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Nigeria Joins 55 Nations To Celebrate 2023 Commonwealth Day
By Admin
Nigeria has joined 55 other nations to celebrate the 2023 Commonwealth Day.
Speaking during the celebration on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu said the prosperity, peace and security of Nigeria remain a collective responsibility and perseverance of all citizens.
The Minister noted that the year 2023 Commonwealth Day commemoration in Nigeria is a re-awakening call on the essence of unity, love, peace and prosperity as the foundation of development for the country in particular and the body of commonwealth nations in general.
“The existence of peace in any space of human aggregation or nation translates to progress, wealth and tranquility.
“We should always remember that the sustenance of peace and the determination to make life better for one and all through collaboration and harmonious co-existence remains the fundamental DNA of the Commonwealth group of Nations,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Zubair Dada, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to realising the ideals of the Commonwealth.
Dada added that over the years Nigeria had contributed to the success of the Commonwealth while looking forward to future programs of the Commonwealth Nations.
The Commonwealth celebration in Nigeria was characterized by Commonwealth theme song, poetry recitations, dance drama and cultural dance that translated the message of this year’s celebration in different forms.
The Commonwealth now accommodates about 32 small states, including Island countries and it has expanded its membership to non-British colonised countries.
This paved way for Gabon and Togo to join the Commonwealth in 2022 as her newest members.
The theme of 2023 Commonwealth Day is, “Forging A Sustainable And Peaceful Common Future.”
The event was well attended in Nigeria by High Commission of India in Abuja, High Commission of Rwanda as well as Heads of Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education.
FCTA Descends on illegal Market, Squatters Settlement at Old Federal Secretariat
By our reporter
Demolition Squad of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has stormed the popular makeshift market which also serves as settlement for squatters very close the Old Federal Secretariat, Garki, Abuja to carried out demolition exercise.
The exercise which was embarked upon on Monday was as a result of wave of insecurity threatening the peaceful existence of the Secretariat’s occupants including other people within the areas. it was gathered.
While justifiying the imperativeness of the removal exercise, the
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Development Authority ( FCDA) Engr. Shehu Ahmed, who is also the Chairman of the Ministerial Joint Task Force, said the operation was to ensure security around the old Secretariat, which still houses critical Federal Ministries and Agencies.
Ahmed decried the spate of criminalities that have taken over the large expanse of the land, behind the Secretariat, originally designed to be road and train transit corridors.
He disclosed that on the interim, the administration would create a temporary car park and a food court, as a measure to keep illegal occupants and criminals away from the place.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah said the operation was long overdue, notices having been dispatched to the affected victims.
Attah noted that security reports showed that the removed illegal structures constituted threats to the old Federal Secretariat where several Ministries are still being accommodated.
According to him, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has continued to condemn residents attitude of not obeying the laws made to guarantee peaceful coexistence in the city.
He revealed that following Ministerial directives, city sanitation will be sustained through aggressive exercises and enforcement of the laws.
While he warned that the exercise will continue throughout the week, he assured that the taskforce will continue to respect human rights in all its operations.
” we were here one week ago to warn them and asked them to park, some of them have parked, but those who are stubborn remained , thinking that we are not serious.
” The Minister has insisted that we can’t have wanton illegalities, gruesome contraventions and a rape of Abuja’s Masterplan in the heart of the city. This exercise will continue for the rest of the week.