US Energy Firm Lands In Nigeria, To Revolutionize Industry, Agric

August 5, 2022

An energy firm, SUN Africa LLC, from the United States of America, has arrived in Nigeria to partner with the federal government towards revolutionizing both industrial and agricultural sectors of the economy.

Speaking when he and his team visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Founder of Sun Africa LLC, USA, Goran Rajsic, said that the company, which is into renewable and infrastructure developments, will deliver solar power in multiple locations across the country, just as it has done in Angola, with financing done through the US EXIM Bank.

According to him, the company is currently working with other leading energy companies, with the capacity to do what Nigeria requires in the area of power.

“We will create something that will be of immediate need for Nigeria, and last for years to come.”

He described what Sun Africa LLC, USA has in mind as “a partnership for energy and infrastructure, which will revolutionize both the industrial and agricultural sectors.”

This was even as President Buhari acknowledged the fact that the rapid integration of solar power into the country’s energy mix will lead to an increase in electricity access to underserved and unserved communities.

The President said that his government has embarked on several reforms aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s energy sector aimed at improving energy access to communities across the country.

He commended the interest of the US developer to invest in Nigeria’s power sector, pledging that the Federal Government would remain committed to collaborating with the private sector in improving energy access, creating jobs and industrial development.

Highlighting some of the reforms embarked upon by this administration to address Nigeria’s energy needs, the President listed the recent signing of the Nigeria Climate Change Bill in November 2021, the implementation of the Power Sector Recovery Programme with the World Bank and the Nigeria Electrification Program aimed at enhancing energy access to remote communities.

He said that the Presidential Power Initiative with Siemens was aimed at achieving end to end alignment across the electricity Value Chain.

“Initiatives like these will go a long way in developing local capacity through technology transfer and relieving transmission constraints through the generation and distribution of electricity in the local Distribution Companies Franchise Area, making off-take easier.

“The Ministers of Finance and Power as well as other Agencies of Government will remain available at all times, to ensure the achievement of this significant project as part of our efforts towards achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050.

“I am pleased to note the technology transfer content embedded in this initiative as well as the employment generation potentials.

“I thank you all for coming and look forward to receiving regular updates as you achieve significant milestones in developing your projects in Nigeria.”

How We Used N461.9B Foreign Loan To Create Jobs For 3.6M Nigerians – Agric Minister

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Abubakar has painted a good picture of how the government of President Muhammadu Buhari utilized the sum of $1.113 billion (about N461.9 billion) foreign loan to create 3.6 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

The minister, who featured in the weekly Ministerial Media Briefing today, August 4, at the Presidential villa, Abuja, stressed that the ministry is pursuing aggressive agticultural programme with the externally funded projects.

According to him, $538 million was approved for special agricultural processing zones to support inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

Mohammed Abubakar said that another project worth $575 million is being implemented to improve rural access and agricultural marketing in participating states while strengthening the financing institutional base for effective development, maintenance and management of rural roads network.

He gave the participating states as Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau and Sokoto.

The Minister said that the government is also implementing the Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing (VCDP-AF) 2020- 2024 to enhance sustainability, incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava.

He said that the project is currently being implemented in nine states, including Niger, Benue, Ogun, Ebonyi, Taraba and Anambra, Nasarawa, Kogi and Enugu and aimed at scaling up the achievement recorded in the original VCDP states.

Responding to speculations of soaring food prices despite these spirited interventions of the government, Mohammed Abubakar said that such challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria, saying that it is a reflection of the global economic value chain system.

He said that Nigeria, being part of the international community, is exploring ways to manage the situation to suit its own peculiarities as a nation.

Exodus Of Medical Personnel To Foreign Countries Worries Minister

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora is worried over the Mass exodus of medical personnel particularly, Medical Doctors to foreign countries.

Dr. Mamora, who spoke today, August 4, when a delegation of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led by its President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah paid him working visit vowed to stem the tide of mass exodus.

A statement by the Ministry’s Director Press FMSTI, Atora Obed, quoted the minister as saying that the federal government will look into conditions of service of health workers their working tools and remuneration so as to encourage health workers in their profession.

He promised to defend the interest of doctors and health workers because of their importance to humanity, even as he enjoined the Association to maintain high level of integrity and conduct, in line with her oath of profession.

The minister said that Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation will always collaborate with the Association, in scientific matters and appreciated members of the Association for their visit.

Earlier, the President of the Association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, requested the minister to discuss some of the Association’s challenges such as condition of service, working tools and remuneration in Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) on its behalf.

FCT Administration Disburses N146,453,103.00 To 14 Communities

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has commenced the disbursement of N146,453,103.00 as Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES) funds to 14 beneficiary communities in the Territory.

The FCTA, through its Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), presented cheques to the first batch of beneficiary communities across the six Area councils.

The initiative is a World Bank programme, designed to cushion the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents of the FCT and other participating states.

Performing the official presentation of the cheques to the beneficiary communities, having a total of 33 projects, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, said the program is leveraging the existing World Bank operations anchored on community-based approaches and structures.

