government
Zambian leader defends investments in road works
Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Friday defended his government’s decision to embark on massive road works across the country, saying it was necessary to enhance investments. Lungu, who commissioned a newly-constructed flyover bridge in Lusaka, the country’s capital said; “Of course our critics have said, and they continue to campaign that we were reckless for having borrowed but they were shy to tell the people frankly how that money we borrowed had been used.’’ The Zambian leader said his government had prioritised investing money into improving the country’s road networks because of the benefits that would be realised. According to him, investors will only come to Zambia if there is a proper road network. Lungu said that investors were not keen to put up factories in a country with a po...
UN lauds Nigeria for implementing programmes on women
The United Nations (UN) has commended the Federal Government on the implementation of its (UN) Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 programmes on women, peace and security in Nigeria. Ms Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria, gave the commendation during the launch of activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the UNSCR 1325 in Abuja. Lamptey who is also the UN Women Country Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), noted that government had implemented the resolutions of the UNSCR by mainstreaming gender perspective in its programmes. She noted that this had been achieved by promoting women participation, peace keeping mission across Africa and inclusiveness on security issues, particularly in traditional settings. Accordin...
#EndSARS: Lagos government directs MDAs to forward list of destroyed properties
Sequel to the recent unrest in Lagos State which resulted in wanton destruction to some government properties, items, and valuables, the state government on Friday directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to send the list of all affected properties, items and other valuables in their domain. It would be recalled that the peaceful #EndSARS protests in the state had turned violence following the shooting by military men, resulting in hoodlums vandalizing government and private properties across the state. The State Head of Service (HoS), Mr Muri Okunola, gave this directive in a circular with Ref. No: CIR/HoS/20/Vol.1/114, dated 30th October 2020, titled: ‘Processing of Indemnity for State Property Damaged in the course of the recent civil unrest,’ saying the directive was to...
Enugu governor commiserates with fatal accident school children’s families
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has expressed the deepest commiserations of the state government to the families of the school children from Awgu Local Government Area, who died and sustained injuries in a fatal road accident that occurred in the council area. In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, Gov. Ugwuanyi who received with sadness the news of the unfortunate accident, also commiserated with the Catholic Bishop of Awgu Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend John Okoye, the Chairman and good people of Awgu LGA, over the tragic incident. Aroh disclosed that the governor assured the good people of the Awgu LGA of the solidarity and support of the state government and directed the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu E. Obi and the counc...
FANA: Ethiopia proposes holding postponed vote in May or June 2021
Ethiopian authorities have proposed holding a postponed election in May or June 2021, state-affiliated broadcaster FANA said on Friday, setting the stage for a test of support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s sweeping economic and political reforms. The government postponed a parliamentary election scheduled for August this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The country’s election board, which FANA said had proposed the move, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Next year’s vote will be a litmus test for Abiy, who after decades of repression introduced sweeping economic and political reforms that helped win him the Nobel Prize last year. But the new freedoms also fuelled long-suppressed demands for more regional autonomy, rights and resources. Last month Ethiopia’s northern...
Adamawa government relaxes curfew
The Adamawa government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on the state. Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, who stated this in Yola on Thursday, said that the curfew would be from 8 am. to 6 pm., beginning from Oct. 30. Newsmen recall that the 24- hour curfew was imposed on Oct. 25, following the destruction and looting of government and private warehouses in the state by some hoodlums, hiding under EndSARS protest. “We shall review the timing as situation warrants. Meanwhile, checkpoints will be mounted at all the entry and exit points in the state. “This is a measure taken to stop any attempt by the thieves to escape from the state with the looted items,” he said. The governor appealed to the people of the state to bear with the government, saying the measures were in their collective inter...
NLC demands end to medical tourism by government officials
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Thursday called for an end to all forms of medical tourism especially by elected and appointed government officials. The NLC also said that with the quantum of resources available to government, Nigeria can afford to build and effectively equip some of the best hospitals in the world, with global best practices and personnel. President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated this in Abuja in his address on this year’s Global Day of Action on Care. Briefing, Wabba reiterated that the government must be ready to invest heavily in the health sector, saying no country survives without effective health care. He lamented that apart from the open fact that the country’s health care sector has been neglected for too long, health care workers have been subjected...
Abia asks looters to return stolen medical equipment
Abia State Government has appealed to suspected hoodlums who looted the medical equipment at the Abia State Dental Center, Aba, and Primary Health Authority office in Aba South Local Government Area to return them within seven days. A statement by the Commissioner for Information in the state, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, stated that the hoodlums who hijacked the otherwise peaceful #EndSARS protests took away vaccines, X-ray machines, sterilizers, air conditioners, fans, and other equipment as well as disposables and consumables carted away. The statement directed the looters to return the stolen items to the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Mr Joe Chinwendu, with information on the location of the items. The statement read, “Kindly note that most of the Primary H...
Osun government says 14 local councils affected by looting
Osun State Government on Thursday said looting of government and private property in the state cut across 14 Local Government Areas, as it commenced return of the looted property items to owners who can identify their property Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had granted 72-hour amnesty period to the looters to return the stolen items which expired on Wednesday, during which some of the looted materials were returned. Supervising the return of the looted items at the Parking lot of the Government House in Osogbo, Secretary of the ad-hoc committee on recovery of stolen items, Mr Samson Owoyokun, said the looting affected fourteen local governments areas of the state. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties added that most of the looters dropped the items at either roadside...
NCC contributes N2.272 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP – chief
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the contribution of the Telecommunication sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from 8.5 per cent in 2015 to 14.3 per cent as at September this year amounting to N2.272 trillion. Danbata disclosed this when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunication led by its Chairman, Rep. Akeem Adeyemi visited the Commission on an oversight The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission also disclosed that Investments in the sector had risen from 38 billion dollars in 2015 to over 70 billion dollars now while the Commission had also paid over N344 billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation within the period under review, an a...
NIMASA: Maritime sector can generate $1.6 trillion annually if properly harnessed
The maritime sector has the capacity to generate more than 1.6 trillion dollars annually if properly harnessed, Mr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has said. Jamoh stated this on Wedneday while delivering a lecture on Maritime Security and National Development in Nigeria at the National Defence College, Abuja. “The maritime sector can generate not less than 1.6trillion dollars if we can properly harness all the investment opportunities and have foreign investors come and assist in the development. “Development in the shipping sector requires good planning. This is the right time we have to start planning. “With the estimated revenue per annum in the maritime sector, it can provide 30 times what the oil industry can provide. “That ...
Lagos government promises to compensate victims of Fagba crisis
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday promised to compensate residents who lost their property to the Fagba crisis in Ifako-Ijaiye local government area of the state. Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made the promise while on assessment of the level of destruction of property over the ethnic clash in the area. Sanwo-Olu assured residents of Fagba who were affected by the clash that Lagos State Government would assist them to alleviate their pains. “The level of destruction that I have seen here is colossal; it is unfortunate. “Enumeration would start immediately by the two local governments. “The councils chairmen and all the community leaders will come together; you are living in the same community. “Please let the peace among us reign, and that is why I have to come here myse...
