The House of Representatives on Wednesday postponed discussions bordering on pro-Biafra protests in some parts of the South-east and South-south, and the clamour for the creation of Biafra. Hon. Sunday Karimi (Kogi APC) had presented the motion under matter of urgent public importance.
The lawmakers in a voice vote, had however refused to discuss it as a matter of urgent public importance. The Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, however urged Karimi to re-introduced it this Thursday, but the lawmaker noted that he would be travelling for the governorship elections in Kogi, holding on Saturday. Dogara therefore advised that the matter be presented for debate next week.
The lawmakers also voted ‘nay’ to discuss a motion on the pending deportation of some Nigerians studying in Israel, presented by Hon. Golu Timothy (Plateau PDP) under matters of urgent public importance.
Meanwhile, the House, again, harped on the dangers posed to other road users by heavy duty trailers who convey containers without adhering to safety regulations demanded in transport of containers. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Abia PDP) in a motion, noted that the matter has been at the centers of public discourse in recent times and cited several instances where unlatched containers have fallen off the trailers, killing or maiming other road users. The lawmaker, who is also Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, expressed concern that despite efforts by relevant agencies involved in road safety matters, some trailer drivers do not follow existing rules, thereby jeopardizing lives. “An ongoing operation code named “Operation Scorpion” which aims at arresting trailers with unlatched containers, however has not yielded the desired benefits for commuters,” she said. “In other jurisdictions, there are proactive road safety management schemes in place such that trucks are barred from plying the roads during the daytime, especially during rush hours, and no truck is allowed into the inner city ways, especially where there are alternative routes, however in Nigeria, there is no such scheme in place,” she added. The House, in a resolution, urged the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to be more proactive in managing the situation.
Also, the House mandated its Committees on Information Technology, and Science and Technology to investigate the status of Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1). The contract for the project was awarded in 2004 to China Great Wall Industry Corporation for the sum of N34 billion, and launched into orbit with fun fair in May 2007. It however de-orbited in November the following year due to technical issues. Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Enugu PDP) in a motion titled: ‘Need to investigate the status of Nigeria’s Communication Satellite,’ noted that the satellite which was re-launched in December 2011 with a lifespan of 15 years, is however lying idle in space, with its 28 active transponders not out to optimum use. Okechukwu attributed this to an alleged inter-agency rivalry between National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and National Space Research and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT). The effect of NIGCOMSAT-1 idleness is high cost of Internet data, the inability of Nigeria to the meet the June 17, 2005 International Telecommunications Union Digital Switch over deadline, and absence of real time tele-medicine, he added. The lawmaker cited several potentials of the satellite to include enhancing security reporting as the nation battles terrorism. “If put to use, each transponder is capable of carrying about six to eight digital television programmers, hence they can broadcast simultaneously on one transponder and could support over 168 television stations simultaneously and each television programme can broadcast in three of four different languages concurrently,” he said.
The House also called on the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to commence and industry wide audit of the quality of service delivery being provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria. It also urged the agency to set up a framework through which consumers would be compensated for poor services provided by the ISPs. This followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Oluwole Oke (Osun PDP) who alleged that since the introduction of commercial scale Internet services in the country, consumers have been subjected to exploitation in different forms including poor quality, non-existent roll over options and exorbitant subscription rates.
The House also called on Nigeria Copyright Commission to intensify efforts to stop piracy in the entertainment industry by identifying those pirating films, music and other entertainment products, and causing significant revenue loss to copyright owners.
Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
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