News
Ecological Menace: Kalu Laments over 260 IDPs Spread Across 158 Camps in S/East, Seeks Support From INGOs
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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said that the Southeast region is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 268,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) spread across 158 camps and affected communities.
Kalu made the revelation while speaking at a Roundtable Discussion with International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in a aprograme titled “Through Their Eyes: A Call To Action, Addressing Humanitarian Challenges In The South East” in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the States of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi are the most affected, with many people lacking access to clean water, adequate shelter, healthcare, and education.
Organized by the Office of the Deputy Speaker in conjunction with Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), the purpose of the roundtable discussion is to essentially explore avenues for deeper partnerships, to engender resilience, and to deliver sustainable solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing ecological issues.
The Deputy Speaker said that the crisis in the South East region is characterized by displacement, violence, and ecological challenges, including natural disasters like gully erosion that have destroyed homes and left many without shelter.
Kalu who emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to provide immediate humanitarian relief and sustainable development solutions therefore called for support from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and government agencies to address the crisis.
He said: “A special welcome to you to this roundtable with INGOs, a convening that underscores the pivotal role of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s humanitarian, ecological, and systemic challenges.
“Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, characterized by displacement, violence, and ecological challenges.
“Report presented today underscores the grim realities: over 268,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are spread across 158 camps and affected communities. The states of Enugu, Imo,
Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi bear the brunt of this crisis, with precarious living conditions leaving many without access to clean water, adequate shelter, healthcare, and education.
“Shelter, in particular, remains a pressing concern. Families live in makeshift camps or overcrowded host communities, exposed to health risks, insecurity, and a loss of dignity.
“Natural disasters like gully erosion have destroyed homes, leaving little to return to. This crisis demands not only immediate intervention but also sustainable strategies to restore stability and hope.”
Recognizing INGOs’ contributions, Kalu said that their work has been instrumental in addressing the challenges.
He said that his office was committed to championing legislative inputs that can be of paramount importance to the issues.
“From food distribution to improving healthcare access, your interventions have touched the lives of millions. Additionally, your advocacy for marginalized groups, funding for local projects, and systemic support have provided critical relief and long-term opportunities.
“As a representative of the National Assembly, I am deeply committed to championing legislative and policy frameworks that address these issues comprehensively”.
Identifing key thematic areas to include education, healthcare and nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), mental health support, gender-based violence and shelter, Kalu said that they required urgent attention.
“The Southeast crisis is not just a regional issue—it is a national
challenge that requires a collective response. We, in government, pledge to facilitate an enabling environment for your work. This includes removing systemic barriers, enhancing security in affected regions, and providing a robust policy framework to guide interventions. Together, we can bridge the gap between immediate humanitarian relief and sustainable development. I urge us all to remain steadfast in our shared mission. Let us align our resources, strategies, and resolve to build a Nigeria where no one is left behind, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Your insights and recommendations from today’s discussions will guide the formulation of evidence-based interventions”, Kalu said.
In their separate remarks, the head of INGOs in Nigeria, Camilla Higgins; the Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed; the national coordinator of National Social Investment Programme Agency; Dr. Badamasi Lawal; the Director-General of National Refugees Commission and Migrants, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed; representatives of the Directors-General of National Directorate of Employment ( NDE) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who were obviously overwhelmed by the degree of ecological challenges and human crisis in the South East region arising from a video documentary pledged their respective commitments to collaborate with the Office of the Deputy Speaker to address the menace.
They however appealed for increase in their budgetary allocation in 2025 to enable them to function optimally in their constitutional mandates.
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…Commends Gov Abiodun Visionary leadership to Enhace State Education
The Ogun State Government has expressed its readiness to revamp the state-owned Print Corporation to further enhance the distribution of educational materials across public schools in the state.
This development came as Prince Segun Seriki assumed office as the new Chairman of the Corporation, emphasizing the need to reposition the organisation for improved efficiency and service delivery.
He stated while addressing journalists on Thursday at the Corporation, Seriki stated that his leadership would ensure the agency plays a vital role in supporting government ministries, departments, and agencies through the provision of quality printing and publishing services.
Seriki stressed that the core mandate of the Corporation is to deliver efficient, reliable, secure, and cost-effective printing solutions that meet high professional standards.
“Our mandate remains clear: to deliver efficient, reliable, secure, and cost-effective printing solutions that meet high professional standards,” he said.
“As part of our renewed mission, the Corporation is committed to modernization and technological upgrades under this administration. I can assure you that deliberate efforts will be made to upgrade our machinery and equipment and adopt digital printing technologies. This will improve turnaround time, enhance quality, and enable us to effectively produce printing and educational materials,” Seriki added.
He noted that the Corporation had been operating under moribund conditions with obsolete machines, stressing that revamping the facility was necessary to meet modern standards.
Seriki commended Governor Abiodun for his visionary leadership in enhancing educational systems of Ogun State.
“We will ensure that our staff benefit from capacity building and continuous professional development. In all we do, the interest of the people of Ogun State remains our priority. Our efforts will, to say the least, enhance and improve education in the state, as we will partner effectively with the government in its vision of uplifting education through the provision of educational materials,” he said.
