Day: June 21, 2024

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to harnessing the full potential of the nation’s maritime resources for economic prosperity.

Badaru said this in Abuja on Friday at the commemoration of the 2024 World Hydrography Day, organised by the Nigerian Navy (NN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event titled ‘Hydrographic Information-Enhancing Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability in Marine Activities’.

The minister commended the Nigerian Navy for her instrumental role in laying the foundation for Nigeria’s national hydrographic services capacity.

According to him, it is on record that for decades, the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic office has worked tirelessly to develop our hydrographic capability, ensuring the safety of navigation and contribution to the national security.

He said that the creation of the National Hydrographic Agency was to build upon that solid foundation and expand Nigeria’s capability to meet evolv
ing needs of the nation’s maritime sector.

‘Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we are committed to harnessing the full potential of our maritime resources and opportunities to take Nigeria out of the present economic doldrums to birth a diversified economy for sustainable growth and development,’ he said.

He emphasised the importance of hydrographic information for enhancing maritime safety by providing accurate and up to date information to vessels to navigate the nation’s waters safely.

He also said that it would help vessels avoid hazards and reduce the risks of accidents.

He added that this was particularly crucial in Nigeria where the nation’s ports where busy shipping lines and offshore oil and gas were vital to the economy.

According to him, by providing detailed hydrographic data, the national hydrographic agency will help ensure that our maritime activities are conducted safely and efficiently.

‘Moreover, the National Radiographic Agency will play a critical role in promot
ing environmental sustainability as we strive to balance economic growth and environmental protection.

‘Hydrographic information will guide our efforts to manage maritime resources sustainably, monitor coastal erosion and mitigate the impacts of climate change.’

Badaru said that the strategic significance of the National Hydrocarbon Agency extended beyond safety and sustainability.

According to him, the agency will enhance the efficiency of Nigerian maritime operations, which will lead to reduce operational costs, increase competitiveness and new economic opportunities.

He assured the agency that the Federal Government would continue to invest in the development of Nigeria’s national hydrographic capacity in areas such as the acquisition of state of the art survey technologies, building skilled workforce and fostering international partnerships.

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, said the navy had made several attempts at domestic charts for Nigerian waters.

Ogalla said that the
effort was in realisation of the fact that hydrography was actually a public good, just like construction of roads.

According to him, you really cannot quantify the impact it will have in terms of value and that is why enormous resources are required.

He added that the navy and other agencies in the maritime domain had made tremendous effort towards fulfilling their roles of providing the information required to produce nautical charts and other aids to navigation and safety of mariners.

‘We have charts covering Nigerian waters and most of these charts were based on information obtained by the British when they were here along the line.

‘We have had several other improvements on those charts, particularly in the past 10 to 15 years.

‘But we still noticed serious gaps when it comes to surveying in our waters and that gap is not only in Nigerian waters, it’s the whole of Africa, particularly West Africa’, he said.

The CNS explained that the Africa integrated multi strategy recognised that the eradication
of poverty in Africa depended on the ability of African nations to exploit the resources in the marine environment.

According to him, it is projected that the marine environment (the blue economy), is the vital ways we can propel ourselves out of poverty.

‘we are gradually moving towards having all our charts produced in Nigeria, not only charts, but caribbean graphic information generally.

‘And these include notices to mariners and all other aspects of arbitrary things that are required to improve safety on our waters’.

The Hydrographer of the Federation, Rear Adm. Ayodeji Olugbode, said Nigeria’s advancement in hydrography has laid a solid foundation for the nation’s progress.

Olugbode said that the Federal Government’s investment had bolstered navy’s capacity as a nation to conduct comprehensive surveys of the nation’s territorial waters up to the extremities of its exclusive economic zone.

These vessels, according to him, are not just assets; they are symbols of sovereignty and our unwavering commit
ment to maritime safety and operational excellence.

‘What we have achieved this year will include the launching of a revised national charting scheme, the maiden edition of our catalogue of Nigerian charts, and a chart of the approaches to Lagos harbor.

‘All of these were achieved within the first half of this year, even though some of these works commenced even before I came into office.

‘The conduct of surveys in Nigeria speaks volumes of a long standing commitment in the field of hydrography, but our progress does not end here.

