Day: November 5, 2023

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Mr KIM Young-Chae, says the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit will lead to deeper mutual understanding, increase in more investments and humanitarian assistance to Africa.

Young-Chae made this known in his address of welcome at the Republic of Korea National Day Reception, 2023, on Thursday night in Abuja.

He explained that currently, humanity is facing daunting challenges, like climate change, disruption of global supply chain, geopolitical conflicts, and the emerging 4th industrial revolution.

He added that all these international challenges could not be effectively resolved without the active participation of Africa.

According to him, the Korean Government is enhancing its overall relations with Africa, adding that many Korean companies look at Africa as the next manufacturing base as well as a single market.

“Under this backdrop, the Korean Government has decided to host a Korea-Africa Summit next year (2024) for the first time in its history.

“This will lead to more high level exchange of visits, more trade and investment opportunities, and the deepening of a mutual understanding.

“Together with the summit meeting, the Korean government will expand its presence in Africa.

“It will increase its ODA budget substantially in the areas of agriculture, education, health, climate adaptation and humanitarian assistance.

“As a model of economic development for many developing countries, Korea will showcase several platforms at the Summit in order to share its experiences of building the manufacturing base and transforming agriculture,” he said.

The envoy stressed that with same spirit, the Korean Government is determined to implement its long-term vision to go together with Africa for peace and prosperity by hosting 2030 Busan Expo.

He recalled that Nigeria conducted elections early this year, adding that the political process is finally over.

“Democracy needs patience and compromise. Now we have a high expectation that Nigeria will concentrate on economic development.

“Korea is among the first countries that President Bola Tinubu had summit meetings with our President. They had a very fruitful meeting in India on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

“We hope that there will be another bilateral summit meeting in Seoul next year when Korea hosts the Korea-Africa summit. It will produce fruitful results.

“I want to also thank all members of Team Korea in Nigeria, which include KOICA, Korean Cultural Center, KOTRA, and Consulate Office in Lagos,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high points of the event was scintillating music performance by Nike Cultural Troupe, The Royals, Dosi and M.B. Crew.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sen. Ned Nwoko, (PDP-Delta), the Senate Vice Chairman on Environment, has disclosed that the Senate was resolute in addressing environmental degradation in the country.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

He noted that the major issue of environmental degradation was erosion which hugely affected his home state, Delta, particularly the North Senatorial District.

He said another major issue was flooding, affecting more than 13 states across the country and five local government areas in the Delta North Senatorial District.

He added that another issue of environmental degradation had to do with pollution.

According to him, pollution is caused by reckless disposal of waste all over the place, and pollution from gas flaring that is hazardous to the environment and the people’s health.

“Then you have a pipeline, that is crude oil, pipeline vandalism and the spillage when they are vandalised.

“The spillage, when Navy and Air Force personnel bomb illegal crude vessels and the spillage that comes from such destruction, or even when our joint task forces, you know, seek to stop illegal refining by some locals.”

Nwoko disclosed that starting with the erosions, the Senate was already dealing with the issue.

“We have done some compilations of such sites and they have been put in the next budget to address them as a matter of urgency because some lives are threatened, homes are threatened, some villages are cut off.

“But of course, the flooding is a major issue because when it comes annually, it devastates the entire surrounding communities.

“We have made it clear now to the president that two things must be done to avoid this annual crisis that we know is going to happen, yet we wait for it to happen without doing anything about it.

“So those two things must be done at a huge cost and it doesn’t matter about the cost because the governments are in the business of spending money for the well-being and welfare of the people.

“So if we don’t have the money to complete the dam that was already started some years ago up north, this dam was meant to accommodate the spilled water from the Cameroonian dams.

“If it’s not economically viable to complete that dam that was abandoned some years ago, then we need to build a new one. It is something that has to be done,” he said.

The lawmaker also said that there was the need to dredge the River Niger.

“It is also compulsory that we must dredge the River Niger, and in so doing, build embankments across the shoreline, and the waterfront areas.