Seriki further assured that the Corporation would operate with transparency and accountability.
“The Corporation will also reclaim its pride of place in revenue generation for the government and the people of the state. Beyond serving the education and agricultural sectors and reducing government production costs, the Corporation will also serve as a viable source of revenue for Ogun State, by the grace of God,” he stated
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Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday praised the economic reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing them as bold decisions that rescued Nigeria from economic collapse and set the nation on the path of sustainable growth.
Abiodun spoke at the Expanded Stakeholders Strategic Meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abeokuta, where party leaders across the state unanimously endorsed President Tinubu for another term in office.
Commending the president’s leadership, the governor said Tinubu demonstrated courage and clarity by confronting long-standing economic distortions, particularly the removal of fuel and foreign exchange subsidies.
“At a time when the economy had severely nosedived, our president rose with courage, conviction and clarity to take hard but necessary decisions aimed at repositioning Nigeria for sustainable development,” Abiodun said.
He recalled comments recently made by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who described Tinubu’s reforms as the greatest enabler of Nigeria’s economic recovery.
“Many of us thought fuel subsidy was the worst burden, but in reality, the foreign exchange subsidy — the multiple exchange rate system — was the bigger monster. On May 29, 2023, Mr President removed both, and that marked the beginning of genuine reforms,” he said.
According to Abiodun, the impact of the reforms is already evident, citing improved fuel availability, declining inflation, a stabilising naira, renewed investor confidence and foreign reserves now standing at about $45 billion.
He also highlighted major infrastructure projects initiated by the president, including the 700-kilometre coastal highway and the 1,000-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry superhighway, noting that Nigeria is once again attracting investors.
“Foreign flights are now full of investors coming into the country. In Ogun State today, you cannot move 100 metres without seeing a new factory,” he said, adding that the World Bank recently rated Nigeria as a benchmark for economic recovery.
Speaking on party unity, Abiodun expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the strategy meeting, describing it as a demonstration of the APC’s strength, cohesion and relevance.
“The strength of the APC has always been anchored on unity and fairness. A united APC is an unbeatable APC,” he said, urging leaders to continue closing ranks.
The governor also announced plans by his administration to build a befitting APC secretariat in the state within six months.
Reflecting on his administration’s achievements, Abiodun listed major strides in infrastructure, housing, healthcare, job creation, youth and women empowerment, noting that over 7,000 housing units and several primary healthcare centres have been delivered across the state.
“Only yesterday, NNPCL commenced commercial oil drilling in Ogun Waterside. Our GDP now stands at ₦17 trillion. These achievements are not accidental; they are products of careful planning and vision,” he said.
He added that Ogun State is now ranked among Nigeria’s top-performing states and is often compared only with Lagos in terms of economic growth and development.
Abiodun further pledged to ensure a smooth and transparent transition to a successor when his tenure ends, while again commending President Tinubu for his consistent support for Ogun State.
“There is nothing I have asked of Mr President for Ogun State that he has not approved,” he said, disclosing that plans are underway to establish the largest dairy and cattle ranch in Ipokia Local Government Area and Yewa South through federal support.
Describing the endorsement of Tinubu as both strategic and deserved, Abiodun said extending the president’s mandate would allow ongoing reforms to be consolidated and sustained through 2031.
The meeting was attended by serving and former senators, members of the House of Representatives, the Ogun State Executive Council, party leaders from the National Working Committee, council chairmen, ward executives, former commissioners, liaison officers and other APC stalwarts across the state.
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A technical team from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has visited the Eba oil well in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area as preparations advance for the commencement of commercial drilling operations in the state.
The inspection followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for commercial exploration and forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to deploy the required technical capacity and infrastructure for production. Officials of NNPCL carried out the exercise alongside representatives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and national security agencies to evaluate the site and confirm its readiness for drilling activities.
The delegation was led by Hussein Aliyu, Project Coordinator for Enserv, who headed the NNPCL Enserv technical team. Other members included Wasiu Adeniyi, Onwugba Kelechi, Engr. Rabiu M. Audu, Ojonoka Braimah, Ahmad Usman, Akinbosola Oluwaseyi, Salisu Nuhu, James Amezhinim, Yusuf Abdul-Azeez, Amararu Isukul and Livinus J. Kigbu.
Governor Dapo Abiodun described the development as a landmark achievement for Ogun State, saying the commencement of drilling at Eba would stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and attract increased federal presence to the state’s coastal communities.
Geological reports had earlier confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons within the Ogun Waterside axis, leading to preliminary surveys and technical engagements by NNPCL. The Ogun State Government also carried out an independent verification of the oil well’s coordinates, affirming that the discovery is located within the state’s boundaries.
To secure the project, naval security personnel have been deployed to the site for over 18 months, with the support of the Ogun State Government, to protect the facility and its environs.
The Eba oil well is regarded as part of Nigeria’s strategic move to expand oil production beyond the Niger Delta region. Stakeholders noted that the next phase would focus on regulatory compliance, community relations, environmental protection and the smooth take-off of commercial operations.
The state government also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support toward the development of frontier oil basins and the equitable spread of the nation’s energy resources.
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