Day: July 26, 2023

The Federal Government on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to attaining zero carbon emission by 2060.

Mr Temitope Fashedemi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, said this at the eighth Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF) opening plenary on Energy Transition for Growth in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s NEF2023 was: “Maximising Energy Transition For Economic Growth.”

The Permanent Secretary was represented by Engr. Ahmad Salihijo, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency.

Fashedemi said the realisation of this goal depended on the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) which was launched in 2022.

“As a nation, we would continue to strive toward increasing energy development through legislations, policies and critical projects.

“It is public knowledge that President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electricity Act, 2023.

“The implementation of the Act would greatly accelerate the sustainable exploitation of our abundant resources in meeting our electric power demands for industrialisation and economic growth,” he said.

In his keynote address, Mr Will Stevens, the United States Consulate General in Lagos, said Nigeria is one of the key participants in the US Department of energy’s global initiative.

“On the energy transition to a net zero world, there are more opportunities for partnership and expanded cooperation.

“Nigeria holds 33 per cent of the African continents total gas reserves with the potential to ensure sustained supply of natural gas across sub-Saharan Africa.

“Nigeria could provide natural gas for the entire continent if the necessary financing infrastructure and partnerships are in place,” he said.

Ms Inga Stefanowicz, Team Leader, Green and Digital Economy, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in her message said they are currently preparing a package of initiatives and infras investments for Nigeria to further boost on and off-grid energy solutions

“As Team Europe, we are currently preparing a package of initiatives and infrastructure investments further boosting on-and off-grid energy solutions.

“Some €400 million worth of these projects and programmes from the European Union and its Member States will contribute to Nigeria’s energy transition,” she said.

She said the EU would commit around €50 million to the Nigerian power sector this year, including the GET invest country window.

Mr Kola Adesina, the Group Managing Director, Sahara Group, said Nigeria needs to embrace new and stable energy sources to meet the anticipated growth in energy demand.

“Therefore, aligning Nigeria’s industrialisation with sustainable energy development requires modifying legislation and encouraging creative project financing options,” he said.

Adesina said that Sahara Group was planning an industrial park at the Egbin power station to provide stable and consistent electricity supply to manufacturers to boost industrialisation.

Mr John Alamu, the Group Managing Director, Johnvents, said the company would install a 3,000-kilowatt gas generator fleet to power industrial facilities as an immediate step toward this goal.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman, NEF, Dr Oluwole Daniel Adeuyi, said that energy transition refers to a progressive shift from conventional to alternative and more sustainable form of energy production and consumption.

“NEF2023 follows the fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification and electricity sector devolution in Nigeria.

“This presents opportunities for restoring investor confidence, rebuilding cross-sector trust, and restructuring the value chain, thereby creating an enabling environment for producers and consumers at all levels,” he said.

Adeuyi said that winners of the Tertiary Institutions Students Energy Pitch Contest were awarded N2.5m to develop innovative energy solutions at the live finals held during the forum, supported by All On.

“This is an impact investment company with a focus to providing energy access to the unserved and underserved in Nigeria.

“First prize winner was One Grid Energies from University of Nigeria Nsukka and Federal University of Technology Owerri.

”Second prize was Let it Cold, Bayero University Kano, and third prize was Smokeless Briquettes, Federal University of Technology Akure,” he said.

The Co-Chairman of the Forum, Mr Adekunle Makinde, said the Africa Energy Innovation Contest organised by the NEF2023 was open for young professionals below 35 years to propose clean energy solutions across four tracks.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Angola reiterated Tuesday in New York, USA, its commitment to keeping maritime security and the promotion of the Blue Economy, through responsible and sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

According to Angola’s ambassador to the US, Agostinho Van-Dúnem, who was speaking at a meeting with US Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation, Jessica Lapenn, the Southern African nation maintains the spirit of the joint declaration on cooperation of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (Zopacas) and the Gulf of Guinea.

The meeting aimed at previewing the visit of Ambassador Jessica Lapenn to Angola to take place in August, within the framework of Atlantic Cooperation to ensure the implementation of the initiatives contained in the Joint Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation.

Zopacas, which brings together 21 African countries and three from South America, was created by a United Nations resolution in 1986, with the aim of preventing the introduction of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the region, as well as through multilateralism, harnessing the full socio-economic potential of the Atlantic corridor

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Secretary of State for Fisheries and Marine Resources, António José da Silva, assured Wednesday in Luanda that the Government is strongly committed to the Blue Economy to boost job creation and contribute on a larger scale to the socio-economic development of the country.