“We are also trying to focus on stopping gas flaring and imposing huge penalties on those who flare gas and make them comply with international best practices.

“Really, you can’t get gas flaring in America, or Canada or in Romania, or some other oil producing communities in the West because they must comply with pollution levels acceptable laws as stipulated by WHO and other such bodies.

“But of course because Nigeria is Nigeria, they feel they can trample upon us and get away with it. No, not anymore. Not under our watch. The 10th assembly will be different.

“We will breathe down their neck and we must make sure that they respect humanity, they must respect human lives.

“They must understand that it’s unacceptable to destroy the ecosystem, destroy the habitats or the habitats and destroy human lives just because they’re making money,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says it will ensure International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country, pay their contributions to the coffers of the commission.

Sen. Ned Nwoko, (PDP-Delta North), and member Senate Committee on NDDC, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

Nwoko said that the IOCs were owing the commission hundreds of billions of dollars, adding that the committee would invite, investigate them and ensure they did what was right.

According to him, some of the IOCs are making their money in Nigeria, yet failing to make their contributions to the commission.

“We must also insist that they do that. They must do that. You know, they are owing hundreds of billions of dollars to NDDC coffers. So we will invite them, we will investigate them and we will make sure they do what is right.

“We don’t want to interfere with their work, but they have an obligation under the laws of Nigeria, they have an obligation to host communities. They must deal with that.

“I don’t think any member of the committee on NDDC will be compromised because we will not accept it.”

He also said that the tenth assembly and the committee were poised to ensure effective project execution by the NDDC.

“The work of the NDDC is well explained in the act establishing it; yes, this is the tenth assembly and we are different from the previous assemblies.

“And I know that it will not be business as usual, we have made it clear to members of the committee that they cannot turn to substantive contractors like we had in the previous assembly.

“If they must oversight properly and without fear of reproach, they must do things properly.

“The fact that there is enough budget or work to be done will make a difference in the lives of the people and that is important,” he said.

The lawmaker added that if there was a need to make more money available to the commission through budgetary allocation, that would be done.

He also expressed satisfaction with the composition of the current NDDC leadership put together by President Bola Tinubu, saying he had confidence in their capacity.

“They understand that this is a new era, and things will not be done like in the past where contractors are paid money and they run away with it,” he said.

Nwoko stressed the need for all contractors to deliver on their undertakings, adding that there would be no excuses.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta), says nobody should be seen as above the law when dealing with issues of oil theft and spillage in the country.

Nwoko, who is the Senate Vice Chairman on Environment, and member representing Delta North Senatorial District, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.

He said that he found it unacceptable when people say that there were cabals who were untouchable and were involved in oil theft and spillage.

He noted that nobody was above the law of the country, adding that whether as a former Military General, or current General or former Head of State, if indicted in oil theft and spillage, the senate would name and expose that person.

“Yes, but what I don’t accept, and I find very unacceptable is when people tell me, oh, there’s a cabal. They are untouchable.

“Nobody is above the law. Whether you are a former Military General, current General or former Head of State, if you are involved in this, you will be exposed. You will be named, because nobody is a sacred cow,” he said.

He said that these categories of people causing oil spillage known as “the big boys, and untouchables” were either vessel owners or those who chatter vessels or badges to steal crude in large quantities.

According to him, they are more difficult to deal with because they have the capacity to connive with those who ought to have stopped them.

“It’s not as if they operate at night or they are from the air. No, as I said earlier, they get their vessels to load at platforms that are protected.

“Of course, we know that sometimes among this group of people are those also very sophisticated in the act

“They can tap into crude pipelines, linking them to hundreds of miles into the sea and load from there. But again, it’s all about technology.

“Technology is there to know this. You should be able to know immediately where this is happening.

“But that this can happen for one year, three years and you don’t know, that means that we are negligent, we are reckless, we are fraudulent. We are complicit in every sense of the word.”

The lawmaker said that there were, however, solutions adding that such solutions were that there might be some Nigerians who were diligent, honest, and committed to ensuring that the nation’s revenue generation was maximized from these sources.

