News

Namibia’s President Passes On At 82

Published

3 months ago

February 4, 2024

Namibia’s President Hage Geingob, 82, died early Sunday, the presidency said, weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Geingob had been in charge of the thinly populated and mostly arid southern African country since 2015, the year he announced he had survived prostate cancer.

Vice President Nangolo Mbumba takes the helm in Namibia — a mining hotspot with significant deposits of diamonds and the electric car battery ingredient lithium — until presidential and parliamentary elections at the end of the year.

A presidency post on social media platform X did not give a cause of death, but late last month the presidency said he had traveled to the United States for “a two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells,” after being diagnosed following a regular medical check-up.

Born in 1941, Geingob was a prominent politician since before Namibia achieved independence from white minority-ruled South Africa in 1990.

He chaired the body that drafted Namibia’s constitution, then became its first prime minister at independence on March 21 of that year, a position he retained until 2002.
2007, Geingob became vice president of the governing South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), which he had joined as an agitator for independence when Namibia was still known as South West Africa.

SWAPO has remained in power in Namibia unchallenged since independence. The former German colony is technically an upper middle-income country but one with huge disparities in wealth.

“There were no textbooks to prepare us for accomplishing the task of development and shared prosperity after independence,” he said in a speech to mark the day in 2018. “We needed to build a Namibia in which the chains of the injustices of the past would be broken.”

Geingob served as trade and industry minister before becoming prime minister again in 2012.

He won the 2014 election with 87% of the vote but only narrowly avoided a runoff with a little more than half the votes in a subsequent poll in November 2019.

That election followed a government bribery scandal, in which officials were alleged to have awarded horse mackerel quotas to Iceland’s biggest fishing firm, Samherji, in exchange for kickbacks, according to local media reports. The resultant outcry led to the resignation of two ministers.

The following year, Geingob lamented that Namibia’s wealth still remained concentrated in the hands of its white minority.

Distribution is an issue, but how do we do it?” Geingob said in a virtual session at an event organized by international organization Horasis.

“We have a racial issue here, a historical racial divide. Now you say we must grab from the whites and give it to the Blacks, it’s not going to work,” he said.

His comments came after the government rescinded as unworkable a policy that would have made it mandatory for white-owned businesses to sell a 25% stake to Black Namibians.

Geingob died at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek, where he was receiving treatment from his medical team, the presidency said.

News

Dangote Cement places premium on Community engagement, sustainability in Host communities

Published

6 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Dangote Cement Plc, is prioritizing community engagement, empowerment, and environmental stewardship to sustain its upward trajectory,

The cement manufacturing firm said it believed that true progress is measured not only by economic prosperity but also by the holistic development of all stakeholders.

The Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc Obajana, Mr. Azad Nawabuddin, who disclosed this during a media chat in Obajana, said that the relationship between Dangote Cement and its host communities and other stakeholders transcends transactional exchanges as it is built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and shared aspirations.

“The communities in which we operate are not just beneficiaries; they are our partners in progress,” he affirmed.

While reaffirming the company’s commitment to its host communities, Nawabuddin, who recently moved from the Ibese plant, emphasized that the company would collaborate with key stakeholders in Obajana to implement impactful projects.

He said crucial to the vision is the empowerment of residents through skills development and capacity-building initiatives. “We recognize the importance of equipping community members with the requisite skills to thrive in today’s competitive landscape,” Nawabuddin asserted.

The Dangote Cement boss said this will enhance employability and foster entrepreneurship among youth and women in the host communities.

With a steadfast commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development, Nawabuddin outlined initiatives to strengthen the bond between Dangote Cement and the communities. He emphasized that the company views its host communities as partners.

“In terms of community engagement, we will hold meetings to explore avenues for supporting them, including opportunities for businesses and contracts. The communities are integral partners for us. Through dialogue with them, we aim to execute significant projects that will bring them lasting benefits,” he stated.

Nawabuddin also stressed the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in Dangote Cement’s operations. “We are custodians of the environment, and it is our duty to ensure that our activities leave a positive impact on the ecosystem,” he added.

Nawabuddin explained that in addition to socio-economic development is the importance of addressing security concerns in the host communities. He said through collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies and community-based initiatives, security risks will be mitigated, and the well-being of residents will be upheld.

“We are working closely with local authorities and community leaders to enhance security measures and create a safe and conducive environment for all,” he added.

News

Kano-Kaduna-Abuja Passengers Spent Night In Kaduna Due to Traffic Jam

Published

21 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Some passengers traveling from Abuja to Kano found themselves stranded in Gwanin Gora town, Kaduna State, due to a traffic jam.

An eyewitness and passenger, Dr. Lado Bala, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER that they had been stranded since 3 AM with no indication of movement.

Regarding the cause of the traffic jam, Dr. Bala mentioned that it may be attributed to an unknown accident that occurred further down the road.

As of the time of reporting, no security agency had responded to clear the jam.

The Kano-Abuja-Kaduna Express is a major Nigerian road that links Northern and Southern Nigeria.

News

Nigeria Tracker Congratulates Sarkin Bai Mansur Mukhtar On Wedding of His Daughter Amina

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

The wedding ceremony

The management of Nigeria Tracker Communications, publishers of Nigerian Tracker online newspaper, has extended its congratulatory message to the family of Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank ,Dr Mansur Mukhtar on the wedding of his daughter, Amina Mansur Mukhtar.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Editor-in-Chief and CEO of the leading online newspaper, Abbas Yushau Yusuf.

The wedding fatiha and solemnization which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, had in attendance family, friends, and well-wishers, with a dowry of $1000.

On behalf of the board of directors of Nigeria Tracker Communications, we wish the couple a happy married life and Allah’s blessings, and success to the entire Sarkin Bai of Kano’s family, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar.