The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has urged State Governments to prioritise water safety plans at all times, so as to reduce contamination from point of production to consumption.

Mrs Abosede Orimoloye, Assistant Director, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Collaborations, made the call at a Workshop for the Development of Cholera Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan in Asaba, Delta.

She said people who use alternative water sources apart from public water points should treat their water sources four times in a year, saying new innovation had been recorded in treating water in the country.

She said the importance of water safety plan was to minimise contamination of drinking water sources, prevent contamination during storage, distribution and handling.

She said Nigerians ought to be aware of the risks posed along the water chain and how to manage those risks, saying this would reduce the prevalence of water borne diseases.

“We must all do what we can to prevent contamination, don’t wait for it to happen, multiple barriers can be used so that if one barrier fails, the water stays safe.

“We must use management systems that are improved and worth it, this helps to improve public health especially in reducing water borne diseases.”

The assistant director however stressed the need for more research on water treatments, adding that this would modify systems that would suit different settings.

Orimoloye said safe water chain could be achieved from water source, transport and consumption, saying communities to benefit from Water safety plans must be open defecation-free, safe from insurgence and communal conflicts.

A staff of the ministry, Mr Charles Ebofin, said states must develop Cholera Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan, so as to forestall possible illnesses and deaths.

He said the plan would help in cholera forecasting and preparedness so as to know areas of interventions.

“The 2022 floods came with a lot of problems, many states delayed in giving accurate information that would help us in managing emergency interventions, so we want a change”.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s total merchandise trade stood at N11,722.44 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022.

This is according to the NBS Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics Report for Q4 2022 released in Abuja on Friday.

The NBS said total exports stood at N6,359.61 billion and total imports stood at N5,362.83 billion.

The report said on an annual basis, total trade was N52,387.30 billion, total imports amounted to N25,590.55 billion, and total exports were recorded at N26,796.75 billion.

It said total exports increased in Q4 2022 by 7.17 per cent and 10.28 per cent when compared to the amount recorded in Q3 2022 at N5,934.15 billion and Q4 2021 at N5,766.62 billion, respectively.

The report, however, said total imports declined by 15.46 per cent in Q4 2022 compared to the value recorded in Q3 2022 at N6,343.53 billion.

“Total imports also fell by 9.73 per cent when compared to the value recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021 at N5,940.58 billion,” it said.

The NBS said re-exports value in the quarter under review stood at N199.59 billion representing 3.14 per cent of total exports.

The report said the top five re-export destinations were Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroun, Ghana and Togo.

It said the most re-exported commodity was ‘‘Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms recorded at N142.02 billion.

“This was followed by ‘cruise ships and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods worth 500 tonnes valued at N14.78 billion.

“Followed by this was refrigerated vessels, other than those of subheading 8901.20, of a capacity of 500 tonnes amounting to N13.16 billion.”

The report said the top five export destinations in Q4 2022 were Spain, Netherlands, India, France, and Indonesia accounting for 9.70 per cent, 9.03 per cent, 7.71 per cent, 7.70 per cent, and 7.44 per cent, respectively, of total exports.

“Altogether, exports to the top five countries amounted to 41.59 per cent of the total value of exports,” NBS stated.

It said the commodity with the largest export values in the period under review was ‘‘Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude’ at N4,911.92 billion representing 77.24 per cent”.

“This was followed by ‘Natural gas, liquefied’ at N704.88 billion accounting for 11.08 per cent, and ,’Urea, whether or not in aqueous solution’ at N160.56 billion or 2.52 per cent of total exports.”

In terms of imports, the report said in Q4 2022, China, Belgium, India, The Netherlands and the USA were the top five countries of origin of imports to Nigeria.

It said the values of imports from the top five countries amounted to N2,993.67 billion representing a share of 55.82 per cent of the total value of imports.

“The commodities with the largest values of imported products were Motor Spirit Ordinary at N1,558.49 billion, Gas Oil at N220.47 billion, and Durum Wheat (not in seeds) at N187.96 billion.

The Road Transport Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has expressed optimism that the emergence of Sen. Bola Tinubu as President-elect of Nigeria would usher in progress and development in the country.

The Executive National President of RTEAN, Dr Musa Maitakobi, stated this in a congratulatory message to Tinubu, issued by the association’s Deputy National President in charge of Administration, Amb. Muhammed Bishara, on Sunday in Abuja.

Maitakobi said Tinubu would transform Nigeria like he had done in Lagos State between 1999 to 2007, where he demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides.

He urged candidates in the various parties in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.

He stressed the need for both the contestants and their supporters to keep their minds open and be ready to take whatever be the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly polls.

Similarly, Maitakobi enjoined members of the association and the Nigerian youths to remain law abiding and eschew conducts capable of leading to disturbance of public peace.

He also appealed to religious, traditional leaders and principals of schools and NGOs to join RTEAN in sensitizing the youths against embarking on any criminal act that might destroy their future.

Maitakobi, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth conduct of the elections, described the voting process as good and well arranged.

He added that the deployment of technology has made the elections different from previous ones.

Maitakobi also commended the effort of the Nigeria Police Force, alongside other security agencies deployed for election security management, for their commitment to ensuring a secured electioneering process in the country.

He also applauded the security agencies for exhibiting neutrality during the presidential and national assembly elections in the country.

According to him, reports from different parts of the country indicated that the Armed forces of Nigeria had kept to its promise and indeed not only that they were apolitical, but collaborated with other security agencies.

“The RTEAN National President, on behalf of the National Executive, Zonal Coordinators and State Coordinators of the organization, wishes to convey RTEAN’s heartfelt congratulations to Sen. Ahmed Tinubu, on his election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

“We are very optimistic that the emergence of Tinubu as President-elect of Nigeria would usher in progress and development in the country as he had done in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 where he demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides.

“We also congratulated Sen. Kashim Shettima on his declaration as Vice President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”