He noted that Nigerians were known to work, so those who were capable of being accountable, diligent, and honest, should be supported, promoted and rewarded.

According to him, we have them in Nigeria. Not everybody is a bad egg, so those ones should be identified and rewarded accordingly and the bad eggs should be weeded off from the system.

“So the the motion that I moved about three weeks ago on investigating the crude oil theft in Nigeria, encompasses all this.

“We just started the meeting of the committees involved a few days ago. We invited some of the oil producing companies as well as the security companies that are involved in joint task forces.

“By the time we are done speaking with them, we will visit these locations to know exactly what’s happening and then we proffer solutions,” he said.

Nwoko said the other category of people causing oil spillage through theft were largely Nigerians desperate to survive.

According to him, they are the ones who are trying to distill crude into some finished products. This category of people should be managed in line with my motion on oil theft.

“My proposal is that we should bring them into the formal economy since they have the technology or the crude technology to refine, and what they refine is usable.

“We can invest in them, we can organise them and then make them more useful and accountable.

“We can give them the crude that they want, and the means to refine them to stop them from breaking the pipelines. We just need to work with them.”

He stressed that there were Nigerians who want to be engaged in some activities that would create jobs and generate income and revenue for the government.

“So why destroy what they’re doing? You want them to become armed robbers? Why kill them? They are Nigerians.”

“So we must identify them, identify who they are and negotiate with them, and then get them to become part of the formal economy.

“That is more like saying bringing them into the mainstream, investing in them and improving their technology.

“So we can organise them because largely they also pollute the environment endlessly.

“We cannot supervise them if you are not willing to bring them into your fold. We don’t need to criminalise everybody, especially this category of people that can help to create jobs, help to generate revenue,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The 12th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) slated to hold from Nov. 5 to 11 will feature biopics of late Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, as well as renowned artist, Nike Davies-Okundaye.

Chioma Ude, Founder of AFRIFF, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, in Lagos.

“The festival will present a selection of note-worthy films, including “Queen of Adire – A Story of Nike Davies Okundaye” by Titi Ogunfere and “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” by the visionary Bola Austen-Peters, among others.

“ All these will showcase indigenous narratives from women who have made national impact.

“ The festival will be adorned with a series of diverse activities, including panel discussions, and networking sessions, leading to the prestigious AFRIFF Globe Awards,” she said.

Ude noted that 2023 edition of the award would unveil three new exciting categories sponsored by MTN Nigeria.

She said these additions included: Honouree Award, offering N2million to each recipient and Viewer’s Choice category, allowing viewers to vote for their preferred movie of the year.

She said the last one was the Fan Favorite Award, enabling fans to cast their votes for their favourite actors and actresses.

“The awards will be presented to selected actors at the Globe Awards Night, on November 11 during the festival.

“Actors to be honoured include Richard Mofe Damijo (The Black Book), Blossom Chukwujekwu (The Trade), Chidi Mokeme (Shanty Town), Funke Akindele (Battle on Buka street) and Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun).

“Others are Chioma Akpotha (Gangs of Lagos), Kunle Remi (Anikulapo), Ini Edo (Shanty Town), Nse Ikpe Etim (4-44-44), Lateef Adedimeji, (Jagun Jagun) and Tobi Bakare (Gangs of Lagos),” she said.

Ude reaffirmed readiness to improve the festival’s capacity towards global expectations.

She said 12th AFRIFF promises a captivating opening night with the exclusive premiere of ORAH, directed by Lonzo Nzekwe.

Ude noted that the closing night would be equally exciting as it would feature the highly- anticipated premiere of the inspirational movie “Breath of Life” , directed by BB Shashore and produced by Eku Edewor.

“We are inspired by the passion and dedication of filmmakers and film enthusiasts in Africa, and we are committed to providing a platform for their voices to be heard.

“This year, the theme is Indigenous to global 2.0, which is in continuation of last year’s theme, but I learnt a lot about how unready we are.

“In order to be very prepared, we expanded our panel, our judges, master classes to prepare us more for the global market.

