Day: August 28, 2023

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru, on Monday paid a courtesy visit on the former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, in his Abuja home.

Badaru also paid a courtesy visit on the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Agwai.

The minister’s visit to the duo was to seek for professional advice on how to tackle and accomplish the task ahead of him.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday, by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry.

Briefing the former Nigerian leaders, the minister said that his visit was in view of the task and responsibilities ahead of him in the strategic ministry.

He said in the light of that, it was imperative that he and his state counterpart consult and tap from the wisdom and wealth of their experience.

Badaru said that he would not relent in his efforts at wider consultations with elders and former Nigerian leaders on how to tackle the current security challenges facing the nation.

He commended the former Head of State, who was also the head of ECOWAS special envoy to Niger Republic for his gigantic efforts at restoring peace and overcoming the current political impasse in that country.

Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Military Head of State between 1998 and 1999 is a renowned elder statesman and a Peace Ambassador for ECOWAS and the United Nations.

Similarly, Agwai had served the nation at one point of his career as the Commander of the combined United Nations- African Union Peacekeeping Force in Dafur.

He also served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Defence Staff.

Both leaders commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing the minister, describing him as a great achiever.

They wished him a successful tenure as minister of defence.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has directed that only government officials who have direct relevance to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) should travel as part of Nigeria’s delegation.

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed that it was a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in the country.

The president directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official activities.

‘’To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.

‘’By this directive of the president, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event.

‘’Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process,’’ he said.

The president stressed that government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has tasked the new cabinet ministers to hit the ground running by working hard to turn around the fortunes of the country.

He gave the charge on Monday while addressing the cabinet members at the opening of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.

“We have talents; we have the level of intellectuals and capacity to turn this country around. You and I know that the expectation is high. Therefore we must work hard, commit ourselves and create a buoyant economy that will serve every Nigerian.”

The president charged the ministers to work as a team, stressing that if they stay focused in the discharge of their responsibilities, the country would quickly move forward.

“Every one of you is a member of this team, we can do whatever we want from our areas of responsibility but it all depends on you. If you stay focused, we will all arrive at a better destination and the country will be better for it,” he said.

Tinubu added that the natural endowments of the country must be properly harnessed to make life better for citizens of the country.

“We must unlock the energy and natural resources of this country. We must start to produce for ourselves, dig ourselves out of the woods, focus on education, healthcare, and make social investments that are essential for the development of our people.

“Our priority areas are defined in our economic programmes. Every area is our priority and you belong in the driver’s position to realise and make that priority a fulfilling promise to the entire nation and the continent of Africa.

“We must achieve the economic growth that is expected of us. We must feed our people, we must leverage on what we have and grow more to satisfy Nigerians,” he said.

Tinubu said he would continue to listen to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians and make corrections where necessary, as he enjoined the ministers to be bold in taking decisions that would move the nation forward.

“I am ready to listen. Like I said to the Nigerian Bar Association yesterday, I am ready even for corrections because only God is perfect. Don’t be afraid to make a decision; that’s the problem of leadership,” he said.

The president also said that the challenges confronting the nation like security, unemployment and food security would be addressed in order to alleviate the plight of citizens.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government says it has no intention to borrow from any local or foreign organisation with its removal of subsidy on petrol and exchange rate harmonisation.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, revealed this at the end of the inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the benefit of the subsidy removal would be ploughed back into various sectors aimed at boosting government revenue and improving business environment for local and foreign investment.

Edun said that with the increased revenue from subsidy removal, various palliatives had been made available to cushion its effects on a short, medium and long term bases.

He reiterated the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s desire to bring back the economy from the wood it has found itself over time.

Similarly, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said investment offers were already coming up in different sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, health, solid minerals and agriculture.

She said that her ministry would collaborate with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to achieve the president’s commitment to creation of jobs for the teeming youthful population of Nigeria.

On his part, the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, said that critical sections of the health value chain would be exploited to improve the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

He said that the president had directed them to be courageous and innovative in taking decisions that would benefit the country, adding that the president is already taking such moves.

Pate said that the president was responsive to the need to set the economy on the path of progress with his move to remove subsidy on petrol on his first day in office.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said that the president charged the cabinet members to be transparent in their dealings, especially in disseminating necessary information.

