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Funtua Inland Dry Port Becomes Port of origin & final destination

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja
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The Nigerian Government has declared Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State as a port of origin and final destination for import and export of cargoes.

 

Thus, the Inland Dry Port is empowered to operate shipping businesses including clearing and forwarding of cargoes directly from anywhere in the world.

 

The declaration, which was made by the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, comes many years after the establishment of the Funtua Inland Dry Port.

 

In March 2006, the Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of  the Funtua Container Freight Station, alongside other Inland Dry Ports across the country.

 

The Funtua Container Freight Station was later converted to an Inland Dry Port based on the strategic framework of Build, Own, Operate and Transfer.

 

Speaking at the declaration ceremony, Mu’azu Sambo explained that the Funtua Inland Dry Port would be a Customs port in accordance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and would have all the prerequisites of an international port.

 

According to the Minister, the importance of Katsina State as the commercial domain in the Trans-Saharan trade route with huge agricultural produce and trade in local and export volumes, qualified the State for an Inland Dry Port.

 

He said national and international maritime practitioners, shippers, shipping companies, landlocked countries and port users should take full advantage of the port for import and export of their cargoes.

 

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said the declaration of Funtua Inland Dry Port as port of origin and final destination, was another milestone achievement for the intermodal transportation system in  the country.

 

According to her, “the Funtua Inland Dry Port will further unlock the economic potentials of Nigeria and facilitate trade with the land-locked countries like Niger and Chad Republic.
“The Port will provide importers and exporters located within the nation’s hinterland access to shipping and port services without physically being at the seaports”. 

 

Other benefits of the Funtua Inland Dry Port,  the Permanent Secretary said, are that the project “will promote the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and economic integration as well as further support the Presidential Business Enabling Environment Council (PEBEC)”. 

 

The Governor of Kastina State, Aminu Bello Masari, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Alh. Musa Sule, in his presentation, noted that the State Government, as part of its contribution to the project, facilitated the provision of 16.2 hectares of land and also paid compensation to the land owners.

 

He said the Katsina State Government took the step based on the conviction that when fully operational, the Port will create employment for the immediate community and its environs, support revenue base of the State and facilitate trade within and outside the country.

 

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Emmanuel Jime advised States that were allocated Inland Dry Ports, but were yet to develop them, to expedite action on the project in order to bring shipping closer to importers and exporters in their State.

Yemi Alade Releases New Video Featuring Phyno

Oluchi Okwuego
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Nigerian Afropop singer, Yemi Alade, has dropped the official visuals for her hit song “Pounds and Dollars” featuring rapper, Phyno.

 

The crisp visuals for the song is directed by Clarence Peters, “Pounds and Dollars” is off Yemi Alade’s hugely popular album “African Baddie” released last year.

Yemi Alade born is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter, actress and activist. She was born on 13 March 1989 and have won the Peak Talent Show in 2009, after which she signed to Effyzzie Music Group, and had a hit with her single “Johnny” in 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BellaNaija/O.O

Hajj Institute to Commence Academic Activities

Aisha John-Mark
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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON’s, Hajj Institute of Nigeria HIN, will formally begin it’s 2023/24 academic session on Tuesday 7th February, 2023 at the Hajj House Conference with the first set of students.
The Institute will commence with a 4-week Certificate program for the members of the Board of the Commission on “Strategic Management of Hajj and Umrah Operations.”

In a statement, NAHCON’s Assistant Director Information and Publications. Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki, said that NAHCON Chairman Alhaji  Zikrullah Hassan, expressed delight at the final take off of the institution.

“We hasten to congratulate all our stakeholders for the feat we have are able to achieve. We cannot lay claim to have solely achieve this. As such, we recognised the contributions of the past board. I therefore want to implore all the stakeholders to work together as build-up partners to uplift this institution to the highest pedestal even as we shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the sense of esteem of future Hajj managers are uncompromisingly preserved.”

Alhaji Ubadawaki said that the Institute is one of the headlight  agenda of the current Board with the vision to build professional Hajj Managers to administer Hajj in the future.

The idea to establish an Hajj Institute was contained in NAHCON Establishment Act 2006 and was on the front burner of successive board of the Commission but it witnessed a more rapid pursuit in 2020, when the  Commission sought and obtained the Provisional Approval of the National Board for Technical Education, (NBTE) to establish and run the institution.

According to the statement, the epoch-making occasion will be declared open by the Honourable Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who will administer the Matriculation Oath, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Muhammad Musa Bello, will be Special  Guest of Honour.

 

Chad opens first embassy in Israel

Hauwa Mustapha
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Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno opened his Majority-Muslim country’s first embassy in Israel, four years after the countries renewed ties following a decades-long rupture, an Israeli statement said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the embassy’s inauguration in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv “a historic moment”.

Netanyahu said in 2020 that he had discussed “the possibility of opening an embassy in Jerusalem” with a Chadian delegation.

That would have been a coup for the right-winger who has been pressing foreign governments to set up their embassies in the city, since then president Donald Trump moved the US embassy in 2018.

“We are strengthening our friendship and our common interests in pursuing peace, security and prosperity,” Netanyahu said.

Israel recognised Chad when it declared independence from France in 1960 and by 1962 had opened an embassy in Ndjamena.

Ties between Israel and Chad were broken in 1972 amid pressure from Muslim African nations.

The Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973 led a number of African states to sever relations with the Jewish state.

But in recent years, Israel has highlighted areas of cooperation ranging from security to technology and agriculture to improve ties on the continent.

In a 2019 visit to Chad, Netanyahu and Deby announced a resumption of diplomatic relations.

After his arrival on Tuesday, Deby met the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, David Barnea.

The Mossad “has played a central role in formulating the agreement and strengthening relations between the two countries,” a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said.

One of the world’s poorest countries, Chad is not an Arab League member state but belongs to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Netanyahu has made broadening Israelis ties across the Arab and Muslim world a foreign policy

africanews

South African Group protests against load shedding, electricity tariff

Hauwa Mustapha
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Civil society organisation Stand Up SA gathered droves of supporters to march to power utility Eskom’s Sunning hill headquarters in Sandston, Johannesburg, to demand an end to load shedding and a pending electricity tariff hike. 

Their demands echoed those of many South Africans facing an energy crisis. 

South Africa’s energy crisis is now a major disaster that needs urgent fixing, according to experts who believe the government’s failure to invest in new power plants is at the root of the problem.

The frequency and duration of the rolling power cuts to households and businesses are now at unprecedented levels.

South Africa generates approximately 85% of its energy from coal.

The national power utility, Eskom, has the capacity to generate up to 45,000 megawatts but it has been unable to supply even 27,000 MW, giving rise to power cuts or load-shedding that can last several hours a day.

africanews

Tinubu urges APC supporters to get their PVCs

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu Asiwaju has urged his supporters to ensure they get their permanent voter cards in order to be able to vote on election day.

Tinubu made the call during the APC Presidential Campaign Rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Thursday.

He affirmed that he had faith in the resilience of Nigerians to surmount challenges and that he believed they would overcome the current crises spurred by fuel scarcity and currency change.

“As you came out en masse today, I implore you to go back, pick your PVC and use it to our advantage on election day, because that is what will deliver you into the prosperity we promised.

“You came out happily to support me, God will make this our endeavor end in happiness. All you people here, you shall not go blind, you shall not go deaf, you shall not know bitterness, you shall all witness the greatness of our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.

The APC presidential candidate, who traced a connection between education and employment, said both variables would be properly managed if elected as president.

He said no Nigerian child would be left behind in terms of education and no youth would remain unemployed in the new Nigeria that would emerge under his leadership.

Tinubu noted that he not only had plans to engage technically oriented Nigerians but also commercially savvy and academically gifted citizens to turn the fortune of the country around.

He said: “We will establish companies and industries; we will set up registration centers for the unemployed in order to get them job placements.

“We will establish vocational centers for those who want to learn crafts. Our children were not sent to school to suffer and waste away, they will become great.

“For those who are in school already, you will not spend a day longer than the stipulated duration of your courses as we will lend those who are not financially buoyant money to complete their studies.

“Whatever amount your school fees is, we will pay it. No child of the poor will be left out because we are all equal. We did it before in Lagos, it will not be difficult for us to replicate again on a national scale”, Tinubu added.

In his short remarks, the State Coordinator, Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council, Adegboyega Oyetola, expressed gratitude to the people of the State, particularly supporters and loyalists of the party, for their steadfastness and commitment.

He implored the crowd to continue to support APC and its presidential candidate, stressing that it was important for them to cast their votes for him on election day.

Present at the rally were the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

Voice of Nigeria’s Correspondent reports that the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign rally lived up to its billing as thousands of supporters besieged Freedom Park, venue of the rally to witness the campaign.

Members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from across Osun state had converged on the venue as early as 9am, awaiting the arrival of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his team.

The rally eventually took off around 5pm with Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, acknowledging cheers from the crowd as they made their way into the venue.

 

 

N.O

 

Nigeria’s Multilateral Diplomacy Fosters Economic Growth in West-Africa- Minister

Aisha John-Mark
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Nigeria has upped its bilateral and multilateral diplomacy since President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration  from 2015.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama stated this at the 22nd edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Scorecard series on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

He explained that the administration’s bilateral and multilateral relations since 2015 has fostered in the fight against insecurity, anti-corruption, economic d9evelopment and the overall welfare of Nigerians.

The Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Onyeama said through the ministry’s intervention, the administration took advantage of the bilateral and multilateral platforms to explore cooperation with neighbours, international organizations and partners.

It’s renewed efforts include, to counter terrorism, foster economic growth,  foreign policy engagement, combat climate change, and secure the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.

He added that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the area of security, contributed to resolving conflicts through the ECOWAS and the African Union platforms and also contributed significantly to making the ECOWAS Plan of Action 2020-2024 to fight insecurity in the West African region and the Sahel.

“This represented global resolve in the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, at the continental level, the Ministry has continually ensured since 2015 the annual renewal of the MNJTF by the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). These efforts have undoubtedly complemented other national efforts in degrading terrorist groups,” he said.

The administration was also committed to maintaining international peace and security and publicly discouraged coups and attempts at third-term project by some African leaders, as it has been proven to be one of the drivers of instability.

Still during the period under review, Mr. Onyeama said the Ministry secured for Nigeria the establishment of regional Offices for several multilateral organizations in Abuja, especially the D8 Office for Health and social protection and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that saw to 50% reduction in the cost of pharmaceutical supplies from other D8 Countries and opportunities for increased investment in the Health Sector.

On combating climate change, the Ministry ensured Nigeria’s strong voice in calling on developed countries to commit to implementing the provisions of one hundred billion US Dollars a year to developing countries, Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

In the same vein, Mr. Onyeama noted that the Ministry played a key role in bolstering the communication for landmark agreement between the governments of Nigeria and several foreign governments for the repatriation of looted funds and artefacts.

On the economy, he said that the Foreign Affairs ministry canvassed for Foreign Direct  Investment(FDI) for the promotion of trade and commerce.

“The Ministry, through our Mission in Berlin, also facilitated the first-ever export of Ginger from Kaduna to Germany through betterEco, a German Company in Nigeria.

“Signed and ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to optimise trading among Africans, including that of other international trade platforms, to promote market access for our numerous made-in-Nigeria goods and services. We believe the promotion of SMEs towards poverty alleviation is one of those deliverables.

“In the framework of the very robust and dynamic Foreign Policy engagement with China, the Ministry has equally facilitated significant infrastructural projects in Nigeria, which included:  i) Terminal expansion of Lagos, Abuja, PH, and Aminu Kano Airports; ii) Modernisation of Lagos –Kano Railway; iii) modernisation of Abuja Kaduna Railway among others,” he said.

Also, the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister said his ministry made the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad a priority, proactively engaging with foreign consulates and organizations on early warning mechanism agreement to stop xenophobia, slavery and imprisonment of Nigerians abroad and evacuation of those stranded.

Mr. Onyeama said through the Technical Aid Corps, TAC, the Ministry generated employment for many Nigerians abroad and there was an increase in the number of recipient countries as well as resuscitation of the TAC scheme where it has been moribund in the Africa Caribbean and Pacific, ACP region.

At the international level, he said Nigeria remains a respected member of the international community with high visibility.

“We have leveraged the tremendous respect and goodwill Mr. President enjoys getting countries to support Nigeria’s interests on various global platforms. This includes the appointment of Nigerians to international organisations,” he said.

Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama added that the administration saw to the re-appointment of Amina Mohammed as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Akinwumi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank (ADB), re-election of Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors Afreximbank and election of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and many other Nigerians into key international positions.

 

 

African countries lack immediate access to cholera vaccine- CDC

Hauwa Mustapha
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Africa’s public health agency says countries with deadly cholera outbreaks on the continent have no “immediate access” to vaccines amid a global supply shortage.

The acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ahmed Ogwell, told journalists on Thursday that the agency is working with the World Health Organization and the vaccine alliance GAVI on ways to obtain more doses.

The Africa CDC is also working with two local manufacturers to explore if their facilities can be repurposed to manufacture cholera vaccines, Ogwell said. He didn’t say which ones.