‘Looking ahead, capacity building remains a top priority and we are committed to equipping our hydrographers with the best training and resources, ensuring that they are well prepared to meet challenges of the future,’ Olugbode said.

According to him, technologies and innovative methodologies will continue to drive efforts to produce high quality hydrographic data that is crucial to maritime success.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Lagos State Government on Thursday arraigned a former employee of Punch Nigeria Ltd., Olusegun Ogunbanjo, charged with N998 million stationary fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunbanjo, whose residential address was not provided, was arraigned on eight counts bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit obtaining under false pretence, stealing and forgery.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his not guilty plea, the state Counsel, Mrs Qawiat Shomade, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison, pending the hearing and the determination of his bail application.

The Defence Counsel, Mr T.E. Okeke, informed the court that he was appearing for the first time in the matter and that he needed ample time to file the bail application.

Okeke pleaded with the court for a closer date for him to file and move the bail application on behalf of his client.

‘My lord, I plead for a closer date to tender an applica
tion to grant the defendant bail,’ he said.

Justice Ismail Ijelu, thereafter, remanded the defendant in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

Ijelu told the defence that the court would have looked into the bail application if it was ready.

‘If you had your application, the court would have looked into it but while we wait for it, the defendant should be remanded at the correctional facility,’ he said.

The judge adjourned the case until Oct.16 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, the prosecution told the court that the defendant with others still at large allegedly committed the offences between January 2017 and December 2022 in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The prosecution submitted one of the court count that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N417 million from one Mr Durodola Balogun on the pretext that he was going to use the money to purchase stationaries and supplies for financing Local Purchase Order from Punch Nigeria Ltd.

The prosecutor also a
lleged the defendant fraudulently collected N581 million from one Mr Olusola lkuyajesin under the guise of purchasing stationaries and supplies for financing Local Purchase Order from Punch Nigeria Ltd.

The state counsel told the court that the defendant allegedly stole and converted the sum of $5,000, property of lkuyajesin to his personal use.

The prosecution also alleged that the defendant forged Punch Local Purchase Orders.

According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences violate Sections 411 (2) 314, 285, 287 and 365 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The terminology ‘Green industrial economy’ does not resonate with many Nigerians, particularly because the country presently, at best, is a green industrial upstart.

The country is confronted with a myriad of climate-related challenges, stemming from the encroachment of rising sea levels on coastal regions to devastating floods impacting agriculture and displacing communities, carbon emissions and pollution, among others.

President Bola Tinubu acknowledges persistent hurdles due to conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, affecting energy and food security, impeding cooperation from wealthier nations to support sustainability efforts in less developed economies.

The Federal Government , therefore, seeks strategic partnerships and increased investments, and actively pursues private capital and support from international initiatives including the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative and global infrastructure programmes.

The question agitating the minds of many discerning individuals now is can the Federal
Government achieve growth in employment and income, driven by public and private investment into such economic activities, infrastructure and assets that allow reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services?.

The good news is that experts believe that this is achievable and Nigeria can, indeed, become a green industrial powerhouse in the foreseeable future.

But for that to happen, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, Professor in Global Governance and Public Policy, University of Bristol, says Nigeria will have to scale up climate finance.

He says the Federal Government must as a matter of necessity establish a clear policy framework or strengthen the existing one.

Okereke says Nigeria can also create incentive for renewable energy, efficient use of green infrastructure development and the strengthening of the mechanism of governance to ensure transparency, accountability and the efficient use of climate finance.

A
ccording to him, there is also the need to develop financial instruments tailored to local needs such as green bonds that can attract domestic and foreign investors.

Okereke, who is also an expert in Climate Justice, Green Growth, Climate Policy and Low Carbon Development in Africa, said that the government could leverage public funds to attract private investment.

‘One of the ways to do this is to de-risk an investment so that private sector investors can put their money there with a guarantee that if anything happens, government will come to their aid,’ he said.

The don says the government can also identify and prioritise sectors that have the highest potential for climate impact and economic development.

He advises the government to strengthen partnerships by fostering strong collaboration between government and international donors and NGOs.

The don notes that if the country is to get it right in attracting climate finance, it has to put its house in order.

‘The government should make sure that the
right people are appointed; those who know what they are doing. They should not be playing politics in this sector.

‘The international partners know when we are serious and when we are not serious,’ Okereke adds.