Speaking at the opening of the 3rd EandM Conference on the blue economy, “The cluster of the sea beyond oil”, António da Silva guaranteed that work continues to be done to ensure more income, stability and social inclusion for coastal communities.

He said that the development of the blue economy involves environmental protection, conservation, recovery of species and ecosystems and the diversification of the economy, for whom “the blue economy” is a priority to be achieved.

“It does not only translate into yet another opportunity for growth in the various segments of the sea cluster and in terms of financial resources, but fundamentally into a commitment to preserving marine resources for future generations,” he said.

He highlighted that by promoting and embracing the blue economy through a set of measures aimed at regulating activities in the sector, the country can, within the established goals, achieve the established objectives, thus ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for all Angolans.

The Secretary of State also recalls that the framework of the Angolan Executive’s policies and strategies for the growth and development of the sector prioritizes the fight against hunger and the reduction of poverty.

In view of these policies, the National Plan for the Promotion of Fisheries (PLANAPESCAS) was recently approved, which aims to ensure, among other challenges, food security

The official added that the aforementioned plan is aimed at strengthening the fishing industry, creating adequate structures and systems for unloading fish in ports and other terminals, whose lack of conditions has strongly conditioned the development of the sector.

Another important goal of PLANAPESCAS, he said, is to carry out hard and consistent work to reinforce the competitiveness and sustainability of the processing and commercialization sector.

The strategy also aims to ensure the maintenance of a significant weight of this activity in the country’s economy, increase food supply and the gross added value of the sector, thus strengthening the value chain, as well as increasing the production and processing of fish and salt .

Another document being implemented in favour of the “blue economy” is the implementation of the National Strategy for the Sea in Angola ENMA-2030, which plans to progressively transform the current reality of the country with a coastline of 1,650 kilometres.

The document presents seven general objectives, 72 specific objectives and 109 measures to achieve a variety of goals, among which the emphasis is on promoting and diversifying the maritime economy, increasing employment and professional qualification, sustainable management of biological resources, among other aspects. .

The National Strategy for the Sea in Angola is the main basis for the promotion, growth and development of the Blue Economy in the country.

At the 3rd EandM Conference on the Blue Economy, under the theme “Cluster of the Sea beyond Oil”, opportunities for the maritime industry are being analysed, from fishing to logistics, financing the blue economy, ESG – environmental, social and corporate and marine insurance

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Cabinet Council assessed Wednesday the bill that amends and republishes the Value Added Tax (VAT) Code. The document is expected to head to the National Asembly for approval.

The Draft amendments cover the reduction of the VAT rate on food, from the current 14 to seven percent, according to the communiqué from the Cabinet Council’s session chaired by the President, João Lourenço.

The diploma includes amendments to the broadening of the scope of application of the simplified regime to cover exempt operations and scrap the application of seven percent of Stamp Duty, as well as clarification of some exemptions.

These include, among other aspects, exemptions relating to medical goods, books, assimilated operations, the special customs regime and those resulting from international agreements,

Also heading to the National Assembly is the law that lays down the legal regime applicable to the mining of cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets, throughout the national territory.

The assessment of the legal regime aims to ensure an environment of legal certainty and security, in line with international standards.

The document refers to the prevention, mitigation and repression of practices associated with crimes against the environment, national energy security, money laundering and terrorist financing.

The intention is, among others, to limit the circulation of virtual currencies not issued by central banks, as well as to prohibit cryptocurrency mining activities.

The 6th Ordinary Meeting of the Cabinet Council also reviewed a bill that authorises the President , as holder of the Executive Power, to create a Mandatory Social Protection System for the State Information and Security Service

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Long-Term Development Strategy, Angola 2050, a document that reflects the country’s future vision, was approved Wednesday during the 6th Ordinary Session of the Cabinet Council.

The document includes different scenarios of economic and social growth, the definition of global and sector goals, according to the final communiqué from meeting chaired by the President João Lourenço.

The Long Term Development Strategy, Angola 2050, replaces the previous Long Term Strategy, Angola 2025.

The statement explains that the replacement owed to the need to align with the international commitments undertaken in the light of the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063.

The replacement also arises from the need to harmonise the time horizon, which is crucial for the execution of medium-term policies and the National Development Plan 2023 – 2027.

