Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced the signing of a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), today with Sheikh Abdul Rahman Saif bin Saif Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Nigerian-Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce (NAGCC). The MoU is designed to enhance and explore trade and investment prospects between Lagos and the member countries of the Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce (GCC). This strategic agreement aims to not only facilitate bilateral trade and investment forums but also establish a well-structured platform for fostering dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of innovative ideas between the business communities of Lagos State and the…
Author: Editor Francis
A total of 135 officials, comprising directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, and other personnel within the Federal Civil Service, have undergone redeployment to various ministries, departments, and agencies. The details of this extensive redeployment were disclosed in an official memo dated November 30, 2023, issued by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. The memo, identified as “HCSD/CMO/EM/CPA/908/III/154,” was directed to key figures including Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission;…
US Embassy in Nigeria vows to enhance visa services, addresses appointment challenges. Abuja, Nigeria – Mr. David Greene, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Nigeria, has provided assurance to visa applicants, pledging the embassy’s dedication to tackling and resolving visa-related issues. Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Greene underscored the embassy’s commitment to overcoming past challenges and ensuring a more efficient visa application process. Recognizing the persistent issue of high demand surpassing the available supply of visa appointments, Greene acknowledged the existing gap. However, he conveyed confidence in the ongoing efforts to address this situation, assuring applicants that measures are…
Kenya has inked deals worth $4.48 billion for seven green projects on the sidelines of the COP28 summit. These projects encompass various initiatives, including geothermal generation plants, fertilizer production, and a data center powered by renewable energy, as detailed in an official statement. Kenyan President William Ruto is championing the vision of transforming Africa into a “green powerhouse.” Currently, Kenya already generates an impressive 92% of its electricity from renewable sources such as geothermal, hydro, and wind. The nation is steadfast in its commitment to environmental conservation, aiming to plant 15 billion trees and rehabilitate 10,000 wetlands, emphasizing nature swaps.…
Amidst ongoing discussions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), in Dubai, Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, announced a significant collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to establish humanitarian response stations across the country. The move aims to provide swift assistance to victims of disasters, particularly in regions affected by insurgencies. In a press briefing with State House correspondents, Minister Betta Edu revealed that Nigeria sought the assistance of the UAE to address humanitarian crises stemming from insurgencies, notably in the north-east, and to combat widespread poverty in various parts of the nation.…
The participation of Nigerian delegates at the ongoing Climate Summit in Dubai, also known as COP28, has sparked controversies and social media discussions. In an effort to provide clarity and separate facts from fiction, it is crucial to set the record straight. Firstly, the COP summit, short for the Convention of Parties, gathers delegates from various sectors globally to address climate change and formulate collective solutions. The current Dubai summit, the 28th in the series, brings together over 97,000 delegates from more than 100 countries worldwide. It follows COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, last year. Delegates include representatives from…
The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger recommended on Friday creating a confederation as part of a long-term goal of uniting the West African neighbours within a federation. The top diplomats of the Alliance of Sahel States met in Bamako for two days. Their discussions aimed to flesh out the workings of the new alliance, with the ministers emphasising the importance of diplomacy, defence and development “to consolidate political and economic integration”. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the recommendations will be submitted to each head of state, who are due to meet in Bamako at an unspecified…
In a resolute stance, the Bauchi zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has reiterated its rejection of students’ loans, emphasizing the preference for grants to facilitate students’ educational funding. Associate Professor Lazarus Maigoro, the Bauchi zonal coordinator of ASUU, conveyed this stance on Saturday, highlighting the union’s commitment to ensuring students have access to financial support without incurring debts. Maigoro disclosed that the Bauchi ASUU zone is actively compiling statistics on students who may face the risk of dropping out at the end of the current academic session. The union aims to leverage this data to encourage…
Western countries are pressuring Liberia, the Marshall Islands and Panama to do a better job of ensuring their ships don’t transport Russian oil above the market cap, Reuters reported on Dec. 1, citing an unnamed source. The source reported seeing a communication between the U.S., the EU and the UK, in which these countries step up their pressure on states that enable Russia to sell its oil in defiance of the $60 price cap on its seaborne shipments. This cap, introduced in 2022, only began to be enforced recently. It forbids Western companies from providing maritime services like transportation, insurance…
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for sustainable private and philanthropic financing to address the inadequacies in Lagos State’s water infrastructure Speaking at a side event of the United Nations climate change conference in Dubai on Friday, Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the challenge faced by Lagos, with over 22 million residents, where only 210 million gallons of the required 700 million daily potable water needs are met. Acknowledging the financial constraints, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the urgency of finding solutions, particularly for underserved communities facing a high public risk due to the water deficit. He indicated that Lagos requires less than…
Authors Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson, in their 2019 book ‘Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline,’ challenged the conventional view of overpopulation, predicting a decline in global population. However, the narrative shifts when examining Africa’s population growth, which is expected to double by 2050, with an estimated annual growth rate of 2.5% in 2021. Despite the positive potential in harnessing Africa’s youthful population for economic growth, caution is warranted. While the relationship between population growth and economic growth in Africa appears positive but weak, challenges persist. The continent’s labour force growth lags behind its overall population increase, resulting…
Amid renewed hostilities in the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, the Israeli army has declared new safe zones for Palestinian residents. The military issued an interactive map in Arabic, delineating evacuation zones “in preparation for the next phase of the war.” The strip has been divided into zones to help residents orient themselves, follow instructions, and move to safety from specific locations if necessary. The escalation follows the initiation of military operations against Hamas by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), as a week-long ceasefire failed to be restored for the third time. Rockets were reportedly fired from Gaza into Israel…