Also, Ms Helen Brume, Director for Project Finance and Assets Based Finance at Afreximbank, says that to attract climate finance to the country, the government must put in place appropriate regulatory framework that allows investors to recoup their investments in a sustainable way.

Brume says political stability and appropriate infrastructure are required to attract investors into the climate finance ecosystem.

For the Executive Director of Climate Action Africa, Ms Grace Mbah, the ability to prepare bankable projects is needed to attract climate finance.

According to her, Nigeria has been trying to access the Green Climate Funds (GCF) for a couple of years, adding that some of the procedures are strict because they want their funds to really meet their target.

To become a green industrial powe
rhouse, Mr Taiwo Adewole, an Environmental Consultant, agrees that the Federation Government must encourage and scale up private sector investment for climate and nature.

He says there is a need to shift capital investment in linear economy and encourage circular economy through private sector mobilisation.

‘Another step is collaboration and partnership with international institutions.

‘The new mechanisms expected to be put in place to achieve transparency and innovative application of available resources are the steps the government is taking already.

‘This is by setting up the Presidential Committee on Climate Change and various appointments related to climate finance.

‘If the committee is given a free hand to operate, it would attract investment capital from the public or private, national or international, bilateral or multilateral,’ he said.

He adds that the Climate Finance Committee should not just be on paper but practical and attract higher rating for the country.

As part of the new mechanism t
o fast track the Federal Government’s climate initiatives, President Bola Tinubu appointed Chief Ajuri Ngelale, as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action (SPEC), and followed it up with the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Climate Change.

Ngelale, who has hit the ground running, believes that through cooperation between Nigeria and international partners, Nigeria can become a green industrial powerhouse over the next ten years.

Ngelale had a productive meeting with the U.S. Head of Delegation to the United Nations Climate Conference and Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, Ms. Sue Biniaz, in Bonn, Germany, in June.

‘We shared views concerning tangible next steps to be taken toward leveraging large-scale climate financing instruments to drive Nigeria’s green industrial agenda in the years ahead.

‘We have much work to do in the form of putting in place new mechanisms to achieve a truly transparent and innovative application of available resources to meet our objective of attra
cting new and de-risked investment capital from around the world.

‘I am confident that we have the team to deliver on this for the country. One step at a time,’ Ngelale said.

He had said the U.S. Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate was joined in the meeting by Mr Trigg Talley, who serves as the Managing Director for Negotiations and Director for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Change.

Indeed, the Federal Government is not taking the climate action lightly. During the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, President Tinubu reiterated the far-reaching implications of climate change on the West Africa’s most pressing issues.

The President has also demonstrated his commitment to reinvigorating a cleaner and more resilient nation.

Nigeria’s proactive stance toward a greener global landscape was underscored by the launch of the Carbon Market Initiative, a testament to its dedication to sustainability.

The country’s participation in the African Carbon Market Initiative further reinforc
es its commitment towards environmental responsibility, showcasing a readiness to engage in global climate solutions.

President Tinubu emphasises the imperative for partnerships to foster a green economy in Africa.

Leveraging resources like the EU’s Global Gateway programme and the US Build Back Better World initiative is critical for sustainable development and global market access.

Advocating for fairness and cooperation, President Tinubu urges developed nations to honour their commitments, especially contributing to the Loss and Damage Fund and the 100 billion dollars annual climate financing pledge.

With appropriate partnerships, collaboration, investments, and initiatives already in place, Nigeria is certainly on its way to becoming a notable green industrial nation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), says that there were plans to launch e-learning platform, to fasttrack training of more civil servants for quality service delivery.

Yemi-Esan made the disclosure at a public lecture on Thursday in Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week.

According to her, this unprecedented resource will ensure that we are able, significantly, to increase the number of civil servants, who can undertake induction and Structured Mandatory Assessment- Based Programme (SMAT-P) module.

She also said that civil servants could also undertake other specialist trainings at the same time.

‘The objective of the e-learning platform is to train many more civil servants at the same time. We have modules that would ensure that civil servants are well trained,’ she explained.

According to her, the Information and Computer Technology (ICT) initiative also contains modules that can enable civil servants train themselves, to gain m
ore knowledge on the new Performance Management System (PMS), while preparing for any promotion examination.

The HOS said the government was fully prepared to reposition the nation’s civil service to global standards, adding that it could only be achieved through training and retraining of officers.

‘This entails equipping of the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and thrive in an increasingly complex world of work.

‘In this light, the Nigerian Civil Service, in collaboration with its partners, and stakeholders and the most prominent is the AIG-Imoukhuede Foundation, has invested massively in the training, retraining of the workforce,’ she said.

Yemi-Esan also said the Federal Government would identify mentors among the civil servants, and strategically deploy 500 civil servants to various sectors of the service.

According to her, this is to make them the future leaders, service wise by the end of 2025.

‘Previously, the absence of structured and targeted training programmes
for civil servants in the Nigerian civil service was a major challenge.

‘Training across the MDAs was carried out without considering the actual competencies lacking in the service,’ she said.

She emphasised the need for continuous self development by the public officers, as Nigeria was focusing on the reposition of the sector.

Also, Prof. Peter Okebukola, the Guest Speaker, who described the present crop of civil servants as ‘the best in the African continent’, commended Yemi-Esan for her efforts.

Okebukola spoke on the topic, ‘Education Fit For The 21st Century: Preparing Nigerian Public Servants to Address Global Challenges While Fostering Employee Engagement, Retention and Satisfaction’.

According to him, if Nigeria fails to plan well 25 years from now (2050), It might not meet with the required global standard in terms of quality service delivery on expected mandates.

‘So this lecture is about painting the scenarios of the future of Nigerian civil service by 2050, ‘ he said.

Okebukola advised the
government to engage the civil servants in ICT training, so as to fill the gaps in service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the week is, ‘Educate an African Fit For The 21st Century: Building resilient systems for Increased Access To Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A cross section of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says they can no longer fend for their families due to the rising cost of foodstuff .

The residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, said that eating beans and yam have become a luxury due to its high cost.

This, they said, had affected their domestic food time table, making it impossible to eat varieties.

Mrs Glory Ocholi, a mother, said that beans have become so expensive that it is difficult to buy in bulk as she usually does to help in her nutrition plan.

‘Before now, I used to buy 10 mudus of white beans for between N9, 000 to N10, 000, at N900 to N950 each.

‘While the red one was usually slightly above N100 or N200.

‘Currently, white beans cost N2,800 while red beans are sold for N3,000 to N3,500 , yam, Irish and sweet potatoes are also very expensive, it is only the rich that can afford them.

‘You cannot buy corn or sorghum, vegetables are a no-go area, so at the end o
f the day, our children are forced to eat whatever we can provide,” she said.

Ocholi said that buying foodstuff at a higher cost had forced her to take off meals like ‘akara’ and pap which used to be a Saturday morning meal in her home.

She appealed to both the government and Nigerian Food Products Suppliers and Manufacturers to find ways to address the situation.

Mr Habila Makama, said that he could no longer afford certain foods in his household due to the high prices.

‘I used to compliment yam with sweet or Irish potatoes when yam is not in season but now, I cannot afford any of them.

‘Sweet potatoes that used to be the cheapest are also expensive. Rice is the only available food now in spite of the cost.

‘We eat it every day of the week and probably exchange it with any available swallow with the soup you can afford,” he said.

A NAN correspondent who visited the Dutse-Alhaji market reported that five big tubers of yam now go for a negotiable price of N12, 000 to N14, 000.

At Karu market, corn an
d millet which previously sold for N850 and N900, is now being sold for N1, 300 per mudu.

NAN also reports that a bag of corn which was previously sold for N40, 000 and millet for N65, 000, are now being sold for N90, 000 per bag.

One of the traders in karu market, Mallam Bashiru Ahmed, said that prices of goods fluctuate daily and could increase by 20 per cent or more, within a week.

He said that traders sometimes go to the market to buy a bag of beans for N160, 000, but end up buying for between N180, 000 or N200, 000 due to price fluctuation.

Ahmed attributed the high cost to transportation of the goods from the northern states to the distribution units or towns, where other middle men or traders go to buy from.

‘The cost of transportation has contributed to the increase in cost of these foods and it has really affected our business.

‘We had to increase the price of grains to meet up with the expenses in logistics, and this is making our customers complain, thereby affecting patronage,” he said.

He
pleaded with the government to put in place measures that could salvage the cost of transportation and control market price for grains.

This, he said would stop distributors and sellers from inducing unnecessary price increase.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria