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NNPCL, Nasarawa Government To sign MoU On Oil Drilling

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) will on Saturday, 18th February, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nasarawa State Government, signalling the commencement of oil drilling in Keana.

This is just as preliminary findings revealed another oil discovery in Obi Local Government Area, specifically in Agwatashi and Assakio.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, disclosed this while speaking during an interactive session with APC Stakeholders in Othe bi local government area of the state.

Pave way

According to the Governor, all is now set for the signing of the MoU with the NNPCL, which will pave way for the drilling of the first oil well in Keana.

Engineer Sule said his administration would not relent until Nasarawa State begins to enjoy the 13 percent derivation as an oil-producing state.

“In 2019, when I came out to campaign and mentioned oil, a lot of people assumed it was mere politics. That time, I promised that, by the grace of God, I will use the experience that I acquired from my stay in Houston, Texas, the global headquarters of the oil, to try.

“As at that time, oil was discovered only in Keana. A lot of people don’t even know the extent of the oil discovery. The issue of oil has now become a reality. Now NNPCL will drill the first oil well in March.

“Preliminary findings have shown that there is also oil in Obi. This Saturday, 18th February, NNPCL and Nasarawa State Government will sign MoU. It will now dawn on people that this administration doesn’t make empty promises but only seeks to bring development to the state.

He said they would not rest until they finally join the league of oil-producing states and enjoy the 13 percent derivation, which the expect to see appreciable progress by May.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

FIDA Trains Observers To Report Violence Against Women During Elections

Confidence Okwuchi
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The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Kaduna State branch has undertaken capacity building workshop for accredited observers to monitor document and report violence against women on election days.

The National President, FIDA, Mrs Amina Agbaje said the training was essential to prevent and respond to election violence perpetrated against women before, during, and after the 2023 elections.

According to her, women around the globe share a common feature of marginalisation and their participation in politics has continued to be minimal because most often, they are afraid of coming out to exercise their civic responsibility.

Mrs Agbaje explained that the capacity workshop was being implemented across four focal states in Nigeria which include, Kwara, Borno, Plateau and Kaduna States.

“Women constitute a powerful electorate with millions of votes in Nigeria but their level of political participation is increasingly very poor. Current statistics of women in the parliament in Nigeria confirm that their representation was 9% in 2007, 7% in 2011, 5% in 2015 and less than 10% in 9th National Assembly,” she noted.

Advancing Women Participation

She stressed the need for advancing women participation in the 2023 general election through effective mobilisation and a user friendly environment.

She says, “Eradication of political violence is key in advancing women participation as it is of paramount importance to condense political violence before and after elections so that women can fully participate in elections.”

The National President further stated that they were accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission to observe and report incidences for which outcome would lead to mass participation of women at the polls.

In a remark, the lead presenter, who is the Program officer, FIDA Nigeria, Mr Abu Ayuba explained that those trained were expected to give on the ground information to thier situation room on election days over issues relating to violence against women.

Over twenty lawyers from across the state participated in the capacity building workshop exercise.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Foundation Advises Beans Farmers On New Planting Window

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has advised farmers on newly identified suitable planting windows for cowpea for the different ecologies in the country.

Mr Alex Abutu, Communicaton Officer, AATF, made this known on Sunday in a statement made available to the media in Abuja.

AATF Regional Representative for West Africa, Dr Jean Baptist said this during a visit to Pandagric Farms in Nasarawa, that the windows would enable farmers cope with the vulnerabilities of climate change.

Climate vulnerabilities

He said the Cowpea Field in Panda was part of the dry season cowpea production being introduced by AATF to ensure the variety produces at its maximum in the absence of insect pressure and other climate vulnerabilities.

Baptist said the impact of climate change results in either too much or too little rainfall.

According to him, this makes it difficult for beans to produce at its maximum potential thereby leaving Nigerian farmers miserable during harvest.

“After a careful study of the situation, we have come to the understanding that because farmers are not guided on when to plant, the crop productivity is often interrupted by climate uncertainties.

“The rainfall pattern for the country is not uniformed and each year comes with its own surprises; so, it is important for farmers to be accurately guided,” he said.

He noted that in the last few years, farmers have been suffering from several uncertainty associated with the rainfall pattern which has greatly reduced cowpea productivity.

He said that when the rain is too much, cowpea farms were submerged as a result of flash flood.

“Also, when the rains end suddenly, drought sets in at a time that the crop needed enough water,” he said.

Weather pattern

He advised cowpea farmers to take advantages of identified planting windows which was carefully arrived at after studying the weather pattern in the last few years.

He said that farmers in the Sahel region comprising Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states should endeavor to plant from the 3rd and 4th week of June.

“While those in the Sudan Savannah region Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yoba and Borno states should plant from the 1st to 2nd week of July, ” Baptist advised.

He equally urged those in the Northern Guinea Savannah states such as Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Zamfara to commence planting from the 3rd week of July to 1st week of August.

Those in Southern Guinea Savannah in Niger, Kwara, Abuja, Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe have the 1st to 3rd week of August to plant.

He said: “After two years in the hands of farmers, some farmers have taken advantages of the prolific nature of the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea to undertake two planting season.”

According to statistics from the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the PBR Cowpea is the most sought after cowpea variety in the country currently.

The variety is most preferred by farmers due to its early maturing quality, use of less chemical spray, high yielding, and high folder production.

 

NAN/Lateefah Ibrahim

Google Launches Startups Accelerator For Women Founders In Africa

Confidence Okwuchi
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Google has announced that applications are now open for the inaugural Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program.

The program aims to empower and support women founders on the continent by providing resources and opportunities for them to scale their startups and address African problems.