He urged the media to avail themselves the opportunity of verifying and fact checking their stories in order not to misinform the public.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has signalled the desire of President Bola Tinubu administration to ameliorate poverty among the citizenry.

Shortly after her swearing in Abuja, Edu declared: “A lot of interventions will come under the humanitarian plan.

“The important one will be the commencement of Humanitarian Trust Fund where there will be a full-blown resource mobilisation that will help Nigerians meet their need.”

She spoke during her maiden meeting with management staff of the ministry.

She further declared “Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals target’’.

She also used the occasion to announce part of Tinubu administration’s plans to tackle unemployment, saying the ministry was mandated to create 10 million new jobs in addition to humanitarian interventions.

“Every strata of the society including women, men, children and people living with disabilities would benefit from the various poverty alleviation schemes the government would soon unveil.

“President Bola Tinubu has a clear vision on what he intends to do to eradicate poverty in line with the SDGs which states that poverty should be eradicated by 2030.

“This explains why the president is fully committed to pulling Nigerians out of poverty.

“The President believes that by the end of his administration there wouldn’t be any Nigerian living under one dollar ninety five cents a day.

“The president has put in place a robust poverty alleviation and humanitarian plans that will pull vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty; we will be looking at job creation in their millions“, Edu said.

She said the ministry would achieve the target through different interventions and initiatives aimed at lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

“What is most important is that we will keep our focus on lifting 133 million Nigerians out of poverty; we can do it in phases, a step at a time.

“We will play down on politics.

We are here to face the real business of governance; we need to bring smiles back to the faces of Nigerians.

“We must reach out to those who are underserved and renew their hope” she said.

Similarly, while hosting a delegation from UNICEF led by its Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, Edu pledged swifter and more coordinated response to emergencies.

During the event UNICEF pledged to commit 270 million dollars to support Nigeria’s efforts in humanitarian response and poverty alleviation.

“We will also support the development of a Humanitarian Response Protocol for Nigeria to guide all Humanitarian Actors as this will facilitate effective coordination.

“We will support the establishment of a National Humanitarian Situation Room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (H-EOC) to monitor, mitigate and prevent Humanitarian Emergencies and build resilience in the system”, she said.

Again, the minister emphasised the aspiration of the government to eliminate poverty from the shores of the country.

“This especially the 71 million extremely poor Nigerians who leave under one dollar ninety-five cents a day“, she said.

She urged UNICEF to as a matter of urgency draw up their plan of action towards supporting the federal government efforts on poverty alleviation.

“Time is of essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programmes that will bring relieve to the burdens of the poor.

“Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda and the time for intense action is now” she said.

While receiving another delegation from University of Calabar, the Edu said the government would explore skills development as a tool for fighting poverty and unemployment among young people.

The delegation was led by the Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof. Florence Obi.

“So, the Federal Government is ready to partner with the university to train the trainers with skill acquisition-based knowledge to redistribute wealth and reduce poverty in the country.

“We are delighted that the university’s Skill Acquisition and Vocational Center would come in handy in training thousands of youths, thereby reducing unemployment and social tension.

“We are going to partner with your university and others across the country in realising this set objectives “, she said.

Previous administrations have failed in their promises to end poverty in the country in spite of various programmes and interventions such as N-Power, Youth Employment Scheme, more famously the National Poverty Eradication Programmes.

Rather than poverty rate chart has been on upward curve.

A 2022 National Bureau of Statistics report says 63 per cent of persons living within Nigeria, representing 133 million people, are multi-dimensionally poor.

Observers say the poverty alleviation assurance and marshal plan by the Tinubu administration is a welcome development and hope that words will be matched with action

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Army and other stakeholders have emphasised the need to enhance mental health awareness among military personnel and other security agencies to address cases of stress disorder in operational fronts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Department of Army Transformation and Innovation in collaboration with Peace Building Development Consult, on Monday commenced a three-day Mental Health Resilience and Wellness Course (MHRWC 3) in Abuja.

The Director General of NARC, Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, represented by retired Maj.-Gen. Joseph Orokpo, said the issue of mental health was crucial to the military, paramilitary and the entire nation.

Wahab said there had been instances of soldiers shooting indiscriminately and killing colleagues, saying such circumstance could be triggered by operational issues, stress, trauma, anxiety and other factors that affect mental health of personnel.

He urged the participants to advise their patients and commanders on what to do to avoid the issue of mental health on the field considering the current operations being undertaken by the military and other security agencies.

“We expect that they will find themselves in the operational areas and then they will be able to advise the commanders and treat their patients accordingly.

“Mental issues in the military is of a great concern to us at all time. People with stress disorders, trauma, and all those kind of things.

“In the military, we want them to be in the right frame of mind to carry out the operations for national security,” he said.

Dr Omoyemu Dike-Osuhor, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said there was need to understand the role of the brain being the control centre of the body.

Dike-Osuhor said the brain controls emotion, intelligence judgment and behavior, saying that it was crucial for security personnel who had to make important decisions and judgments when carrying out operations.

She said the issue of mental health was important for military personnel in enhancing their resilience and handling of stress to avoid poor judgment that could lead to loss of life.

The psychiatrist lamented the dearth of adequate facilities to manage and control mental health, as well as shortage of doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors.

“It is only almost at the tertiary level that we are able to identify mental health disorder, but it is from the grassroots, the primary healthcare center that it would be discovered that a person is becoming depressed, has anxiety and should be refered appropriately.

“It is not only medication that is needed to manage mental health disorder, you have the behavioral part which involves counselling, psychotherapy and all that.

“So we need to inculcate this from the primary healthcare to the tertiary level.

“My call to the military is I know that their training involves them being resilient and being hard, but everybody has got a brain and the brain is subject to being affected by any stress situation.

“So when you feel that you are overwhelmed and not coping, please call out for help. Don’t say my training says I should not feel sick, if not, the end result, the outcome might not be so good,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

In a bid to ensure effective and efficient operations of the Nigerian Army, Army Headquarters Garrison, on Monday commenced a weeklong Operational Planning Cadre for middle level career officers of the army and other sister security agencies.

The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj.-Gen. Nosakhare Ugbo, said the officers would have the opportunity of understanding the rudiments and fundamentals of operational planning, urging them to seize the opportunity and enhance their capacity.

Ugbo said the theme of the 2023 Cadre, which is “Military Capacity Building and Multi Agency Approach to Counter-terrorism/Counter-insurgency operations in the Nigerian army”, was well thought out considering the contemporary security environment in Nigeria.

He said it was imperative that commanders implement a holistic and well planned approach with a view to overcome and checkmate the various security challenges within the nation’s borders.

According to him, their unwholesome activities have been characterised by killings of innocent and law abiding citizens, abduction, attacks on vulnerable communities, use of improvised explosive devices and ambushes on security personnel.

“As part of efforts to ensure that you are adequately trained and ready to confront these challenges, AHQ gave approval for the conduct of the operational planning cadre annually across all Nigerian army formations.

“I am glad to state that the sustenance of this directive over the years has caused a parameter shift in the conduct of our operations in various theaters, both within and outside Nigeria.

“Your active participation in this cadre specially organised for you will enrich and enhance your knowledge in operational arts and campaign planning within a joint environment and assist you in timely execution of all assigned tasks,” he said.

Ugbo urged the commander to adopt creative and innovativeness approach in operational planning for success and positive outputs, adding that such approach will endear them to both subordinates and superiors alike.

He also urged them to strive to galvanise and utilise the two variables towards achieving assigned operational objectives.

“I urge you all to key into this drive by ensuring that you are guided by the Chief of Army Staff Commands philosophy, which is “To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well Trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving its Constitutional Responsibilities Within a Joint Environment”.

The Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Maj.-Gen. Koko Isoni, said the 2023 cadre had brought together tactical and operational level officers from Nigerian army formations as well as sister security agencies and paramilitary organisations in AHQ Garrison area of responsibility.

Isoni said the training was meant to refresh participants on the various aspects of operations planning process with a view to enhancing their skills in operational acts and campaign planning.

He added that the training would also improve the capacity of participants in joint and single operations planning process in line with the Chief of Army Staff operate in line with the COAS Command philosophy.

