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President Buhari Calls For Adoption Of Gas As Transitional Fuel

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President Muhammad Buhari

Nigeria has called for greater collaboration among Africans to effectively confront challenges such as climate change, public health, local vaccine production, among others.

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, in a statement, said that President Muhammadu Buhari made the call on Wednesday in Abuja.

Buhari spoke at a meeting of the African Union (AU) on the New Partnership for African Development(NEPAD).

The meeting was under the auspices of the 39th Session of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), at the margins of the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union.

Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the virtual event, Buhari said the continent needed to brace up for wider cooperation in public heath.

“To prepare itself more for intra African collaboration to fight public health challenges, work together to promote vaccine production in Africa, and prompt response to climate change and the zero-emissions targets.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has severely weakened our economies but it has also left important lessons.

“One is that Africa needs to prepare itself more for intra African collaboration to fight public health challenges, especially those of pandemic scale.

“We must work together to promote vaccine production in Africa; second issue I would like to raise is Africa’s response to climate change and the zero-emissions targets set in Paris and at subsequent climate change meetings.

“We must of course contribute our quota in protecting the environment and preventing climate change; but we must also continue to build sustainable power systems to accelerate development and create economic opportunities for our people.”

 On  climate change, the president said Africa needs far more energy than the renewables sources could immediately provide.

According to him, Africa cannot but adopt gas as a transition fuel.

“We must together make clear to the developed world that the current trend of withholding funds for investment in gas development is the wrong thing to do at this time.”

On the success made by Nigeria in domesticating the NEPAD framework on sustainable development, Buhari said that growth in the Nigerian ICT sector had been phenomenal.

He said that ICT recorded the highest growth of all the sectors of the Nigerian economy in 2020.

“By intensifying Agricultural development, NEPAD inspired Home Grown School Feeding and other Social Intervention Programmes, we are feeding over nine million children in public schools daily and significantly improving the lot of our people.

“It is worthy of note that through regional partnership, Nigeria is currently implementing the innovative strengthening of smallholder farmer’s capabilities towards productive land restoration amid COVID-19 in Nigeria.”

“This is not only to cushion the effect of COVID-19 in the country but also to accelerate the implementation of Africa’s regional initiative to restore degraded lands.”

The president commended the foresight of the founding Fathers of NEPAD, AU’s development agency and the continental initiative for the effective implementation of Agenda 2063.

He re-echoed the view that NEPAD was about the development of the continent – delivering to African citizens.

Let us look forward to working together in building a strong organisation for delivery of results on the continent,”  Buhari said.

The vice president, in another development,  received a delegation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) led by its President, Mrs Comfort Eyitayo, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

He commended the adoption of the new, innovative framework for public finance management known as the ICAN-AI (ICAN Accountability Index) and noted the proposed amendment to the Act establishing ICAN.

The vice president expressed delight with the progress of the accounting body.

“I am personally very happy to see that ICAN has grown from strength to strength, and I am particularly fascinated by some of what we are seeing especially forays into public education,” he said.

In her remarks, Eyitayo lauded the Federal Government’s consistent drive to revamp the country’s budget system, aligning with international best practice of having a January to December budget year and having Finance Acts to make the Appropriation Act more realisable.

Other ICAN officials present at the meeting included a former President of the Institute, Sen. Kolawole Bajomo; ICAN Vice President, Mr Tijjani  Isa and Registrar of the Institute, Prof. Ahmed Kumshe, among others. (NAN)

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Mega City: Gov. Yusuf Lays Foundation of 15 Billion Naira Inter Change Bridge in Kano

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Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, State Commissioner of Works and Housing Engr. Marwan Ahmad and Project Manager, CGC Nigeria Limited Mr. Gee Wang during the foundation laying of N15 billion naira three layer inter change bridge at Kofar Dan'agundi in Kano on Dunday 5th May, 2024

 

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has layed a N15 billion three layer Interchange bridge at Kofar Dan’agundi in Kano metropolis as part of vision to enhance traffic flow in the ancient city.

The governor who visited the project site on Sunday in company of some cabinet members, affirmed his administration’s eyesight to transform the city centre to status of a mega city.