“ We are focused on improving capacity building, with industry partners and position the industry further for more opportunities. Next year will be Indigenous to Global 3.0 until we get it right”,she said.

Latasha Ngwube, Head of Media and Public Relations for 12th AFRIFF said that the festival woulf uncover new talents, create insider opportunities and screen hundreds of films for free.

“The world is coming to Nigeria as AFRIFF looks internally to strengthen and grow in preparation to take African stories made by Africans to the world.

“The AFRIFF jury boasts of local and international members headed by Stephen Dr. Love.

“Others are Abby Ajayi, Nicholas Weinstock, Geneva Wasserman, Wafa’a Celine Halawi, Greg Odutayo, Ranada Shepard, Tsitsi Dangaremgba and Nollywood greats, Kate Henshaw, Desmond Elliot, as well as Multichoice Nigeria’s Bisola Tejumola,”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

KEETMANSHOOP: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) at Lüderitz are investigating a case of robbery and fraud after an unknown man allegedly defrauded a German national of about N.dollars 44 000.

NamPol crime investigations coordinator for ||Kharas, Deputy Commissioner Nikodemus Mbango on Sunday told Nampa that the incident occurred on Thursday around 17h55 at the coastal town.

It is alleged that the complainant who is a 56-year-old man had inserted his ATM card at the Nedbank ATM and entered his pin, and while waiting for the money someone came from behind and cancelled the transaction.

“The unknown man allegedly told the complainant that he was an employee of Nedbank and was there to assist him and left. The complainant waited for the card for a while but it didn’t come out and he suspects that the unknown man took the card without being detected,” added Mbango.

Mbango said by the time the complainant was busy calling the bank for assistance, his cellphone was already notifying of withdrawals on three different occasions totalling 2 230.51 Euro, which is equivalent to N.dollars 44 375.40 and one of the withdrawals was done in Rundu.

“According to the complainant the suspect is a man dark in complexion and of middle height with a moustache, who was wearing a black t-shirt with a fine silver necklace and black trousers,” Mbango said.

No money is recovered and police investigation continues.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: A 49-year-old Windhoek man together with his family in their home were on Saturday allegedly robbed of both items and cash valued at N.dollars 100 000 in Otjomuise’s Boston Street.

In a crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force on Sunday, spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi noted that the family was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint by four unknown male suspects at about 00h30.

“It is alleged that the suspects gained entrance at the family residence by using a bolt cutter to cut the burglar bars in front of the victims and entered and robbed them of items including one laptop, one television set, one cellphone, one wedding ring, and a passport as well as cash, all totalling N.dollars 100 000,” she said.

No recovery and arrest have been made as police investigations continue, Shikwambi said.

In a similar case, a pensioner was on Saturday attacked and robbed at his home after suspects allegedly jumped over his residence wall and attacked him in his garage at Auasblick in Windhoek.

Shikwambi stated that the suspects allegedly jumped over the wall and found the complainant in his garage at about 12h00 and attacked him with a panga and knives.

It is alleged that the suspects stole property including a vehicle, a pistol, a TV set and more items, the spokesperson said.

The value of the properties is unknown at this stage and no arrests nor recoveries have been made yet and police investigations continue, Shikwambi noted.

In another incident, a 49-year-old Namibian male was on Friday robbed of his personal belongings valued at N.dollars 10 100 after he was allegedly held at gunpoint by suspects along the B1 road in Windhoek.

Shikwambi said that the incident occurred at about 22h00 and that the victim was robbed of a cellphone, two tempo watches, a laptop bag, two pairs of shoes, two t-shirts, denim shorts and business registration documents.

No recovery nor arrests have been made yet and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

KEETMANSHOOP: Some businesses that took part in the Keetmanshoop Agricultural, Industrial and Tourism Expo said the event has provided an opportunity for them to network and has given them exposure.

The expo took place from 31 October to 04 November 2023 at the Westdene Stadium.

