus candidate: Northern Elders Forum denies adopting Atiku Unical suspends student over ‘unruly behaviour’

“Atiku has not been seen as somebody who is closed to the North, because he has not been fair to us.

“He is somebody that have his base outside the North.” (NAN)

CAPPA urges governments to act on NIMET early warning on rainfall patterns

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Following the recent weather forecast for 2023 released by Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET), the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on relevant agencies of government at the national and state levels to invest in prevention and necessary infrastructure needed to address the root causes of flooding and the plight victims face.

The NIMET forecasts warned of massive variation in the onset of rainfall in most parts of the country and that as early as March, the coastal zone of the South-south states of Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom will observe unpleasant rainfall changes. Central states are likely to wait till May while Katsina,

Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Cross River, Ebonyi, Imo, and Rivers will experience delayed onset of rainfall.

For Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno the rains will not begin until June and July. Only Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kwara Gombe, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos will be near normal but with a worrisome quantity. NiMET added that the noticeable increase in climate change and humantriggered activities including indiscriminate dumping of wastes will cause more floods in 2023 and that the waters will come in high intensity within a short duration.

CAPPA opined that the 2022 floods which ravaged most states of the federation as well as the attendant loss of lives and the economic toll put at over N4 trillion was an avoidable tragedy that must not happen again.

In a statement issued in Lagos, CAPPA said that the flood resulted in displacement, hunger, and scarcity hence the need for all hands to be on deck, especially the federal and state intervention agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and their state-level counterparts to work seamlessly in addressing conflicts of the past.

CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “We must commend NIMET for the timely warning which should enable federal and state level planning to begin. We are however worried that nothing seems to have changed since the 2022 flood at federal and state level.

“The lackadaisical attitudes that led to the loss of lives and property are still with us even though the 2022 floods affected about 20 states, killed about 603 people, and rendered more than 1.3 million homeless while over 108,393 hectares of farmlands were destroyed with attendant effects on food security, the economy, health, security, and the environment and that affected Nigerians are still battling with”.

To forestall any repeat, CAPPA calls on Federal and sub-national Governments to respond to the early warning systems with synergy. In like manner, funds should be voted for the construction of buffer dams to accommodate excess water runoff upstream, particularly from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.(NAN)

Benue Govt approves 243m for re-turfing of Aper Aku Stadium

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Worried by the security risk involved in players of Lobi Stars travelling to Jos for their league matches, Benue State has approved the re-turfing of the Aper Aku Stadium to meet international standard.

The State government took the decision at an emergency executive council meeting held on Thursday at Government House, Makurdi.

The State Commissioner for Information Michael Inalegwu disclosed to newsmen that the sum of 243 million has been earmarked for renovation of playing turf at the stadium.

He said ,”We also agreed to give a face lift to other facilities and structures at the Aper Aku stadium. So, we had two way contractual obligations; one to Momimichelle Sporting Facitly Construction LTD which laid the astro turf and so was chosen because of their expertise. For the other renovation on the Stadium which will be done by direct labor, the sum of 65 million was approved to the Ministry of Youths/Sports. This is to cut cost. For complete renovation of the MarCarthy Stadium to make provision for offices of the club officials, accommodation for players, council approved 73 million. We are giving the contractors not less than two and half months to finish work on the playing turf. So, whatever is the case between now and April, the whole work should have been completed’, he said.