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Fire Inferno: Hon. Abba Isa renews hope of PWDs in Karon-Majigi community
Following a fire inferno that razed their community, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon Mohammed Abba Isa, has renewed the hope of members of the Karon-majigi disability community who lost properties and valuables in the inferno.
The SSAP, who demonstrated this gesture Monday when he led a delegation from his office accompanied by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Ms. Delu Bulus Yakubu, Chairman Rehabilitation Committee and other stakeholders to sympathize with the victims of the incident, and to have on-the-spot assessment of the damage, assured them of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ameliorate their plights and permanently resettled them.
Recall that there was a fire outbreak at the temporary settlement of the disability community in Karon-majigi area along airport road, Abuja on Saturday February 3, 2024 which completely destroyed the makeshift residents and properties of these vulnerable people living them in a dejected state.
Although no life was lost in the incident, however the inferno left so much damage to the livelihood of the victims in its wake.
Hon.Abba Isa and his entourage who were warmly welcomed at the Emir’s palace and Seriki of PWDs Karon-majigi, empathized with the people over the challenges they face.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mrs Esther Akwu, a PWD, commended Hon. Abba Isa for his act of kindness and humanity that made him to visit them to see for himself the extent of damage and to share in their plights.
Mrs. Akwu lamented years of neglect suffered by the community, stating the the community lack basic infrastructure such as primary healthcare, school and others which she said were all in deplorable state.
She pleaded with Senior Presidential aide to escalate their situation to the appropriate authority and ensure that their primary healthcare facility is well equipped, teachers are employed in the only primary school, orphanages created for PWD children, provision of electricity, good potable water as well as other basic necessities of life.
Addressing members of the community at the palace of the Seriki of the Disability Community, Hon. Abba Isa , who described the fire incident as unfortunate, also bemoaned the deplorable living conditions of the people while assuring them that the administration of President Tinubu is committed to doing everything in its capacity to transform their lives, restore their settlement and livelihoods in line with his renewed hope agenda.
While reiterating President Tinubu’s recently launched housing policy for all inclusive of Persons With Disabilities, Hon. Abba Isa called for support and collaboration from stakeholders and development partners to ensure that these vulnerable people are fully resettled and empowered gainful livelihoods.
Thereafter, the SSAP and his team were taken on a tour of the scene where the inferno occurred to have a firsthand on-the-spot assessment of the extent of damage done by the fire.
On her path, the SA to the Minister of humanitarian affairs assured the victims that the federal government is working tirelessly to ensure they are given comfortable lifestyles,
She also advised them on taking preventive measures to avoid future occurrences of such incident.
Highpoints of the visits was presentation of cash gifts by Hon. Abba Isa to the PWD’s affected by the inferno so as to cushion the effect of the loss they suffered.
In his vote of thanks, the highly estatic and joyful Emir and his chiefs thanked the Senior Presidential aide for all he has achieved for the disability community in Nigeria within the short period of his stay in office.
The Emir also appreciated the SSAP for deeming it to come emphasize with them together with his team, while praying for Allah’s guidance and protection for him and the people working with
The senate has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the Aniocha north II state constituency in Delta state in compliance with the supreme court’s judgment in suit no. SC/129/2019.
The upper legislative arm also directed the electoral commission to conduct an election into the Aniocha north II state constituency in the next state house of assembly poll in Delta state.
The senate’s approval followed a motion sponsored by Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta north.
Speaking with journalists after the senate’s plenary on Tuesday, Nwoko said the constituency, comprising towns such as Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, and others in Aniocha north LGA, was initially created in 1991 but was later delineated.
He said residents initiated legal action in 2014 to restore the constituency but was dismissed by the federal high court.
The senator noted that the suit was upheld in 2017 by the court of appeal and affirmed by the supreme court.
“I am glad that we have managed to pull it through because it was not as straightforward as people might think,” Nwoko said.
“But the fact remains that this was a supreme court judgment and we all respect supreme court judgments.
“On this particular matter, it has taken several stages from the court of appeal and then supreme court.
“INEC also wrote to us seeking our consent to implement the supreme court judgment. I don’t know why INEC should seek our consent, but that is exactly what happened.
“They sought our consent at the senate and house of reps to implement the supreme court judgement.
“I am happy that we got it right. There are so many of such matters across the country and I am sure they will take cue from this particular matter today.”
By Abubakar Yunusa
Oil marketers have cried out about the negative impacts of unstable prices of Premium Motor Spirit or petrol in the country on their businesses.
President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gilly-Harris raised concern during Channels Television’s Business Morning on Tuesday.
According to him, fluctuating petrol prices in the last few weeks are constituting potential threats to the survival of businesses of its members.
Gilly-Harris’ concern comes on the heels of ongoign price war between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Following the announcement of a price cut by the Dangote Refinery by N65 at the ex-depot price, the retail price at filling stations affiliated with Dangote dropped from N925-N930 to N860.
No sooner after, the NNPCL also reduced its price at its retail stations, further deepening rivalry between the two dominant players.
Billy-Harris said “In our consistently weekly reviews, we discovered that the size of loss, and the possibility of most of us getting out of business is glaring at us in the face. Because in today’s Nigeria, we have collaborative efforts being made between all the stakeholders, and we reach out to one another to know how the businesses are doing.
“As much as we are making efforts to make sure that Nigerians have product affordability from our end as the last mile in the industry, we also want to stay afloat and liquid.
“The challenge we have is that we buy products at a price today, and before the close of business, the price has reduced. We thought there should be a mechanism by which prices are analysed and ensure it doesn’t impact negatively on the industry.
“I have always said that every business can only survive by making some minimal profits that are commensurate to the price of paying the cost of doing business.
“We are fully aware that the international prices of crude oil and other related expenses are also being reduced. But when we invest to buy products at say N880, we are not going to sell at that price. And if such products become reduced to N840, N850, N860 or even N870 per litre, it becomes challenging how we will be able to recover our costs.”
Commenting on price monopoly in the downstream sector, Gilly-Harris said its members can either import products or buy from local refineries, however, it would not sell products at the expense of the survival of PETROAN members’ businesses.
He said “Yes, we have been in the forefront of always implementing what stakeholders agree. We have the capacity to import our products. We also have the capacity to buy locally refined products. But we see that prices consistently shift up or down, and there is no clear business consultation on how this should be done. That is why we said the NMDPRA and the consumer protection agency should swing into action and be able to work together with other stakeholders so that we can be able to have a stable market and a stable price.”
A non-governmental organisation, the Global Initiative for Peace, Love, and Care (GIPLC), in collaboration with the Dickens Sanomi Foundation, has donated ₦200 million to fund medical treatment for conjoined twins Hassan and Hussaina, along with 11 other children requiring urgent medical attention.
At a cheque presentation ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, GIPLC Director-General Nuhu Kwajafa emphasised the importance of providing timely assistance to children facing severe medical conditions.
“When you have children in this kind of condition, you need to bring them out so they can get help,” Kwajafa said.
“This is not the first time we’ve supported a set of conjoined twins. About a year and a half ago, we assisted another pair. Two years ago, a different set of conjoined twins had been in a government hospital for over a year before the King Salman Foundation of Saudi Arabia sent an air ambulance to evacuate them for treatment.”
Hassan and Hussaina, however, were not able to secure international support, prompting GIPLC and its partners to take immediate action.
“We launched a fundraiser, and within a day, we raised $100 million for the twins. The following day, another ₦100 million was raised for 11 other children in need,” Kwajafa explained.
The grand patron of GIPLC, Igho Charles Sanomi, reiterated the foundation’s commitment to ensuring vulnerable children receive the support they need.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide children with a platform where they can compete and build a future for themselves,” said Sanomi, who was represented by Goodluck Hayi, the Chief Operating Officer of the Dickens Sanomi Foundation.
“There are many challenges, but we must come together and support trustworthy organisations that are making a difference.”
Hayi urged private individuals and organisations to contribute to such initiatives, noting that government resources are often stretched.
“The government has many responsibilities, but private individuals can step in and support platforms that are transparent and accountable. This way, we can reach more children who are physically challenged or in need of urgent care,” he said.
He added that the foundation partners only with verifiable and trustworthy organisations.
“Our chairman, the grand patron of GIPLC, was raised by a father who valued love and care. This initiative is our way of giving back to society in his honour.”
The father of the conjoined twins, Muhammad Halilu from Kebbi State, expressed gratitude to the foundation, revealing the hardships his family has endured.
“The twins will be five years old by may ,” he said. “I lost my job because I had to stay home to support their mother. She could not take care of them alone. Eventually, we even lost our home.”