By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

AS the world marks the 2024 World AIDS Day, Civil Society for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN) has called on the Nigerian government and all stakeholders to scale up HIV testing and treatment services particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

In a statement issued on Monday in Lokoja, as part of activities to commemorate the day, CISHAN said the call is aimed at entrenching efforts toward achieving a resilient and sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.

The statement signed by Dr Remi Obinatu, Chairman of the Governing Council of CISHAN restated its commitment to working with all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria achieves the 95-95-95 targets by 2030.

CISHAN also called on the Nigerian government, Civil Society Organizations, and all stakeholders to address the social and economic determinants of health including poverty, stigma, and discrimination, which exacerbate the HIV epidemic.

“As we mark World AIDS Day 2024, the Civil Society for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria CISHAN joins the global community in reaffirming our commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

“This year’s theme, “Closing the Gap,” resonates deeply with our mission to promote a resilient and sustainable HIV response in Nigeria.

“Today, we honor the lives lost to AIDS and celebrate the progress made in the fight against this disease.

“However, we are equally mindful of the gaps that remain in our response, particularly in reaching marginalized communities and ensuring equitable access to HIV services”, the statement added.

CISHAN reiterated its commitment to promoting human rights and gender equality by recognizing that they are essential to ending the AIDS epidemic.

The body also advocated the promotion of Human Rights and Gender Equality by recognizing that these are essential to ending the AIDS epidemic.

“We urge everyone to join us in this effort, as we strive to create a world where people living with HIV can lead healthy and fulfilling lives, free from stigma and discrimination”, the statement added. (Ends)

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has undertaken a Management Post-Evaluation exercise of its projects across communities in 10 Local Government Areas in Kogi state commending communities for taking ownership of the projects.

Nura Tanko Wakili, the Team Lead while addressing newsmen at the end of the exercise commended the N-HYPPADEC catchment communities in Kogi state for taking ownership and utilizing the projects cited in their areas described their zeal as “heart-warming.”

Nura who is also the Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Commission, said that the wholesome acceptance of the Commission’s projects by the communities was not unexpected having from the onset involved the the benefitting communities.

“In N-HYPPADEC, we believe in Community-Driven Development Approach. In Whatever we are doing. We always use our slogan of Bottom-Top approach. We ensure that communities are carried along.

“That’s why we have what we call Needs Assessment. In 2021 when we came on board we conducted needs assessment to identify those areas that are the priorities of these communities for interventions.

“Just recently in this 2024,
we conducted another round of needs assessment and after collecting the data, we don’t go to our offices, sit down and plan on the available data.

“No, we engage the communities to ascertain whether the data captured by our enumerators is what represents the interest of these communities”, he explained.

Nura said that N-HYPPADEC embarked on the Management Post-Evaluation exercise as an intervention agency, to ensure that projects executed by the commission met the purpose for which they were cited in the communities.

“These are communities that are in one way or the other affected by the construction and operations of hydroelectric dams in Nigeria.

“We started operations in six states of Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Kwara and We are now in Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Taraba states”, he said.

Speaking in same vein, Mr Lee Ahenjir, Head, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Commission, said, “So far, we are extremely impressed with what we have been able to achieve in the short period of time the commission has been working.

“What we are trying to achieve in the PRS as data bankers for the Commission, through this exercise, is to gather data of the mileage the commission has been able to accomplish over these three and a half years.

“When communities take ownership of the projects,
we also support them by coming up with a maintenance budget so that the project will last and stand the test of time”, Ahenjir said.

Mr Umar Ibrahim, a community teacher at LGEA, Kumgbani in Lokoja Local Government expressed the people’s gratitude to N-HYPPADEC for the intervention in constructing a block of three classrooms saying enrollment had increased from 50 to 120 pupils.

At Community Girls’ Secondary School, Koton-Karfe, a staff of the school, Mr Zubairu Mohammed said that N-HYPPADEC’s intervention in providing classrooms and other equipment, had led to improved enrollment with its present 230 students population.

The N-HYPPADEC team assured the communities that the Needs Assessment for further interventions has been carried out with assurances of more life-changing projects. (Ends)

***Calls for Immediate Safety Reforms

The Senator representing Kogi East in the National Assembly, Jibrin Isah Echocho has sent a message of condolence to the families affected by the recent boat mishap on the River Niger.
The boat incident had claimed the lives of many market women traveling from the state to neighboring Niger State.

In a statement personally signed by the senator, Echocho conveyed profound sympathy, urging the bereaved to find solace in the face of the devastating tragedy.
He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the deceased and comfort for the grieving families.

The accident, confirmed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi corridor of the River Niger, a major commercial route.
While investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, the tragedy has intensified concerns about waterway transportation safety in the region.

Senator Echocho expressed alarm over the frequency of such incidents, stressing the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures.
“The waterway connecting Kogi and Niger states has become perilous. Authorities must act swiftly to implement stringent safety protocols to prevent further loss of lives,” he urged.

He called on the government to prioritize the safety of those who depend on water transport, advocating for better infrastructure, stricter regulations, and more effective enforcement of safety standards.

Echocho also assured the victims’ families that the Kogi State government, in collaboration with federal agencies, would provide necessary support to those affected.
He emphasized the importance of community and government cooperation in helping the victims heal and rebuild.

The senator’s message comes as Kogi State continues to mourn the loss of lives, with citizens and leaders offering solidarity and support to the affected families.

The Kogi State government has pledged to assist the victims’ families and to work closely with relevant federal bodies to enhance water transport safety, ensuring that such a tragedy does not occur again.

This incident has reignited national calls for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s waterway safety regulations, as communities demand action to prevent future disasters.