Muhammad Musa Bello, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, said that the FCT-CSDA formulated 14 Community Development Plans (CDP) for implementation of projects, comprising the rehabilitation of primary health care centers, drilling, rehabilitation and upgrading of boreholes and construction and rehabilitation of classrooms across the 6 Area Councils.

He said that following the advance of N1.1 billion NG-CARES funds by the World Bank to FCT, the Administration has commenced subsequent disbursement of this fund to its various delivery platforms, namely FCT FADAMA, Abuja Enterprise Agency AEA), FCT Cash Transfer programme and the FCT-CSDA.

According to him, the objective of the program is to protect livelihoods and food security for poor and vulnerable families negatively impacted by the pandemic and facilitate the recovery of local economic activities.

He reiterated the resolve of the FCT Administration to continue to partner with various development partners with a view to achieving the vision of improving the wellbeing of people in the Territory.

“It is therefore imperative that the direct beneficiaries not only utilize them effectively but also ensure their functionality by owning and protecting them.

”I therefore call on traditional and community leaders to the projects achieve the aims for which they were instill in the people this sense of ownership in ensuring that they conceived.”

Court Seals Off First Bank Headquarters In Abuja, Removes Valuable Items

Editorial staff

August 5, 2022

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sealed off headquarters of First Bank, located at the Central Business District in Abuja.

The action, according to sources, has been taken as a result of the failure of the bank to comply with what is called “garnishee order,” which is one of the options open to a judgment creditor to enforce a judgment that has been made in his favour. It is a common way of enforcing a judgment debt and is solely used to enforce monetary judgments against a debtor to recover money.

Officials of the FCT High Court Enforcement Unit, today, August 4, stormed the bank (Coomasie) with towing vans and cranes and towed some of its valuables.

Our reporters said that items that were removed, are stand-by generators, Hilux vans and air conditioners and other valuables.

An official of the court, who spoke to our reporter on grounds of anonymity said: “ it is a long story, but it is all about a garnishee order against the bank which it didn’t comply with.”

Some staff of the bank, who reacted to the development, described it as embarrassing, saying that it could have been handled differently.

Most of the bank’s customers were seen in groups hanging outside the bank’s premises.

Source: NAN.

Aliko Dangote Bags National Honour Of The Republic Of Niger

Editorial staff

August 3, 2022

The President of the Republic of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum has conferred that country’s Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger, a national Honour, on the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote.

According to the certificate of conferment that was presented today, August 3, to Dangote in Niamey, the nation’s capital, the award was in appreciation of his services rendered to the Republic of Niger and as well as a tribute to his business acumen and philanthropy.

The national award is also in recognition of the various health-related interventions by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, including financial support to the tune of $500,000 to help fight a previous Meningitis outbreak and another cholera outbreak; NGN250 million for the provision of food for refugees and displaced persons; and $1,000,000 (one million dollars) support for enhanced routine immunisation in the three identified regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.

The national award came amidst the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Aliko Dangote Foundation, alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and GAVI the Vaccine Alliance with the government of the Republic of Niger on a collaboration for improving the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in Diffa, Maradi and Zinder regions, which are along the country’s southern border with Nigeria.

Aliko Dangote Foundation and BMGF had played key roles in a historic certification by the World Health Organisation of a polio-free Nigeria and Africa in August 2020. The same successful template which was applied to ensure eradication of polio in northern Nigeria in partnership with six states namely Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe, is also being applied by ADF to enhance routine immunisation and adequate vaccination around Nigeria’s borders with the Republics of Niger and Chad.

The three regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder share a common border with Northern Nigeria and together make up almost 28% of Niger’s land area and about 40% of the country’s population.

Speaking on the MoU partnership, the Managing Director of Aliko Dangote Foundation stated that “ADF is committing $1 million over 3 years; BMGF are providing $2 million, while GAVI is bringing in $10 million worth of vaccines under this MoU. ADF and BMGF are bringing in the money required to stimulate demand for the vaccines that GAVI is bringing in to ensure maximum uptake and coverage.”

The Foundations are committed to providing technical and financial support to the Government of Niger to strengthen its vaccine programmes gradually and sustainably improve its coverage in the Diffa, Maradi and Zinder regions in order to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.

Gavi, according to the MoU, will continue its support for immunisation in the selected priority districts in the three regions, in accordance with the agreement already signed with the Government of Niger, the strategic objectives of the Health System Strengthening Project (HSS3) grant and the approved financing.

In order to protect the target populations against poliomyelitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases, the government of Niger is committed to strengthening the routine vaccine programme and to reduce morbidity and mortality in the regions of Diffa, Maradi and Zinder.

The objective of the MoU is to collaborate on strengthening vaccination in Niger to improve the delivery of routine vaccine services in the three regions in order to achieve full vaccination coverage of 90% of the target population by December 2024; to ensure that at least 90% of districts achieve 90% Penta 3 vaccination coverage; to vaccinate 90% of the zero doses identified; to stop poliovirus transmission and maintain polio-free status; and to ensure consistent national funding and procurement of vaccines in order to secure a sustained and steady supply of all routine vaccines throughout the country.

