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Anti-Open Grazing: Illegal firearms bearers risk 21-yr jail term — Lagos Assembly

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…As activist faults FG on grazing reserves

Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, proposed a 21-year jail term for any herder found with firearms in the state.

The open grazing bill, which passed the second reading, was submitted to the Committee on Agriculture to report back on Thursday.

The bill is titled: ‘Prohibition of Open Cattle Grazing Bill 2021’.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, said the bill was timely and one that would ensure a harmonious relationship between herders and farmers in the South-West.

The speaker said: “Allocating parcels of land is not enough, but there should be the training of those who would go into ranching. Ranching is expensive and requires adequate preparation.

The lawmakers who spoke threw their weight behind the proposed jail term.

The member representing Alimosho 1, Bisi Yusuff, lamented the havoc herdsmen had caused in the South-West.

He said: “Open grazing has reduced food supply drastically. Cattle often eat up crops of farmers who borrow money to farm. The acts of these herders have created food scarcity in the South-West. It is shameful that cattle move along the expressway and destroy markets.

“I am totally in support of the proposed 21 years jail term for defaulters.”

In his contribution, Gbolahan Yishawu, Eti-Osa II, noted that seeing cattle on the streets is worrisome.

Also, Mr. Setonji David suggested collaboration between men of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the police in the implementation of the law when passed and assented to.

On his part, Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2), described the open grazing system as an aberration in the 21st century, adding that the bill would help promote peaceful coexistence between herders and crop farmers.

In his contribution, Lukmon Olumoh (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 2), suggested that the High Court should be in a position to try defaulters of the bill when passed into law rather than Magistrate Court as proposed.

Activist faults FG on grazing reserves

Meanwhile, a human rights activist, Mr. Femi Aborisade, yesterday, said that the Federal Government has declared war against Nigerians through its move to recover or create grazing reserves across Nigeria.

Aborisade, in a chat with Vanguard, said such a move by the Federal Government would amount to a declaration of war against Nigerians and fan embers of mutual ethnic hatred, conflict and avoidable bloodshed.

He said: “All 36 state Governors, nationally and regionally, have resolved that open grazing is unsustainable. It causes avoidable bloody clashes between herders and farmers. Rather, ranching should be embraced.

“I do not see how the Federal Government can achieve its project of creating or recovering grazing preserves across Nigeria.

“Firstly, the Grazing Reserves Act of 1964 was limited to the Northern Region; it did not apply to the other regions.

Secondly, section 1 of the Land Use Act vests land ownership in the territory of the state in the Governor for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“Therefore, administration of land in the territory of a state is in the control of the state government, not the Federal Government.”

Culled from the Vanguard News Nigeria

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Nigerian officials probe plan to marry off scores of female orphans

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May 15, 2024

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ABUJA, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs says it is investigating a plan by a lawmaker in central Niger state to marry off some 100 female orphans of unknown ages later this month.

Speaker of the Niger State Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji announced the mass wedding last week but called off the ceremony following widespread outrage.

Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, condemned the plans.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said she had petitioned the police and filed a lawsuit to stop the marriages pending an investigation to ascertain the age of the orphans and whether they consented to the marriages.

“This is totally unacceptable by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and by the government” of Nigeria, she said.

Last week, Sarkin-Daji announced his support for the mass wedding of the orphans, whose relatives were killed during attacks by armed bandits. He said it was part of his support to his constituents following an appeal for wedding funding by local traditional and religious leaders.

The mass wedding had been scheduled for May 24.

“That support I intend to give for the marriage of those orphans, I’m withdrawing it,” he said. “The parents can have the support [money], if they wish, let them go ahead and marry them off. As it is right now, I’m not threatened by the action of the minister.”

Despite national laws prohibiting it, forced or arranged marriage is a common phenomenon in Nigeria, especially among rural communities in the predominantly Muslim north, where religious and cultural norms such as polygamy favor the practice.

Poor families often use forced marriage to ease financial pressure, and the European Union Agency for Asylum says girls who refuse could face repercussions such as neglect, ostracism, physical assault and rape.

Raquel Kasham Daniel escaped being married off as a teenager when her father died and now runs a nonprofit helping children, especially less-privileged girls, get a formal education for free.

She said the ability of women to avoid forced marriage in Nigeria depends on their income and education.

“I was 16 when I lost my dad and I was almost married off, but then I ran away from home. And that gave me the opportunity to complete my education, and now I have a better life,” Daniel said.

“So, the reason why I prioritize education is to make sure that other girls have access to quality schooling so that it will help them make informed decisions about their lives. Education not only increases our awareness as girls about our rights but also enhances our prospects for higher income earning,” she said.

Thirty percent of girls in Nigeria are married before they turn 18, according to Girls Not Brides, a global network of more than 1,400 civil society groups working to end child marriage.

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Shell investigates smoke near Gbaran oil facility in Nigeria

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May 15, 2024

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YENAGOA, Nigeria, May 14 (Reuters) – Oil major Shell is investigating reports of smoke early Tuesday near its Gbaran Ubie oil and gas facility in Nigeria’s coastal Bayelsa state, a spokesperson said after residents reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke near the area.
The incident would not immediately lead to an operational shut-in, the Shell spokesperson said.
A fire was reported around 0600 GMT by residents in the nearby community, who said blasts were heard where pipeline repair works had been ongoing.
The Gbaran facility, which began operations in 2010, is by far the most important Nigeria LNG gas feedstock project, processing almost 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
“We are actively monitoring reports of smoke detected near our Gbaran Central Processing Facility in Bayelsa State. While the source appears to be external to our facility, we are in close communication with regulatory authorities to look into the incident and ensure the safety of the surrounding communities,” a Shell spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
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Shell did not immediately respond to the accounts of residents in the area.
Resident Ovie Ogbuku told Reuters: “At about 7 a.m. I heard the sound so deafeningly and it shook the foundation of the earth and we ran for our dear lives. The result is the thick smoke you are seeing now.”
Another resident Uche Ede said; “We have no idea of the cause of the explosion but we are grateful no life was lost because it was far away from homes.”
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Land operations in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta are prone to sabotage, theft, and pipeline vandalism, forcing oil majors to exit such fields to focus on deepwater drilling.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Nigeria tour: A Round Up

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May 15, 2024

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Meghan and Harry spent three days in the African country, Nigeria in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time in Nigeria as part of a three-day tour, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Invictus Games.

The couple were personally invited on the trip by Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, General Christopher Musa; they are not there in any official capacity on behalf of the royal family or the UK. The tour schedule, which started in the bustling capital of Abuja, has been jam-packed, including a visit to primary and secondary school Lightway Academy, where they met with students, and experiencing the work of Nigeria Unconquered, a charitable foundation dedicated to aiding wounded, injured, or sick servicemembers.

Naturally, the trip also provided the opportunity for Meghan to showcase a multi-day “tourdrobe”, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the couple stepped down as senior working royals in early 2020 – and she hasn’t disappointed, in a series of summery maxi dresses, elegant tailoring and striking separates.

See highlights from their trip so far, below.

On day three, the couple arrived at Lagos airport, where they were given an official state welcome.

The couple posed for a photo with children and Nigerian dignitaries.

 

The couple were greeted by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

 

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They then attended a basketball exhibition training match at Ilupeju Grammar School in Lagos. After the match, they posed for a photo with the Toronto Raptors basketball team president, Masai Ujiri, and the principal of Ilupeju Grammar School, Josephine Egunyomi.

 

The couple attended a reception hosted by the charity organisation Nigeria Unconquered, held at the Officers’ Mess in Abuja.

 

A visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

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