“As we are all aware, warfare is becoming increasingly complex due to changes in the nature of threats and advancement in technology.

“In view of this, armies all over are continually engaged in training and capacity building to enable them surmount contemporary security challenges.

“The Nigerian army fully recognises these changes and therefore seeks to develop capacity through realistic training that will enhance its operations.

“Additionally, AHQ Garrison’s experiences in its various engagements have held also draw lessons and have also assisted the Garrison to identify gaps in the conduct of these operations.

“To this end, the operations planning cadre for this year is expected to explore ways of building on existing efforts by the Garrison to meet its operational needs,” he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has urged members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms to develop a robust roadmap that will transform the nation’s economy.

Shettima gave the advice on Monday when he received the members of the Committee, led by its Chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

” The task before you is enormous, I believe you have the best brains to come up with a robust roadmap that will reposition our economy.

“And to address some of the fundamental issues underlying our fiscal and tax policies, fiscal and tax policies are key to the realisation of any nation’s economic development.

“I believe you will come up with a roadmap to salvage our nation, we are in a big mess, but I have confidence in your team. This is a great nation chained by poor governance, chained by many challenges”

He described President Bola Tinubu as man of courage and conviction and a progressive man in the Nigerian political space.

Shettima, who stressed the importance of fiscal policy and tax reforms, noted that it was a potent tool for resource mobilisation.

According to him, the committee should make recommendations that are quick deliverables in view of the nation’s current economic realities.

While assuring them of the National Economic Council’s cooperation, he said “our focus should largely dwell on domestic resource mobilisation.

” Especially with trends in the world today, even the biggest economies in the world are faced with this reality.”

The Vice President said further that fiscal policy and tax reforms were critical for meeting national aspirations.

” This is also taking global dimensions with global realignment of forces with the emergence of BRICS and current geo-politics, ” he said.

Shettima, who praised the composition of the committee, said that the composition of the committee bears testimony to the seriousness that the Tinubu attaches to its mandate.

” Honestly, I am proud of you. I am personally conversant with some of the members of this committee who are men and women of impeccable character, high integrity, committed and patriotic.”

Earlier, Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zaccheus Adedeji, said that the committee would be interested in working with the NEC, chaired by the Vice President.

” This will ensure effective collaboration with the sub-national governments who are critical stakeholders’ group in the task before the committee.”

In his remarks, Oyedele, said that the committee was excited for the opportunity to help the country to redefine and redesign a new fiscal policy framework.

” We are focused on our mandate as directed by Mr President which covers fiscal governance, revenue transformation and fiscal competitiveness and economic growth facilitation.”

He assured that the committee would engage with Nigerians both at home and abroad as well as with all segments of the society.

He expressed the readiness of the committee to engage with sub-national governments through NEC in achieving its mandate.

” I’m the chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reform committee. And the reason why we are here is to see His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima.

” The mandate given to us by Mr President is to help our country regarding matters of fiscal governance, which is really about how do we manage our revenue.

” As well as revenue transformation beyond tax. So, this is both tax and non tax, as well as how do we facilitate economic growth so that people can have prosperity? That is inclusive.

” So, we came here today to pay courtesy visit and to give His Excellency an updates about what we’re doing and more importantly, and to ask for his support and guidance, particularly engaging with the sub national government.

” This is important because our assignments will be incomplete and unsuccessful without the support from the governors, as well as even the Local Government Areas.”

He noted that the committee was different from the previous ones for two major reasons.

” The President has the political will to follow through our recommendations which may not be the usual recommendations that people are comfortable with.

” But we’re putting the interest of our country first, and all the way through. The second thing is Mr President was very clear, that he was not interested in committees writing reports.

” He has said to us as you recommend, how you get the approval, go ahead and help me to implement. So, that’s why we have milestone three of them.

” The first one is the first 30 days, which is where we’re focusing on the quick interventions around fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate stability, and then we have the second milestone, which is the first six months.

” First six months of critical reforms; We plan to rewrite the law. So, that will remove the burden on the poorest people.

