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Tribunal: INEC, ABU testify for Kaduna North Senator

Witnesses from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, INEC and NECO have testified for Sen. Lawal Adamu-Usman at the Elections Petitions Court in Kaduna.

The witnesses told the court presided by Justice HH Kereng, that the academic credentials presented by the Senator representing Kaduna North were valid.

Also, an official of INEC who testified on Saturday in Kaduna, presented evidence that Adamu-Usman who contested on the platform of the PDP was validly nominated and the election was free and fair.

The court had subpoenaed the three institutions to appear before it in respect of the case filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Mohammed Sani-Abdullahi.

Sani-Abdullahil lost to Adamu-Usman during the Feb. 25 National Assembly elections.

The petitioner wanted the election cancelled on the grounds that the respondent had submitted fake credentials to INEC, was not validly nominated, and that the election did not conform substantially with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

However, in his testimony, Ishaq Abubakar, an Associate Professor of Law from ABU, told the court that the respondent, Adamu-Usman obtained Diploma and Bachelor Degree in Public Administration from the university.

He tendered necessary documents which were admitted as evidence by the court.

Also, the second witness, Esther Bala-Wuyaa, Director Special Duties, National Examination Council (NECO), confirmed that the respondent sat for and obtained the result of the examination conducted by NECO in 2011.

She tendered the respondent’s Senior Secondary Certificate Examination result before the court which was admitted in evidence.

Counsel to the senator, MA Mahmoud Sani SAN, however, asked the court to discountenance the testimony of the representative of Demonstration Primary School, Zaria as his client had never claimed to have attended the school.

He told the court that Adamu-Usman attended Diamond Academy, Zaria and Amir Abdulkarim Tahfizul Qur’an, also in Zaria.

The counsel added that his client subsequently obtained the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate (SAISSC).

The certificate is issued by the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), adding that the result was gazetted in 2015.

Sani further told the court that the respondent was enrolled into the Demonstration Primary School, Gwagwalada, Abuja, in 1986, by the late Emir of Jere, bearing the name Lawal Abdullahi Jere.

He added that his client swore to an affidavit on Jan. 3, 2003, changing his name to Lawal Adamu-Usman, removing Jere, which is the name of his home town.

In her testimony, Fatima Umar-Jalingo of the Legal Department, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that the only PDP candidate known to INEC is Adamu-Usman as adjudicated by the Supreme Court.

The witness tendered a copy of the Supreme Court judgment before the court and was accepted in evidence.

She went further to tender the results of the 3,356 polling units in the senatorial district, where she affirmed that there was no record of over voting as claimed by the petitioner.

After her testimony, Counsel to the petitioner, Johnson Usman SAN, said they have closed their case.

The three-man tribunal thereafter adjourned sitting until July 11, for the respondents to open their case.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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AfDB pledges for Nigeria’s economy

The African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has pledged the Bank’s support toward revamping Nigeria’s economy.

Adesina, made the pledge during a meeting with Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu at the New Global Finance Pact Summit in Paris.

The AfDB president, via his verified Twitter handle, @akin_adesina said: “ I had a great meeting with president Tinubu during the New Global Finance Pact Summit in Paris.

“I was impressed by his commitment to bold and sound policies for Nigeria’s economy. The AfDB will strongly support his vision for the Nigerian economy.”

Tinubu commended Adesina and AfDB, for the Bank’s investment of 520 million dollars in the Special Agro-processing Zones Programme, which was reputed as the largest in scope and size in Africa.

He assured the AfDB president that the Federal Government would continue to provide necessary support for the Bank’s projects and operations in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bank’s portfolio in Nigeria comprise of 48 operations for a total commitment value of 4.2 billion dollars.

The national (Federal and States) operations account for 90 per cent of the portfolio, for 41 projects amounting to 3.79 billion dollars, while multinational operations constitute 10 per cent, for seven projects amounting to 0.41 billion dollars.

There are 24 Sovereign Operations (2.36 billion dollars or 56 per cent of total commitments) and 24 Non-Sovereign Operations (1.84 billion dollars or 44 per cent).

A mapping of the portfolio to the High 5s shows a balanced distribution. Industrialise Africa has the highest share (45 per cent).

This is followed by Improve the Quality of Life for the people of Africa (18 per cent), Light up and Power Africa (14 per cent), Feed Africa (13 per cent), and Integrate Africa (10 per cent).

Also, the performance of the Bank’s public sector portfolio in Nigeria has been satisfactory.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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UK to assist Nigeria achieve trade balance – Envoy

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery has pledged the UK government’s commitment to creating a balance of trade with Nigeria.

Montgomery made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja in the course of his visit to the Managing Director of the agency.

Trade balance is the difference between the value of exports and the value of imports of a country.

If exports exceed imports then the country has a trade surplus and the trade balance is said to be positive.

But if imports exceed exports, the country has a trade deficit and its trade balance is said to be negative

The British envoy, therefore, said that exploring oil alone would not create adequate jobs for Nigerians.

He said that exploring the abundant opportunities in agriculture through investment in the sector would improve quality and productivity as well as create job opportunities.

According to him, the exportation of agricultural produce will improve diversification and the livelihoods of Nigerians thus helping to achieve a positive trade balance.

“That is where we get a win-win. What is in your interest is in our own interest as well.

“The present economic challenge is difficult; it is a tough time already with a lot of inflation and unemployment in Nigeria.

“One upside of the recent change in the foreign exchange policy is the recent devaluation of the naira. Nigeria has now suddenly become very much competitive in the international market.”

He commended the decision by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to revive the nation’s economy to have provided Britain the opportunity to grow its trade, investment, and economic relations.

He said Britain would back Nigeria’s economic reforms to ensure success and build on its economic relations to boost the trade balance between the two countries.

“Years ago, the UK bought more oil from Nigeria and the trade balance might have been the other way.

“But I think the UK buys less oil from Nigeria now. Nigeria’s oil is going to other countries.

“This brings me to the key question which is, what is the content of your export?

“We would like to help provide export opportunities for Nigerian businesses to the UK, partly as a component of your diversification strategy.

“Nigeria has done a fantastic job to diversify its economy, particularly in the South West of the country.

“I think there are lots of high-end and high-value potential in the creative industry, the artistic areas, and services.

“There is an opportunity for Nigeria in the future to develop goods and services that can be exported based on the digital economy with abundant agricultural land if committed to national standards on export.” Montgomery told NAN that the UK recently inaugurated a new policy known as the Developing Countries’ Trading Scheme, which has been of immense benefit to Nigeria as it removed tariffs on lots of products from Nigeria.

“It is not huge, but significant and it is one of the most generous trade agreements from a wealthier G7-type country and Nigeria is one of the key potential beneficiaries. So that is the first step.

“There are other things we need to do because it is not just about tariffs, it is about exporters knowing how to export; who they can partner with in the UK, and whether they can meet the standards.

“We have put in place the Great Gate, an online one-stop-shop to give advice and we are hoping to help potential Nigerian exporters understand regulatory and quality issues that will enable them to export to the UK.

“We will take the next step and enhance trade and investment.

“We have some work going on between the British Standard Institute and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, we want to make sure both sides understand each other’s regulations.

“This will also help exporters get the certification they need to export to the UK and also import from the UK.

“There is huge potential in the agricultural sector, particularly products such as cocoa, sesame and cashew.

“These types of products have huge demand in the UK, but lots of them come from Ghana and not from Nigeria.

“It is clear that Nigeria can do it. All we need to do is to smoothen the other to enable that export.

“We have an economic dialogue but we would like to convert that into an enhanced trade and investment partnership, and that will provide a basis to take forward this issue of greater trade.

“We can do more trade both ways and grow trade volume, but we also want a different quality of diversified trade and if we can hone Nigeria’s export potential, it would create more jobs and livelihoods.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Riparian Countries Need to Support Ethiopia’s Effort for Equitable Use of Nile Waters: Ugandan Journalist

The River Nile riparian countries need to support Ethiopia’s effort to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of transboundary water resources, Ugandan Journalist Kungu Al-mahadi Adam said.

The second Africa-run High-Level Forum on Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of Transboundary watercourses in Africa was held recently in Addis Ababa under the theme: “Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of Transboundary Watercourses: A Key to Africa’s Prosperity.”

The overall purpose of the conference remains to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of the transboundary water resources through promotion and exchange of experiences and scientific researches, it was learned.

Plus News Uganda Managing Editor, Kungu Al-mahadi Adam, who attended the forum told ENA that today, most countries are tapping into the existing resources with the hope that their people get out of poverty.

Adam stressed that the upper and lower riparian countries of River Nile, all of them can equally tap into the benefits of this resource.

Praising Ethiopia for its effort to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of transboundary watercourses, he urged other riparian countries to support Ethiopia’s effort based on the international principle of equitable and reasonable utilization of trans-boundary waters.

Citing that Nile has eleven riparian countries, however, he underscored that countries have not extended deservedly enough support to Ethiopia to end the historical injustice imposed on utilization of the Nile.

In this regard, every country in a river basin or in a transboundary water resource has all the rights to use this resource to their own benefit based on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization of trans-boundary waters, he affirmed.

Stating that Nile is one of those trans-boundary waters resources, he said “I urge other riparian countries to support Ethiopia in rejecting the historical injustice of the utilization of the Nile River.”

Similarly, Kenya-Ethiopia Friends Association Chairman Joe Akech said that what Ethiopia has done, should be commended for contributing quite well in enhancing the cooperation.

“The cooperation that is going to bring the East Africa and Central African countries particularly the ones very close to the River Nile, what Ethiopia has done should be commended because it is contributing well.”

During the second Afri-run high-level forum, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen urged riparian states for an equitable and reasonable use of the Nile River.

He further noted that lack of political will and hegemonic tendencies over shared resources immensely contribute to little or no cooperation.

“It is high time that we redouble efforts to deal with the challenges building on the great strides we have made in the past to ensure equitable and reasonable use of trans-boundary resources,” he pointed out.

Nile, which is the longest river in the world, has eleven riparian countries; namely- Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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IDPC Says It Creaked Market Linkages to More than 300,000 Farmers

The Industrial Development Parks Corporation (IDPC) said the industrial parks operating in different parts of the country have created market opportunities to over 300,000 farmers.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Corporation Marketing and Communication Department Head Zemen Jonedi said the IDPC created opportunities for nearby communities, especially for farmers as they supply agricultural products as raw materials or inputs to agro-processing industries operating at the industrial parks in different parts of the country.

In this regard, the market linkages have been created for over 300, 000 farmers in different parts of the country to supply their agricultural products to the nearby industrial parks and this has benefited them enormously, the department head elaborated.

He mentioned that more than 15,000 local farmers are benefitting from supplying avocado produce to Jimma Industrial Park for oil agro-processing industry.

With total area of 75 hectares, the Jimma Industrial Park(JIP) which isin the South-Western part of Ethiopia has four sheds on 5,500 m2 of area and 5 sheds on 11,000 m2 of areas.

Furthermore, the head said that over 280,000 farmers are also supplying their cereal crops, particularly, barley for Bole Lemi Industrial Park and Debre Birhan Industrial Park malt agro-processing industries.

Chinese companies are also seeking to engage in camel diary production in Semera Industrial Park to also benefit pastoralists as camels are abundantly raised in Afar region, he mentioned.

Research and development activities on seed multiplication with a view to substituting imported flax as an input for the production of woolen clothes are being carried out at Adama Industrial Park with agricultural research center and stakeholder, he revealed.

Factories in industrial parks are engaged in various productions including textile, apparel, agro- processing, manufacturing, pharmaceutical among others, he said, mentioning, investment flow is increasing, especially following the implementation of the Pretoria peace agreement.

Noting almost all 11 industrial parks are operational, he pointed out activities are being carried out to restore Mekelle Industrial Park while Kombolcha Industrial Park has already resumed its activities following the restoration of peace in the area.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Basketball team wins bronze at Special Olympic World Games

The Namibian Unified Basketball Team won a bronze medal in their division one play-off in the men’s mixed unified sports team competition at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany on Saturday evening.

Namibia won the third-place play-off match 15-12 against Uruguay after 10 minutes of action at the Neptunbrunnen Berlin Centre.

The Namibian team that lost its semi-final game 7-21 earlier in the day against Korea came into the match against Uruguay as a much-improved outfit that was firing on all cylinders.

Uruguay put the points first on the scoreboard but that did not worry the Namibian boys who had set their eyes on the last silverware in their division.

Brilliant play in the opening two and a half minutes of that match saw Namibia leading the scoreboard 6-2, with goals from their unified partner Vincentius Boois who scored four points and Pepua Kambueza, who had two points.

Namibia stood their ground and extended their lead to 10-4 with less than three minutes left in the game as another unified partner Javier Nghishilenapo added three more points and Tjatanaurua Tjakuva add another point for Namibia’s comfortable lead at the time.

The Uruguay team started crawling back into the game after making some changes and were just a point behind the Namibian team at some stage of the game but once again brilliant combination from Boois, Kambueza, Tjakuva and Munouwa Haita saw the Namibian team adding more points to the scoreboard to finish the match as winners with a 15-12 score line.

After seven days of competition, Team Namibia has won four medals (one gold, two silver and a bronze) from athletics, track and field events, 3×3 unified men’s basketball and road cycling.

Meanwhile, Namibia’s female cyclist Vitjituaije Master missed out on a podium place in the five-kilometre ride after finishing fourth in that event on Saturday morning. The cyclist, who was also scheduled to compete in the 10km time trial, could not compete in that event as she fell sick after her first race.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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