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Plateau LP governorship candidate promises all-inclusive government

Politics

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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February 10, 2023

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Plateau State, Dr Patrick Dakum says he will run an all-inclusive goverment if elected in the forthcoming general election.

Dakum said this at a media engagement organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel, Plateau Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Friday in Jos.

Dakum, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute of Human Virology (NIHV), said that he would also promote social justice and fairness at all levels.

The candidate insisted that carrying everybody along in the scheme of things would promote the Human Development Index (HDI) of the state.

“Social justice, inclusiveness and fairness will be at the centre of my goverment.

“We will carry everybody along; the youths, woman, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly.

“By doing so, we will improve the HDI of the state and ensure growth and development at all levels,” he said.

Dakum also promised to complete projects initiated by the current administration, but said that only projects that has direct bearings on the lives of the people would be priotised.

He also promised not to witch-hunt anyone, adding that doing so would only amount to waste of time and resources.

“Our goverment will not be just about cutting tapes to initiate new projects, but we will ensure that any project we will complete or initiate will be one that will have direct impacts on the people.

“I have set up a committee to look into the existing Greater Jos Master Plan, so, we will implement it when we come on board; we will use the Public Privtate Partnership to achieve that.

“We are not coming to probe anybody because that will amount to waste of time. Four years is too short and so we pay more attention toward developing Plateau,” he said.

NAN/N.O

YPP promises to create 34,000 jobs in Enugu State

Politics

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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February 10, 2023

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The governorship candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP), in Enugu State, Mr Ugochukwu Edeh has promised to build factories that will employ 34,000 people, if elected.

Edeh who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Friday in Enugu said that the factories would employ 2,000 workers from each of the 17 local government areas in the state.

According to him, one of his core mandates will be to give youths employment and make them self-dependent.

He said that his government would pay adequate attention for youths and women through huge investment in industries, agriculture, sports and others.

“Youths and women will be the focal point of my government because when you empower a youth you have empowered thousands.

“When you empower a woman you have empowered the nation because they are the bedrock of every nation and must be empowered.

“I believe in harnessing talents because we have lots of talents wasting because of negligence but other nation use discoveries to excel,” Edeh said.

Wealth Creation

He promised that his government would be prudent in use of the government funds so as to create wealth for the state and empower youths and women.

Edeh noted that he was a victim of wasted talent when he was a student of Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu.

He explained that he built a bicycle from scratch and other things but could not get sponsorship.

Edeh added that he would not give room for special advisers, senior assistants and other political posts without portfolios.

“As for agriculture, South-East has good and fertile soil for farming going by it’s geographical area.

“Anybody who is sensible enough should be thinking of agriculture and that is why I want to make the state the food basket of the nation.

“In Eastern part of this country, we can cultivate from season to season and all we need is to restore water and ensure proper irrigation system,” he said.

NAN/N.O

Liberia receives $96m World Bank Loan for Solar Power Plant

Business and Tech

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja

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February 10, 2023

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Liberia has signed a finance deal worth $96 million with the International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank to build 60 MWp of solar power.

The solar facility, to be situated at Mount Coffee, would be developed in two phases, Monie Captan, chairman of the board (PCA) of the government-owned Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) said.

He added that a second phase with a capacity of 40 MWp will come after the first phase adding that the hydropower facility at Mount Coffee will be replaced by the solar park.

The World Bank recently unveiled a $311 million financing package for renewable energy in West Africa and the Chad, which includes the loan to Liberia.

The Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project is in charge of allocating the funds (RESPIT).

This World Bank initiative seeks to “rapidly” raise the capacity of renewable energy that is connected to the grid and to improve regional integration in the participating nations.

The development of solar photovoltaic plants, battery storage systems, and grid connections are the four parts of the project.

The Electricity Hub/ Hauwa Abu

National Population Commission sets publicity committee ahead of Census

Nigeria

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February 10, 2023

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As Nigerians countdown to the conduct of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, the National Population Commission has inaugurated the Population and Housing Census Publicity Committee to create more awareness and inform Nigerians on the need for credible and acceptable National Census in Nigeria.

The Chairman of theCommission, Mr. Nasir Kwarra says the inauguration of the Population and Housing National Census Publicity Committee marks another milestone in the Commission’s journey towards the successful conduct of the 2023 census.

Mr. Kwarra, who is a Co-Chair of the Committee said the census will “generate evidence based demographic data for development planning purposes for Nigeria.”

He also said that the vision of the 2023 census is to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census data but an inclusive and user-friendly data that will be used by all segments of the society for development, planning and critical programme interventions.

The Chairman of the commission further said “the Commission will deploy full digital technology in the conduct of the Census and it will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the results of the census is acceptable to Nigerians”.

He also stated that the need for Advocacy, Publicity and Public Enlightenment cannot be overemphasized for the Commission to achieve the quality of the data to meet international best standards.

He said the Committee is to mobilise critical stakeholders to support and take ownership of the process.

“To achieve the desired outcome is imperative and it hinges absolutely on our ability to speak to the people in the language that will galvanize and mobilize them to participate in the 2023 census.”

“In furtherance, members of the National Census Publicity Committee should have a good grasp of the processes and methodology of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, a workshop will be organized to keep members of the Committee up-to-date on the preparation for the census.

“In addition, the Committee should be rest assured of the Commission’s full support for it to deliver on this very important national assignment.”

The Chairman reassured Nigerians and the international community that the National Population Commission is irrevocably committed to ensuring that everything about the 2023 census is done rightly and professionally.

The Commission also commended the Nigerian Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who is a Co-Chair and other members of the twent- nine man Committee for supporting the Commission.

Nigerian Group decries Female genital mutilation

Health

FELA OLAGUNJU

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February 10, 2023

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The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos Branch, has decried Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing it as an evil act. Mrs Chinwe Efobi, Chairperson, FIDA, made the assertion on Thursday in Lagos at an event to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. The International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is observed on Feb. 6 annually.

According to Efobi, the day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders involved in ending FGM to celebrate their achievements, and also advocate for abandonment of the practice and raise awareness.

She said it was in this vein that FIDA Lagos joins the world to commemorate the Day which had the 2023 theme as: “Partnership with Men and Boys to Transform Social and Gender Norms to End FGM”.

She explained that FGM referred to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. She said it was most often carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, and usually referred to as circumcision.

“From statistics available, globally, more than 200 million women and girls have been mutilated. In Nigeria alone, more than 20 million women and girls have been mutilated and this figure represents 10 per cent of the global total.

“What this figure means in essence is that one out of every 10 mutilated girls or women in the world is a Nigerian,” she said.

Efobi said that there were so many reasons why FGM was practiced in Nigeria, some of which are culturally inclined, patriarchal system or religious/cultural obligation. She said it was sad to note that a number of countries still engage in the practice of FGM in spite the fact that some of the perpetrators are aware of the adverse effects on the lives of the victims. She said that FGM affects young girls more than older women and the psychological effects could impact the lives of a young girl throughout her life.

She said, “FIDA Nigeria, Lagos branch, calls on all stakeholders to raise more awareness in the fight against FGM, and we must not relent in our efforts to raise our voices.“We must take this campaign to families and communities still practicing this evil act.“We also call on all government agencies saddled with enforcement responsibilities to take the issue of FGM more seriously.

“To curb the spread of this practice, more perpetrators need to be prosecuted and punished speedily to help achieve a sane and safe environment for women and girls to live in a society free of FGM,” she said.

NAN/Wumi

Elections: NYSC D-G assures corps members of maximum protection

Politics

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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February 10, 2023

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The newly-appointed Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed has given assurance of safety to Youth Corps members during the general elections.

Ahmed gave the assurance during his official visit to the Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp, on Friday in Iseyin, Oyo State.

He informed the corps members that he had on assumption of duty, visited all service chiefs in the country to get assurance from them for the protection of Corps members on election duties.

He, however, urged the Corps members to abide by the rules and regulations guiding their participation as umpires in the elections and desist from unauthorised journeys throughout their service year.

The D-G charged them to maintain high level of discipline and translate the sound training imparted on them into impactful service year as they assumed various roles in their Places of Primary Assignment (PPA).

Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed

Recounting his own experience as a Youth Corps member in Osun State, in 1995, Ahmed urged them to make friends and respect the culture of their host communities.

He further urged Corps members to relate well with the people so they could have a memorable and rewarding service year.

He said that NYSC scheme had zero tolerance for extortion and promised that security and welfare of Corps members would be his topmost priority.

The Oyo State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Odoba Abel, in his welcome remark gave a report of the ongoing 2023 Batch A Stream 1 Orientation Course.

Abel, therefore, paid tributes to the participating Corps members and the NYSC staff working with him who made the exercise successful.

The visit of the new D-G, who assumed duty as the Jan. 22, was his first to the South-West. He was accompanied by senior officials of the scheme from the Directorate Headquarters

NAN/N.O

Russia again fires missiles over Moldova in latest strikes

World

Mosunmola Ore

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February 10, 2023

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Russia’s latest aerial attack on Ukraine saw missiles cross Moldovan airspace, Ukrainian and Moldovan.

officials disclosed this stating that Kyiv’s top general said missiles also flew above Romania – a claim denied by Romania, but later repeated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Zelensky said the missiles represented a “challenge” to Nato, of which Romania is a member country.

Moldova’s country’s defence ministry described the missile flyover as a “violation”, and summoned the Russian ambassador for an explanation, having done the same following a similar incident in October.

The incident occurred on a day of political turbulence in Chisinau, during which the whole government resigned.

For its part, Romania insisted that Russian missiles had not strayed into its airspace “at any time”.

But Mr Zelensky doubled down on the Ukrainian military’s Romanian claim, writing that the Russian missiles posed questions for “collective security”.

The Ukrainian air force said 71 missiles were fired in Friday’s “massive” attack, of which it shot down 61.

In the aftermath, an aide of Mr Zelensky reiterated a call for the West to donate fighter jets, and criticised “political hesitation” over the provision of new arms to his country.

Mr Zelensky himself had spent the previous day meeting EU leaders and appealing for planes to be sent – following another visit to the UK for the same purpose.

Ukraine is suffering blackouts after energy facilities were targeted in six regions.

Some 150,000 homes were without electricity in the eastern Kharkiv region alone, and seven people were injured, officials said.

Explosions were also heard in Kyiv, although the city’s mayor said nobody was hurt. Residents sheltered in the capital’s metro system, and school lessons were reportedly held in one station.

Other regions, including Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, also came under fire, and the governor of Mykolaiv region described at least three “waves” of missiles.

Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy facilities over the winter, and Ukraine’s state energy firm described Friday’s assault as the fourteenth of its kind.

Such attacks have been described by some analysts as war crimes, although Russia denies intentionally harming civilians.

Energy workers in the country have increasingly dangerous jobs – and 98 of them lost their lives while performing their duties last year, an official recently told Latvian media.

On Friday, the boss of Ukraine’s state-owned rail network tweeted a defiant message as the aerial attacks began.

Olexander Kamyshin wrote: “Trains will start delaying, but none will be cancelled. Promise. We are determined.”

BBC

National Council of State endorses currency redesign policy

Bilkisu Halilu Pai

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February 10, 2023

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The National Council of State has endorsed the currency redesign policy introduced by the Nigerian government.

It has however advised that the Central Bank of Nigeria should be more aggressive in the implementation of the policy in order to reduce the hardship faced by citizens.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the crucial meeting, further revealed that the country’s electoral body and the Police also assured the Council that they are ready for the smooth conduct of the 2023 general election.

He said: “The two major resolutions that were driven by the deliberations of the Council are one; that we are on course as far as the election is concerned and we are happy with the level of preparation by INEC and the institutions.

“And then two, relating to the Naira redesign policy, the policy stands but the Council agreed that there is need for aggressive action on the part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as it relates to implementation of the policy by way of ensuring adequate provision being made with particular regards to the supply of the Naira in the system.”

Corroborating the comments made by the Attorney General, Taraba State Governor, Darius Isaku said the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police both gave details of their level of preparedness for the 2023 election.

He said the Governor of the Central Bank gave details of the Naira redesign policy as well as the merits and demerits of the policy.

“The Governor of the Central Bank briefed us on the monetary change and issues that have arisen relating to that across the whole States of the Federation. He gave us the merits of that policy that is being implemented. What took more time was the monetary issue because of the scarcity of money in circulation but generally the view is that principally the policy was accepted.

“But the major issue is that of implementation so, many views were proffered particularly that the CBN Governor should look into making sure that the new money is available in quantum and there were suggestions too that if the new money is not enough or printing them could be difficult, the old currency could be recirculated or pumped into circulation to ease the tension particularly for the poor people in the society who will need a little money to buy their food or drugs on daily basis,” he said.

Governor Ishaku said all deliberations at the Council were advisory but President Buhari will take the final decision.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwol-Ou, who also briefed Journalists, assured that the President will take the right decision at the end of the day, for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“All we said or discussed were advisory and the President will retire back to his office and I think with all of this advice, the executive knows what to and as we move on, I’m sure the President will make his thoughts and views known to the nation,” he added.

Kano: Court Reinstates Wali as PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Sacks Abacha

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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February 10, 2023

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The Kano Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday reinstated Sadiq Wali as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano state.

On December 22, a Federal High Court sitting in Kano declared Mohammad Abacha as the duly elected governorship candidate of the PDP and nullified the primary election that produced Mr. Wali as the candidate.

But in a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Usman Musale, the appellate court held that the state chapter of a political party has no power to conduct primaries.

The court further said Mr. Abacha cannot sue Mr. Wali as he did not participate in the primaries that produced the latter.

Details to follow …

HerVest trains 500 female farmers in Kwara state

News Feature

Kamila Bello

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February 10, 2023

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Over 500 females were train by HerVest organization on various farming methods across three local government areas (LGAs) of Kwara state.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-Founder HerVest, Mrs Solape Akinpelu, disclosed this in Ilorin during a courtesy call on the Kwara Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural development.

HerVest is a women-focused and inclusive fintech platform for underserved and excluded women in Africa.

Akinpelu said, HerVest is aimed to bridge the gender finance gap by providing the female farmers with access to credit, extension services and premium markets through a gender-focused lens.

“The female farmers are trained on good agronomy practices and financial literacy, 50 hectares were cultivated each in Adabata, Asa LGA, Omu-Aran in Irepodun LGA, as well Kuchitagi in Edu LGA.”

She expressed her displeasure on the negative impacts of climate change, the incidents of army worm on the output of farm produce and the inability of beneficiaries to pay according to the terms of agreement.

In his remarks, the State Commisssioner, Alakawa said the state government would continue to support and protect the investment of all legitimate investors.

He said, this was necessary to actualise the state’s agricultural policy trust.

Alakawa implored HerVest to ensure that community dwellers were well integrated into the programme to ensure proper protection and project sustainability.

He pointed out that any programme that did not have a face for social responsibility was bound to fail.

The Commissioner disclosed that the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, would ensure proper training for the female farmers and therefore urged stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to work with the relevant agencies for the development of the sector in the country.

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