Recall that Governor Yusuf in December, 2023, awarded the multi-billion naira project to CCG Nigeria Limited with completion period of eighteen months. The multiple projects was awarded along side another high impact interchange bridge at Talidu roundabout also in the city centre, to ease traffic congess.

“We have created fordable alternative routes and motorists are expected to comply with rules for safety and allow the project operation to run smoothly”

Gov. Abba Kabir also layed the foundation of a similar project at Tal’udu roundabout worth 12 billion naira which was initially awarded same time with three layer overpass, underpass and surface layer roads.

In a statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson Sanusi Bature, Infrastructure development is a critical area of the present administration where Gov. Yusuf allocate more resources apart from the education sector.

While responding after the foundation laying ceremony, The Project Manager CGC Nigeria Limited Mr. Gee Wang and the commissioner of works and housing Engr. Marwan Ahmad said in a saparate addresses that the project will be completed within the time frame.

 

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Dangote Cement Hosts NISS Team At Obajana

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The Plant Director of the Dangote Cement Plc Obajana, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, has hosted members and students of the National Institute of Security Studies (NISS), Abuja.

The Executive Intelligence Management Course (EMIC) 17 was on study tour of the Cement Plant as part of overall study tour of Kogi State.

Welcoming the team, the Plant Director expressed appreciation to NISS and the study Anchor for deeming it fit to consider visiting the Plant in the spirit and letters of the theme of the study tour “Artificial Intelligence, Security and Emerging Economies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects.”

The Plant Director congratulated the visiting team on being enlisted for the course and wished them a successful exercise.

The team was led to the Plant by the Hon. Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology for Kogi State, Hon. (Dr.) Adeniyi A. Helen. Also in the team was the Programme Lead, Mr. Hyginus Ngele and the team Anchor, Dr. T. O. Fashola.

Earlier, the Programme Lead explained to the Plant Director and his team that the course is aimed at developing a core of security experts with high level of expertise in intelligence and delop their capacity to formulate and implement security policies and strategies to enhance the economic and social development of Nigeria.

He noted that the course has 92 participants with a group visiting the Plant, while others were simultaneously visiting other locations as part of the course learning process.

The students expressed their satisfaction and appreciation for the reception accorded them by Management of the Plant.

Areas of discussions include: Energy security and sharing, AI utilization in the Plant operations, environment, capacity building and CSR.

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Journalist Hit by Metal Debris from Ongoing Construction – Kano Govt

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

The attention of Kano state government has been drawn to a one sided media report bya section of the media revealing that a journalist, with the state own Television station, attached to Government house was hit by a stray bullet.

The incident, which occurred amidst a flurry of misinformation, sparked widespread concern and speculation regarding the safety of journalists covering events at the government house.

However, the government will like to emphatically say that journalists are not under threat in Kano government house. It is however worthy of note to caution journalists to ensure credible source while reporting any development and avoid unnecessary sensational angle that can mislead the public.

For clarity purpose, Naziru Yau, the reporter of the state television station was not hit by any stray bullet.
Instead, he sustained injuries from the metal debris emanating from an ongoing construction at the Kano State Government House, an area that has been barricaded for caution.

The truth of the incident emerged when medical professionals at the government house clinic disclosed the true nature of Mr. Naziru’s injuries.

The journalist, Mr. Naziru, expressed gratitude for the prompt medical attention he received and thanked well-wishers for their concern during his recovery.

Let me emphasized the need for journalists to remain vigilant while carrying out their duties, especially in environments where construction activities pose potential hazards.

We thereby dispel any rumor that had sparked outrage and call for increased safety measures for journalists covering sensitive events.

We also need to underscores the importance of accurate reporting and thorough investigation in mitigating misinformation and maintaining public trust.

In response to the incident, Sanusi Bature the Director General Press at the Kano State Government House have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring the safety of all individuals within the premises and the state in general.

Additionally, have pledged to review and enhance existing safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident, we urge the public to refrain from spreading unsubstantiated claims and to rely on verified information from credible sources.

 

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