WHO and its partners recommended in October that countries temporarily switch to using a single dose of the cholera vaccine instead of two because of the supply shortage as outbreaks of the water-borne disease surge globally.

They said one dose of vaccine has proven effective in stopping outbreaks “even though evidence on the exact duration of protection is limited” and appears to be lower in children.

WHO noted that Haiti and Syria also are trying to contain large outbreaks.

WHO and partner agencies manage a stockpile of cholera vaccines that are dispensed free to countries that need them.

Malawi in southern Africa especially is struggling with a cholera outbreak.

The country has recorded 3,577 new cases including 111 deaths in the past week, Ogwell said.

They make up the bulk of the new cholera cases on the continent.

Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 27,300 new cases of cholera including 687 deaths in five African countries, Ogwell said.

The WHO has said climate change could make cholera epidemics more common, as the bacteria that causes the disease can reproduce more quickly in warmer water.

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CPAN decries impact of global warming, stereotyping 

Kamila Bello
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The Coalition of Pastoralists Association (CPAN), has decried the impact of global warming, stereotyping as well as the implementation of some laws deliberately targeted at Pastoralists on their businesses.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital, the President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Baba Othman Ngelzarma said, “There is no gainsaying that the easiest and most effective way of destroying a group of people is to destroy their businesses and sources of revenue for sustenance.

“The Nigerian state has in recent years watched the cattle rearing business go down the drain due to natural and man-made disasters.”

The pastoralists’ group in Nigeria under the umbrella of Coalition of Pastoralists Association (CPAN) is an umbrella organisation of Pastoralists groups in Nigeria whose main objective is the promotion of peace and enhancing the welfare of its members in the country.

Ngelzarma lamented, that these challenge are backed with the conspiratorial silence of government, a lot of Nigerians especially sub national entities across the country have adopted the culture of intolerance towards our people and business of cattle rearing.

“To start with, we all know that global warming is a reality and it has affected the Lake Chad massively, forcing our people to move down south in search of water and food for our livestock. While the Nigerian government has not lifted any finger to recharge the Lake Chad and make it habitable for our people, it has watched on helplessly as different communities and state governments across the North Central and Southern parts of the country treat the Fulani as irritants or second class citizens who have no right to live or who do not deserve to have a source of living.”

The group called on the attention of the federal republic to what it called existential dangers faced by Fulani across Nigeria.

“They ban open grazing without providing infrastructure for alternatives. They therefore seize our cows and arrest our people recklessly, fine them unreasonable amounts and everyone is watching as if all is well,” the cattle breeders said.

They also requested the federal government’s immediate intervention to release thousands of livestock and innocent Fulbe herders illegally held captive by police.

READ ALSO: Cattle Rustling: Miyetti Allah plans Cow identification workshop

Federal Housing Authority Reacts over Abuja Building Collapse

Aisha John-Mark
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The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has vowed to take appropriate actions against the developers of the two-storey building which collapsed in the Gwarimpa Area of Abuja on Thursday.

FHA’s Head of Public Affairs, Kenneth Chigelu, who disclosed this to newsmen at the site of the collapsed building, acknowledged that the developers compromised the approval granted to them by the FHA.

According to him, “Preliminary findings revealed that an approval for 2 floors was granted by the Federal Housing Authority to the developer, who decided to add an extra floor to the structure.”

It will be recalled that Gwarinpa District is an area allocated to the FHA by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the development of mass housing estate.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed has expressed concern over what he described as “indiscriminate changes in land use within the Gwarimpa District.” 

Engr. Ahmed who spoke when he led a team of FCT Administration officials to the site of the collapsed building, assured that concerted efforts were being made to rescue all persons suspected to be trapped within the roubles of the collapsed structure.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) Umar Shuaibu said investigations will commence immediately to ascertain both the remote and immediate cause of the collapse.

Director of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Muktar Galadima said that those rescued have been taken to hospital for medical attention.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, confirmed that the rescue workers have far rescued 23 affected persons out of that two were fatally injured and most of the people rescued are responding while some were even communicating under the shambles.

He added that, “as far as we are concerned this is a very successful operation and I want to use this opportunity to thank the stakeholders and the media. 

“We want you to report it as you have seen it,. Those under the rabbles will be brought out before we get to ground zero,” he added.

Our reporters confirmed that three site workers were confirmed dead, about 20 rescued, while many were said to still be trapped under the rubbles of the two-storey commercial complex.

According to an eye witness, John Edwin, the workers in the site, especially labourers conveying blocks to the top, were over 50.

 

 

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