• As Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, tells excited Abians: “For the strategically important road, only the best engineering construction contractor is good enough for the works, and that is Julius Berger.”

Residents of Aba, Abia State were in upbeat mood Thursday as they jubilated with His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR as the Abia State Executive Governor flagged off the reconstruction of the 6.8km Aba-Port Harcourt Road at Aba the State’s commercial nerve-centre.

The Honourable Commissioner for works, Engr Otumchere Oti kickstarted proceedings at the ceremony in Aba when he said that “…the new Aba-Port Harcourt Road is a total of 6.8km, and it is made up of 5.7km from the beginning of Port Harcourt Road by Ngwa road to the end of the intersection with the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway by Alaoji, and another 1.1km from the intersection with Ngwa road to the junction of Azikiwe road by Asa road.”

His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti in his remarks at the event also said that the road which was first constructed by former Governor Sam Mbakwe has been in a state of disrepair and abandonment for over 20 years occasioning avoidable flood and other environmental problems and, consequently, shut down of businesses. He said, “I am glad that we are taking yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of my promises to break the jinx of Port Harcourt Road, Aba and revive the long abandoned economic activities along this corridor; activities that once gave Aba a set of peculiar commercial and trading advantages, starting from the early 1980s when our revered leader, Dee Sam Mbakwe, Governor of old Imo State constructed this road to feed into the booming oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt.” The Governor recalled with nostalgia that the road corridor in past decades emerged as one of the busiest parts of Aba and a go-to destination for people and businesses in Abia. He positively assured Aba residents and Abians in general that the years of abandonment of the important road are over.

On the Abia State Government’s choice of Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Plc as the contractors for the project, Governor Alex Chioma Otti described the decision as “another milestone to bring definite relief to the people.” He said, he had earlier led representatives of the company to inspect the road because, it was his view that it will take a long time to complete the process of bringing life to the corridor. “We were very careful not to repeat the errors of the past. It is better to construct the road and do it well…. I told our people we shall only go for the best because that is what you (Abians) deserve. We then accepted the engineering designs and bid of the foremost engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.” This remark was received by a resounding applause by the teeming and excited audience. “I believe that Julius Berger is the best and, under my watch, only the best is good for Abia State. So, forget the heartbreaks of the past on this project. Look into the future as Julius Berger is here to give you the best of their expertise and put happy smiles on your faces again,” the Governor added, even as he called for the cooperation of residents with the contractors. Governor Otti concluded by saying that on completion, there will be restoration for all the businesses and property value for residents of the area.

Also speaking during the event, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr Dr Lars Richter thanked Governor Otti for his administration’s confidence in Julius Berger, adding that, “…we are humbled and challenged by this award. I promise that we will employ our unique expertise to deliver the project to specifications. We assure you that you will get quality delivery.”

Counting on the goodwill of the people on the project corridor for peaceful project progress and success, Richter solicited the cooperation of residents of Aba during the reconstruction period and even beyond.

While the Governor led the State Executive Council members and other stakeholders to the landmark event, in the delegation of Julius Berger were Dr Lars Richter, Engr Friedrich Wieser, Engr Dominic Mueller and Chief Sam Ngbor amongst others.

‘Social media is not Nigeria’s problem, reject bill to regulate it’, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas “to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill which if passed would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy.”

SERAP urged them to “request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to drop any ongoing efforts to put pressure on Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies to unduly restrict these fundamental human rights.”

SERAP said the bill would “criminalize the legitimate and lawful exercise of human rights.”

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) last week reportedly stated that, “one of Nigeria’s major problems now is social media”, and described the social media as “a monster”.

In the letter dated 14 October 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “the social media is neither Nigeria’s problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms.”

SERAP said, “Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

According to SERAP, “The proposed bill raises serious concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, and would lead to digital siege.”

The letter, read in part, “Rather than rushing to pass the social media regulation bill, the National Assembly should encourage the Federal Government to maximize opportunities around social media access, and address the growing social and economic inequalities in the country.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken upon the receipt and/or publication of this letter. SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against the National Assembly and the Federal Government if the social media regulation bill is ever passed into law.”

“We urge you to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to publish the details of any ongoing discussion and engagement with Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies.”

“The reintroduction of the social media regulation bill would lead to deterioration of the human rights situation in the country and carry major economic costs for all sectors, as well as exacerbate social and economic inequalities.”

“It would effectively deepen digital divides in the country and seriously undermine the Tinubu administration’s expressed commitment to develop this sector.”

“Under international law, all restrictions on the operation of social media companies and other intermediaries must comply with the requirements of legality, legitimacy and necessity.”

“The regulation of social media may be incompatible with the services of major social media and private messaging intermediaries, negatively impacting the free flow of information and ideas, and affecting economic and social activities.”

“The National Assembly should put pressure on the Federal Government to comply with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 and the country’s international human rights obligations regarding the rights to freedom of expression, privacy and participation.”

“Access to social media is widely recognized as an indispensable enabler of a broad range of human rights. It is central to freedom of expression and the realization of many other human rights including education, freedom of association and assembly, access to information, and participation.”

“The Federal Government has the legal obligations to promote and facilitate the enjoyment of human rights, and to take all steps necessary to ensure that all individuals have meaningful access to social media. The authorities should refrain from unduly interfering with access to digital communications platforms.”

“Under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, any restriction on freedom of expression constitutes a serious curtailment of human rights.”

“The Nigerian Constitution and these human rights treaties protect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. States have the obligation to respect and ensure the right to freedom of expression, without distinction of any kind.”

“The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties protect a broad range of expression, including political discourse, commentary on one’s own and public affairs, canvassing, discussion of human rights, journalism, and artistic expression.”

“This includes information that may be regarded as offensive, false or untrue by some people but is considered legitimate political discourse by others. Restrictions on the right to freedom of expression are only permissible when they meet the requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination.”

“The onus to show that restrictions comply with those requirements is on the State seeking to restrict rights. Social media regulation bills generally do not meet those requirements.”

“The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has called upon States not to engage in or condone any restriction of access to the Internet or other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.”

“According to our information, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Balarabe Ilelah, recently stated that the social media regulation bill has been sent to the National Assembly. The bill is reportedly seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

“According to the NBC, ‘We have already submitted a bill to amend the NBC act. One of our major problems now is social media. Unless there is a law that allows NBC to act on social media issues, the issue will continue to be a monster in our daily lives in this country.’”

“Similarly, Mrs. Francisca Aiyetan, Director, Broadcast Monitoring of the NBC, recently reportedly said that without regulation, young people could be misguided. According to the NBC, the Federal Government is currently engaging with Google or YouTube, TikTok, ‘so we know the faces behind these [social media] platforms.’”

“If the 2023 social media regulation bill which has reportedly passed the first reading before the National Assembly is the same as the 2019 bill, it would impose disproportionate penalties on Nigerians solely for exercising their human rights.”

“According to our information, the newly reintroduced social media regulation bill seems to be the replica of the version of the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019, with provisions empowering the authorities to unilaterally order the shutdown of the internet.”

“A similar bill to regulate social media was considered by the National Assembly in 2015 but failed to pass into law after public outcry.”

Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
15/10/2023
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact: +2348160537202

Dum Dekor Urges Nigerians To Rekindle Sense Of Unity, Compassion
The member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor is worried over the diminishing levels of empathy and concern among Nigerians, attributing the decline to the erosion of societal values.
Speaking as guest on ’30 Minutes On NTA’, a current affairs programme aired on the Nigerian Television Authority on Saturday, Rt. Hon. Dekor emphasized that the traditional values of compassion, solidarity, and empathy which once held Nigerian society together are gradually fading away.
He expressed deep concern about the growing sense of indifference and apathy that seems to permeate various aspects of Nigerian life.
“We have witnessed a noticeable decline in our collective empathy towards one another. The fabric of our society is being strained, and our ability to stand together in times of need is waning,” he remarked.
The distinguished lawmaker who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities, urged Nigerians to reflect on the roots of this issue and work towards reigniting the spirit of unity and compassion.
He emphasized the importance of fostering a sense of community, understanding, and support for one another, regardless of individual differences.
“We must reflect on our core values as a society and strive to rekindle the empathy that once defined us. Let us remember the strength we derive from our unity and the compassion that binds us as one nation,” urged Rt. Hon. Robinson Dekor.
Rt. Hon. Robinson Dekor, a former Deputy Speaker in the Rivers State House of Assembly as well as former Commissioner for Works in the state, took viewers on a nostalgic journey back to his time at the Federal Government College in Sokoto State, where he emphasized the profound sense of unity that prevailed among students.
He recalled that in those days, there was no distinction between a man from Sokoto State and an Ogoni man from Rivers State. He added that their motto, “Pro Unitati,” symbolized unity, a concept that unified them into one family, underscoring the fact that nobody would inquire about one’s state, tribe, or religion; they were simply Nigerians.
During the programme, he condemned the alarming disregard for human lives in the country and cited the ongoing insecurity, particularly the captivity of the Dapchi and Chibok school girls by their kidnappers. His voice trembled with emotion as he expressed his fervent hope for a day when every Nigerian could live and do business freely anywhere in the country.
“Let our diversity be our strength, and let our flag unite us together,” proclaimed Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor. “We are so richly endowed, yet we live in abject poverty.”
Rt. Hon. Dun Dekor Media Team