The communiqué, reached ANGOP at the end of the session, states that the preparation of this instrument resulted from a joint effort by national and international institutions.

The national institutions include civil society, academia, the private sector, institutions at the central and local level of the State, as well as people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Finance Sector

In the field of public finance management, the session approved a diploma containing instructions for drawing up the General State Budget (OGE) for the 2024 financial year.

The document lays down the principles, rules and procedures to be observed in all bodies of the budgetary system by the budgetary units and dependent bodies, in the process of preparation and elaboration.

This is the process of preparing and drawing up the 2024 OGE bill, as well as the medium-term expenditure framework for the 2023-2027 period.

Industry and Commerce

As for the sector of industry and commerce, the Council endorsed the regulation on the licensing of commercial activity.

Still in the sector of industry and commerce, the regulation on the licensing of the exercise of industrial activity was approved.

The document establishes the rules that must be observed in the process of appraising and approving projects and licensing of industrial activities and installations, as well as the criteria for granting the Industrial License Permit.

The Executive will ensure the protection of the environment, correct industrial planning, safety and health in industrial establishments and the quality of national industrial goods, as part of the sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

Foreign policy

The Cabinet also approved the agreement on the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency between the Governments of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

The trilateral cooperation instrument will allow countries without access to the sea to transport goods along the Lobito Corridor (Benguela), using the existing port and railway infrastructures, without any constraints in terms of circulation.

The measure is expected to result in gains for Angola, with an increase in customs and port revenues.

The session also endorsed the resolution approving the Declaration on Youth Development and Empowerment in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The session also approved the resolution for ratification of the SADC Protocol on health, mining sector, control of firearms, ammunition and other related material, tourism development, statistics and fisheries.

Still on foreign policy, the Cabinet endorsed the bilateral instruments of cooperation between the Geological Institute of Angola and the State Agency Council Superior for Scientific Investigations of the Kingdom of Spain, in the geological field.

Wednesday’s session approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Angola and the Zambian counterpart.

The press release states that all bilateral instruments of cooperation inherent in foreign policy will go to the National Assembly.

The Executive appreciated and recommended the approval of the diploma that creates the Best Municipality of Angola Award and respective Regulation.

The prize aims to encourage healthy competition between municipalities in promoting actions that contribute to meeting the needs of the population and promoting local development

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The National Assembly Wednesday unanimously approved the ratification of the Amendments to the Protocol Relating to the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights.

This was approved with 148 votes in favour, no vote against and no abstentions, during the 8th Extraordinary Plenary Meeting of the 1st Session of the 5th Legislature.

With the validation of this mechanism, the Republic of Angola is among the first member states of the African Union (AU) to ratify this international legal instrument.

Angola, thus, announces its participation in the organs of the African Union, particularly in the process of establishing this Court.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Tanzania have also ratified the Protocol.

The Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights was adopted by the 20th Session of the AU Assembly held on June 27, 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

It is part of the objectives and principles set out in the Constitutive Act of the African Union adopted in Lomé, Togo, on July 11, 2000, among which there is the commitment to resolve conflicts through peaceful means.

The country’s report argues that by approving and ratifying this legal instrument Angola “will benefit from a better organisation of the Court for the promotion of peace, good governance, respect for human rights and democratic principles”.

The Protocol aims to adopt a better organisation of the Court, with adequate jurisdiction to broadly define the International Criminal Law Section of the Court, including in its international criminal jurisdiction in crimes of genocide, against humanity, war crimes, anti-constitutional change of government, piracy, terrorism, corruption, money laundering, trafficking of human beings, among others.

The secretary of State for Administration, Finance and Patrimony of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Auxiliadora Ramiro, said before the Plenary that the ratification of the Protocol is beneficial, since it meets the objectives accepeted by the country at the international level, related to national reconciliation, restoration of peace, security and reconstruction of cohesion in Africa.

Maria Ramiro added that in terms of conflict mediation, the Protocol contributes to the solidification of the culture of peace in Africa.

Nvunda Salucombo, ruling MPLA MP, said that by adhering to the Protocol, Angola has an opportunity to include its senior and intermediate staff in the African Court of Human Rights.

Nuno Álvaro Dala, MP of the opposition UNITA party, said voted in favour of the draft Resolution due to the fact that Angola joining this legal instrument “constitutes, without a doubt, the material affirmation as a State committed to security, peace, constitutional stability, justice and human rights”.