Atiku Promises 40 Perscent Youths, Women Inclusion In His Government

Editorial staff

August 3, 2022

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Ababakar, has promised youths and women 40 percent inclusion in his government if he is entrusted with the mandate to preside over the affairs of the country from next year.

He also assured them that he is committed to enthroning an enduring legacy to them..

Atiku Abubakar spoke today, August 3, when he received at his residence in Abuja, a delegation of the executive members of the PDP New Generation, led by its Director-General, Audu Mahmud

The PDP Presidential candidate referred to his policy document of 40 percent inclusion of women and youths in government positions if elected, even as he noted that with the 35 percent affirmative action on women as contained in the Beijing Conference document, he would make the needed adjustment to accommodate the youth and the women segments of the population.

Atiku Abubakar said that it was only in the PDP era that the 35 percent affirmative action plan on women was implemented in the country and that the APC administration never honoured that policy.

He decried the vulnerable situation of the youths today even as he promised to remedy it.

He said that education will be an integral pillar of his policy agenda to empower the youths and advance the practice of democracy in the country.

He regretted that the institutions and policy frameworks the PDP government put in place have been mismanaged by the APC administration.

Atiku recognized the place of youths in nation building, stressing that he will, in tandem with the needs of the times, run an inclusive government that is sensitive to our diversities in all ramifications.

The leader of the delegation, Audu Mahmud said that Atiku Abubakar is a veritable source of inspiration to the youths of the country, and expressed confidence in his ability to fix the broken socio-economic and political fabric of the country to the benefit of all Nigerians.

We’ll Not Ask Our Chairman To Step Down Because Of Gov Wike – PDP BoT

Editorial staff

August 3, 2022

PDP National Chairman, Ayu | Photo credit: Premium Times

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made it clear that it had no intention of asking the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to step down simply because Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State gave such action as a condition for the settlement of the crisis in the party.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting at the Wadata House national headquarters in Abuja, the Chairman of the Board, Walid Jibrin and Senator Abdul Ningi, said that the meeting was called to intervene in the crisis involving the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and the Governor Wike.

Leaders of BoT said: “we haven’t discussed anyone stepping down. What we discussed is to raise a committee. It is the Committee of the Whole. All BoT members are in the committee.”

When asked what grievances were discussed in the meeting, Ningi said, “I can’t tell you the grievances. We are going to meet Atiku to start the project.”

Gen. Irabor Wants Press Code For Journalists So They Don’t Become Tools Of Criminals

Editorial staff

August 3, 2022

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has proposed the implementation of a press code for Nigerian journalists covering conflicts and security matters.

He said that such code of practice would save the journalists from turning into what he called “the tool of criminals.”

General Irabor, who spoke in Abuja today, August 3 at the National Defence College (NDC) graduation lecture, stressed that there is a need for guidelines for reporting difficult stories, including stories of conflict and terrorism.

According to him, the German Press Code for example which says that in reporting actual and threatened acts of violence, the press should carefully weigh the public interest in information against the interest of victims and other people involved.

He said that the media should report on such incidents in an independent and authentic way, but not allow itself to be made the tool of criminals.

He advised the Nigerian media to emulate and domesticate the German Press Code as its guiding principle in reportage.

CDS Irabor identified the need to deepen strategic communication to pursue proactive security measures to reduce the impact of regional dynamics in the country.

He said that there is a need to encourage a Whole-of-Society Approach to security by deepening strategic communication to educate the populace on the fact that issues of security are a collective responsibility.

According to him, everybody in the society ought to be a relevant stakeholder.

“Timely information on suspicious movements of strangers in a community might be the main lead to provide the needed early warning for the relevant government agency to swing into action.”

Why Train On Warri-Itakpe Route Won’t Be Stopping In Ajaoukuta Again – NRC

Editorial staff

August 3, 2022

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said that it has not suspended train services on Warri-Itakpe route, but that trains will now not be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.

Managing Director of Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, in a statement today, August 3, however confirmed the suspension of the train services on Lagos-Kano route.

“We have not stopped (services), rather what we said was that we are not going to be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.

“This is because yesterday (Monday), while passengers were leaving the station with their private cars and buses, they had people shooting at them. So we said we will not stop there again for passengers.

“The train is still running, but for now we will not be stopping at Ajaokuta because they have some concerns there. We heard that they removed their traditional ruler in that location and the local government chairman there.”

The NRC boss said that apart from the Abuja-Kaduna route, the corporation had also suspended services on the Lagos-Kano route because of security concerns.

“Apart from the Lagos to Kano (train services) that has been suspended because of the fact that the Kaduna route is affected by the activities of bandits; and it (Lagos-Kano route) was stopped because we have to pass through Minna and Kaduna when heading to Kano. So we have to stop it for now.”

Recall that the NRC, on March 29, 2022, suspended train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route after an attack by terrorists which left some eight passengers dead with some others seriously injured and scores abducted.

On Tuesday, the Federal Government hinted that it will fully resume operations for the Abuja-Kaduna train route when it has installed the appropriate surveillance technology for the trains as part of measures to prevent further attacks.

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