Women founders, who are building tech startups in Africa or for Africa can apply through the program website at g.co/acceleratorafrica before the February 20th, 2023 deadline.

Eligible applicants must have a working product or service, a viable business model, and a working team.

The application process includes a written application and an interview with the program team.

The 12-week program will commence in March 2023 and include one bootcamp per month, held in a hybrid style of online and in-person sessions.

Selected participants will receive access to Google’s products, mentoring from industry experts, resources, tools, and technology, as well as networking opportunities and connections with investors to support the growth of their startups.

Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google. Folarin Aiyegbusi, said “We are excited about the open call for applications for our three-month accelerator program, specifically tailored to address the unique challenges faced by women founders in Africa. We believe that investing in women founders in Africa is critical for economic empowerment that will enable the creation of jobs for the growing African youth population.”

African female founders face challenges in their entrepreneurial pursuits, including limited access to funding. Despite these challenges, women make up a significant portion of African entrepreneurs, with 58 per cent of businesses in Africa being owned by women.

“Elevating the participation and leadership of women in the entrepreneurship ecosystem is crucial for promoting gender equality and driving economic growth in Africa.

Investing in women-led startups is a key step towards achieving this goal, and Google’s commitment to these goals is reflected in the launch of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Program,” Aiyegbusi added.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

President Buhari Congratulates Dr Pate On Gavi Appointment

Confidence Okwuchi
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President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate saying he looks forward to working closely with him to strengthen the nation’s health system and on other global health issues.

President Buhari described Dr Pate’s rise across racial and other barriers to become the first black/African to lead Gavi as a very important historical moment not only for him personally but Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

The president says, “Our hope is that Dr Pate will bring his knowledge, expertise and very rich experience in the administration of vaccines and immunization in Nigeria and many parts of Africa to increase access to vaccines to further reduce the disturbing levels of child mortality on the continent and all over the world as his job requires.

“Congratulations, Nigeria is proud of your achievements,” said the President.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Former Zimbabwean Information Minister Dies

Christopher Ojilere
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The Zimbabwean government has announced the death of Former Minister of Information Dr. Chris Mushowe

“We have lost former Minister of Information Dr. Chris Mushowe. May His Soul Rest In Peace,” the permanent secretary for Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Nick Mangwana said.

Mr. Mushowe who died on Monday was 69 years old, no further information was provided about his death.

Mushohwe was the Minister of Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment before being reassigned to the Ministry of information in 2015.

He previously held the positions of a resident minister and governor of Manicaland.

Mushohwe was also a former Minister of State in the President’s Office Responsible for National Scholarships.

 

allAfrica/Christopher Ojilere

New Russian offensive underway in Ukraine

Shakirat Sadiq
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The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was facing ‘heavy artillery’ fire as the NATO chief backed reports from local officials that a major new Russian offensive had begun, days before the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.

Ukrainian defenders, who have already held out for months, were “defending new ground attacks under heavy shelling,” Ukrainian military officials said.

Over the past day, Ukrainian forces ”repelled Russian attacks” in one settlement of the Kharkiv region, around five settlements in Luhansk region and six settlements in Donetsk region, including in the Bakhmut area, the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said on Tuesday.

“Positions in Bakhmut have been fortified and only people with a military role were being allowed in, while any civilians who still wanted to leave the city would have to brave the incoming fire,” a deputy battalion commander said on Monday.

“There is not a single square metre in Bakhmut that is safe or that is not in range of enemy fire or drones,” Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the Donetsk region, told the Ukrainian national broadcaster late on Monday.

 

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq

South Africa Declares National Disaster On Floods

Christopher Ojilere
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The South African government has declared a national disaster.

This comes after heavy rains left seven of its nine provinces flooded, destroying roads and bridges and leaving farmers suffering losses.

Meanwhile, the national weather service predicts that the heavy rains will persist, a statement from the presidency said.

The government has “declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive, co-ordinated response to the impact of floods,” the statement said but gave no indication of casualties.

Report says the heavy rains were brought by the La Niña global weather phenomenon, which occurs in the Pacific Ocean.

“These conditions demand the provision of temporary shelters, food, and blankets to homeless families and individuals and the large-scale, costly rehabilitation of infrastructure,” the statement added.

 

BBC/Christopher Ojilere

Russian Warship Docks In South Africa Ahead Of Joint Drills

Christopher Ojilere
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A Russian military frigate has docked in Cape Town ahead of joint naval drills with South Africa and China.

Russia’s consulate in Cape Town tweeted a photo of the battleship, Admiral Gorshkov, in the harbour.

Report says the drills will run from February 17-27 in the port city of Durban, and Richards Bay.

There has been some criticism that the exercise is not appropriate, given that it coincides with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, the defence ministry has defended the planned drills, saying that South Africa has in the past hosted similar exercises with France, the US, and countries from the Western NATO military alliance.

 

BBC/Christopher Ojilere

Niger State Govt to Prosecute People Rejecting Old Naira

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja
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Niger State Governor, North Central Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has directed Security Agencies to arrest residents rejecting old Naira notes across the State.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane mentioned that old Naira notes of N1000, N500 and N200 are still valid and anyone who refuses to accept the old currency should be dealt with according to the dictates of the law.
“It has come to the notice of Government that some people and traders were rejecting the old Naira notes from the citizens, a development that is not healthy thereby inflicting untold hardship on the people of the State,” added Matane.
He warned that the old Naira notes are still valid and anybody found rejecting them shall be arrested and prosecuted.
“I’m calling on the people to go about with their legitimate business and report any person who refused to accept the old Naira notes to Security Agencies for necessary action”.
It would be recalled that the State Government has earlier filed a suit against the Federal Government on the Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
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