Speaking to this news agency towards the end of the expo, Brain Titus a contemporary artist said the expo gave him the opportunity to share his work with the world and it has gotten him customers from Keetmanshoop and elsewhere.

“I am happy with the sales I made, I now have a customer base, people are calling me from as far as Windhoek and Karibib, interested in what I am doing here, so I thank the organisers of this event for giving me that opportunity,” said Titus, a resident of Keetmanshoop who started his art work last year due to lack of job opportunities.

Titus walked away with the expo’s first place award for small business outstanding stall.

Nelson Nakale of Tokkie leatherworks said he only managed to sell a small amount of the shoes he came with, however was quick to say that the expo created a platform for small businesses to get information on government institutions that can help them with financing their businesses.

“It was really good to be here, we got information on institutions that can help us, but we would want the organisers to ensure that people come in for free and spend the money on us the vendors, we have seen that at expos or festivals where entrance is free one can make money in terms of sales, also the event should be marketed more,” said Nakale who came from Lüderitz to participate in the expo.

Josias Ndhlovu from South Africa who represented HSP marketing said the outcome of the customers was low compared to last year, citing that the dates must be moved to 25th to month end to accommodate more potential customers that get paid on those dates.

“Sales have been poor really, last year it was better, this year we made a loss, remember we have to pay the stall, pay accommodation and all that, so they should look into changing the dates and plus they should advertise the event, people all over should know about the expo,” he said.

They sell massage machines, multi-purpose cleaning materials and kitchen gadgets.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

KEETMANSHOOP: Some businesses that took part in the Keetmanshoop Agricultural, Industrial and Tourism Expo said the event has provided an opportunity for them to network and has given them exposure.

The expo took place from 31 October to 04 November 2023 at the Westdene Stadium.

Speaking to this news agency towards the end of the expo, Brain Titus a contemporary artist said the expo gave him the opportunity to share his work with the world and it has gotten him customers from Keetmanshoop and elsewhere.

“I am happy with the sales I made, I now have a customer base, people are calling me from as far as Windhoek and Karibib, interested in what I am doing here, so I thank the organisers of this event for giving me that opportunity,” said Titus, a resident of Keetmanshoop who started his art work last year due to lack of job opportunities.

Titus walked away with the expo’s first place award for small business outstanding stall.

Nelson Nakale of Tokkie leatherworks said he only managed to sell a small amount of the shoes he came with, however was quick to say that the expo created a platform for small businesses to get information on government institutions that can help them with financing their businesses.

“It was really good to be here, we got information on institutions that can help us, but we would want the organisers to ensure that people come in for free and spend the money on us the vendors, we have seen that at expos or festivals where entrance is free one can make money in terms of sales, also the event should be marketed more,” said Nakale who came from Lüderitz to participate in the expo.

Josias Ndhlovu from South Africa who represented HSP marketing said the outcome of the customers was low compared to last year, citing that the dates must be moved to 25th to month end to accommodate more potential customers that get paid on those dates.

“Sales have been poor really, last year it was better, this year we made a loss, remember we have to pay the stall, pay accommodation and all that, so they should look into changing the dates and plus they should advertise the event, people all over should know about the expo,” he said.

They sell massage machines, multi-purpose cleaning materials and kitchen gadgets.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: A 23-year-old Namibian male on Saturday died after he and his friends were allegedly attacked by unknown assailants near a bar in Goreangab Dam in Windhoek.

A crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force on Sunday said that in the incident that took place at about 02h39, information revealed that the deceased and his friends were playing a jackpot machine in one bar and left.

“After a few minutes the deceased with one of his friends came back running and both were stabbed and wounded, however the deceased just walked a short distance and died on the spot,” the police added.

The police noted that the victim was taken to Katutura State Hospital for treatment, and that there is still no suspect at the moment.

In a separate incident, a 22-year-old Namibian male was on Friday robbed of his vehicle after being held at gunpoint at Havana in Windhoek.

The police said the incident occurred at about 12h00 and the vehicle was described to be a Golf 7 of which the value is yet to be determined.

The suspect is still unknown and police investigations continue, the police said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency