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Expert Raises Alarm: Millions Of Nigerians Still Lack Access To Safe Drinking Water.
Access to clean and safe drinking water remains a pressing challenge for many Nigerians, despite the apparent availability of water in several communities. Founder of DEE Grace H2O, Dn. Olusegun Oluseyi Odewole, made this known in a recent interview, stressing that a large number of citizens still lack access to truly safe water for daily use.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Odewole explained that while residents in urban areas have access to bottled or sachet water, people in rural communities continue to rely on wells, boreholes, and streams that may be contaminated. He added that even in cities, scarcity often forces people to buy water from vendors whose sources and purification methods are uncertain.
“In the Nigeria of today, access to clean water remains a serious challenge,” he said. “Even though water is available, safe water is not accessible to everyone. Many in cities still purchase water at high prices without any assurance of purity.”
Odewole emphasized the critical role of government agencies such as NAFDAC and SON in enforcing standards within the water sector but pointed out that weak monitoring and lack of consistent oversight have allowed some producers to evade proper regulation. He noted that stronger funding, transparent systems, and reduced bureaucracy could significantly improve the agencies’ performance.
Speaking on the proliferation of fake or poorly treated water products, Odewole said this growing trend has damaged consumer confidence and endangered public health. He observed that people now rely only on trusted brands or recommendations from friends, which limits fair competition for honest producers trying to uphold safety standards.
The DEE Grace H2O founder, who is also a retired medical practitioner, emphasized the importance of integrity in business, stating that long-term trust and public safety must always outweigh short-term profit. “It’s not easy,” he said, “but we constantly remind ourselves that we’re dealing with people’s lives, not just a commodity.”
Odewole further noted that rising fuel and electricity costs have worsened production and distribution challenges, directly impacting the price and availability of safe drinking water. He added that poor road networks also make transportation more expensive, ultimately driving up costs for consumers.
Calling for policy reform, Odewole urged the government to collaborate more closely with private water producers, promote renewable energy for production, and provide incentives such as tax relief for companies maintaining high standards. He also advocated for greater public awareness, stressing that clean water should be treated as a basic human right rather than a privilege.
“We need stronger collaboration and more public education,” he said. “People must understand that access to clean water is foundational to life and health. Once the government prioritizes it the same way as education and healthcare, citizens will demand accountability and take part in maintaining safe water systems.”
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has approved an upward review of peculiar allowances, welfare benefits, and exit packages for civil servants across Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was disclosed on Friday in Abuja by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, during a press briefing.
She explained that the adjustment applies to workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) as well as the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
According to her, the revised allowances have been designed to cut across all grade levels, ensuring improved earnings for both senior and junior officers.
Further details are expected to be released later.
Taiwo Oyedele has officially taken over as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy following a formal handover from his predecessor, Wale Edun.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The transition, which reportedly took place on Thursday evening, was confirmed in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Efe Ovuakporie.
According to the statement, the handover was concluded within the timeframe set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his inaugural address, Oyedele pledged to consolidate ongoing reforms while delivering measurable economic outcomes.
He said his administration would prioritise fiscal discipline, transparency, and improved performance across key sectors of the economy.
He also expressed his readiness to work closely with staff of the ministry to strengthen efficiency and service delivery.
Oyedele commended his predecessor, Wale Edun, for his role in advancing Nigeria’s economic reform agenda, and thanked President Tinubu for entrusting him with the responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary, Raymond Omachi, alongside the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Mohammed Danjuma, welcomed the new minister and assured him of the full support and cooperation of the ministry’s workforce.
During Edun’s tenure, the ministry implemented several fiscal reforms aimed at improving revenue generation and economic coordination. However, the period also faced challenges, including budget implementation constraints that affected ministries, departments, and agencies.
There were also concerns over outstanding payments owed to pensioners and contractors during the same period.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of an Abuja-based lawyer, Victor Giwa, and a police officer, Edith Erhunmuuse, after they failed to appear in court.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The two defendants were scheduled to be arraigned alongside another accused person, Cecil Osakwe, on a nine-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/222/2023, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
They are accused of criminal conspiracy involving the alleged forceful eviction of occupants and damage to property valued at about N300 million.
When the matter was called on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, told the court that although the charge was filed in January 2023, arraignment had repeatedly stalled due to what she described as a consistent pattern of absence by the defendants.
She argued that neither the first nor second defendant had consistently appeared in court or informed the prosecution of their absence, insisting that a bench warrant was necessary to compel attendance.
However, counsel to Victor Giwa, Ogbu Aboje, opposed the application, informing the court that his client was absent due to illness and had submitted medical documentation to support his condition. He also urged the court to hear a pending application before proceeding further.
He asked the court to excuse Giwa’s absence, citing health challenges as the reason for his non-attendance.
In response, the prosecution maintained that arraignment is the proper starting point of any criminal trial, adding that any proceedings before it would be invalid.
The prosecution therefore urged the court to issue a bench warrant to ensure the defendants appear for arraignment.
The third defendant, Cecil Osakwe, was present in court with his lawyer, Farouk Akanbi.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Samira Bature granted the prosecution’s request and ordered the arrest of Victor Giwa, stating that the explanations and medical documents presented amounted to deliberate delay tactics.
The judge noted that the case had suffered repeated delays since it was first filed in 2023 and commenced before her court in July 2024, lamenting that arraignment had still not taken place nearly two years later.
Justice Bature stressed that courts are not venues for delay tactics, adding that the defendants had shown disregard for the judicial process by failing to appear for arraignment.
She further ruled that all pending applications could only be considered after proper arraignment, stating that the court’s jurisdiction in criminal matters becomes fully activated only after that stage.
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