” And then lastly is one year which is implementation, and the good thing is that the 30 days, six months and one year, will run concurrently, so, we’re already counting down to our first 30 days.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has advocated for the use of climate-smart solutions and precision agriculture to increase productivity and mitigate food instability.

Nnaji said this on Monday during the 35th annual conference of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) in Abuja.

The theme of Conference is “Improving Nigeria’s Economic Research Resilience through Innovative Biotechnology ”.

He said that based on global dynamism, other emerging technologies such as synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and tissue engineering would continue to have potential implications for the future of crops and livestock agriculture.

“Harnessing the potential of these technologies for food security will require massive investment in research and development and dissemination, regional and international collaboration as well as technology foresight and assessment will promote innovations in agriculture.

“I therefore charge all of you, members of BSN and other relevant stakeholders to chart innovative ways capable of solving this pressing issue of food security in fulfillment of the President’s renewed hope agenda for Nigeria,” Nnaji said.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr James Sule, said that the country must invest in foundational scientific capabilities such as research and development.

He however said that entrenching innovation, science and technology in every day life was key to achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.

The Director General, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Prof. Martins Emeje, said that scientists should take up their responsibilities and come up with ideas that could boost the economy.

Emeje, however, called on the Federal Government to convene a summit of all scientists across the country inorder to provide solutions to some of the challenges associated with agriculture and innovations.

The President of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN), Prof. Mohammed Yerima, said that the objective of the conference was to create a foundation to advance understanding of scientific issues relating to food and nutrition security, healthcare and well being of mankind and cleaner environment.

“It is one thing for farmers to use rain water and carbondioxide which are free from God to grow food crops, but another thing entirely for scientists to add value to such agricultural produce.

“Nutritional enhancement of food crops can be achieved through deployment of modern biotechnology.

“it is important to look at new options, principally new technologies which are beneficial to farmers and acceptable to consumers” Yerima said.

He also said ‘Genome’ editing of food crops and animals was considered an important tool in solving many problems in the agricultural food systems and health.

Mr Andrew Ilohon, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event, said that the conference would also provide a fertile ground for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging the exchange of ideas, and nurturing the next generation of biotechnologists.

“It is through our collectives efforts and unwavering dedication that we can leverage the power of biotechnology to tackle these challenges head-on and pave the way for a brighter, healthier and more sustainable future.

The Director General of Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHETSCO), Prof. Paul Onyenekwe, said that biotechnology represented the harmonious blend of biology, technology, and human ingenuity, saying it’s empowers one to harness the intricate mechanism of life to address some of the most pressing challenges.

He said the advent of synthetic biology had enabled the design and construction of biological systems leading to the development of biofuels, bio-based materials, and even artificial organs.

“As we embrace the marvels of innovation in biotechnology, we must also remain mindful of the ethical considerations that arise.

“We must ensure that the fruits of endeavor share wielded ethically and responsibly, safeguarding the rights, dignity and privacy of individuals while promoting equitable access to these transformative technologies across the globe.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Angolan minister of Transport Ricardo de Abreu has stressed the need to boost the cargo transport in Southern Corridor in what he described as priority for the sector.

The minister said Monday in Lubango, southern Huila province, that the promotion of this segment will help speed up the diversification of the country’s economy.

Speaking after a meeting with the governor of Huíla, Nuno Mahapi, the minister said in addition to the oil sector, the Southern Corridor has exported the most in terms of volume.

He spoke of the need of greater consistency so that the transport activity has another dimension.

“From what we have seen and heard, from the mineral operators, the numbers can grow significantly. And if that happens, it necessarily has to have another capacity and availability to be able to support this activity”, stressed Ricardo de Abreu.

However, he said that work is being done in a coordinated and inclusive manner in order to respond to the concerns of businessmen.

The Southern Corridor, which crosses the provinces of Namibe, Huíla and Cuando Cubango, has handled over the last six months, via the Port of Namibe, over 600,000 tons of cargo and another 100,000 through the Moçâmedes Railway (CFM).

The minister has been in Lubango to chair the activities to Revive the Transport and Export Process of Iron Ore and Ornamental Stones in Southern Angola.

The forum, running until Wednesday, is designed for companies operating in the Southern Corridor of Angola, especially in the sectors mining, rail-port and logistics transport.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)