The MPs also voted unanimously on the Draft Resolution approving the Declaration on the integration of Angola to the Single Market for Air Transport in Africa.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

A woman committed suicide by hanging herself at Sinunga village in the Ndiyona Constituency of the Kavango East Region on Tuesday.

The Namibian Police Force’s Crime Investigations Coordinator in the region, Bonifatius Kanyetu told Nampa on Wednesday the incident occurred around 11h00.

The woman and her two minor children reportedly went into the field to eat wild berries.

A while later, the children discovered their mother hanging from a tree with a cloth around her neck.

They then ran to inform their father, who unsuccessfully attempted to save his wife with the help of community members.

The deceased was identified as Cecilia Masora Paulus and her body was transported to the Rundu State Hospital mortuary.

No foul play has been detected and no suicide note was left behind.

The police also reported that a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 26-year-old man at Sauyemwa informal settlement at Rundu on Sunday.

The incident reportedly took place at a house where the suspect had sexual intercourse with the minor under coercive circumstances.

He was arrested the same day.

Police investigations into both matters continue.

Source: NAMPA

Over 50 residents of the single quarter houses at Otjiwarongo on Wednesday staged a peaceful demonstration at the town, where they expressed unhappiness over the municipality’s plans to relocate them to the newly proclaimed Camp Five reception area.

The residents started their street march in Orwetoveni, along Dr Libertina Amadhila Street, ending at the municipality’s head office in town, where they handed over a petition to Otjiwarongo Mayor, Gottlieb Shivute.

In their petition, the residents stated that the new township where the municipality wants to place them is situated too far from town.

Camp Five is about 10 kilometres southeast of Otjiwarongo, where over 3 000 residential plots are planned for the residents.

“Therefore mayor, we will only move to that area once the municipality channels services there such water, street roads, sanitation and electricity,” they said.

They then called on Shivute to resign from his position should he continue to push for any relocation to a place with no services, saying even though the single quarters are overcrowded, at least they can switch electricity on and get water to drink inside their houses.

Shivute, upon receiving their petition, said the municipality in May this year already provided answers to the residents of the single quarters, adding that if there are new matters in this new petition, they will be handled accordingly by the municipal council.

“If we will fail to satisfy you, visit the office of the minister in this regard,” said Shivute.

Shivute in May this year told Nampa in an interview over the same issue that the 120 families occupying the 40 single quarter houses at Otjiwarongo are tenants of the municipality, meaning they do not have a say in how the area should be decongested.

He said the municipality plans to sell the single quarter houses to the highest bidder at reserve prices of N.dollars 90 000, with preference given to the current occupants.

“We are firm in our resolve and we will not tire in providing decent cost-reflective services to our residents,” said Shivute.

Source: NAMPA

The drought periods that have plagued the Kunene Region over the past 10 years have had major repercussions for disadvantaged people in the Epupa Constituency, leaving them totally reliant on the government’s special feeding programme.

According to Steve Tjiveze, senior administration officer at the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare at Opuwo, a total of 1 115 households from marginalised communities rely on the government’s special feeding programme currently, a figure that is said to be increasing.

Tjiveze remarked in a recent interview with Nampa that these communities have already been suffering from poverty owing to a lack of work opportunities and inadequate educational abilities, and the drought added to their difficulties.

“This figure continues to rise. Every time we go out in the field, we have to add at least 10 more households to the list,” he explained.

According to Tjiveze, the special feeding programme was established to offer food supplements to the San, Ovatue, and Ovatjimba populations in light of their socioeconomic and destitution levels.

“It was initially established as the San Feeding Programme during the start of the San Development Programme in the prime minister’s office at the time,” he continued.

Tjiveze stated that despite the programme’s quarterly nature, it has proved beneficial in combatting hunger.

Each family receives a bag of maize meal, a can of beans, beef, cooking oil, minced meat, a can of fish, and a bag of sugar.

Tjiveze noted that the government will always strive to uphold its mandate of supporting the country’s less privileged groups, such as by promoting the rights of marginalised communities in accordance with international instruments relating to the rights of indigenous peoples/marginalised communities.

He said in addition to food supplements, the government provides funeral support to impoverished communities while also empowering them via income-generating projects such as gardening and other activities.

“The government is also offering education, transportation, and financial help to students,” he said.

Source: NAMPA