Author: tdpel

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaibu Belgore, has urged the military and other security agencies to develop a robust system of timely sharing of information in combating the prevailing security challenges.

Belgore made the call at the opening of the Operations Security and Force Protection Course 1/2022 of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Monday in Abuja.

He said the course was timely considering the level of insecurity in the country where the military and other security services had been involved in multidimensional interventions on multiple frontiers.

According to him, the security agencies are currently confronting security challenges that are both asymmetric warfare in nature and complexity in virtually all the states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory.

He said the initiative should focus to develop a more robust system of operational security and enforcement action for mission successes.

Belgore said the effort should be geared towards preventing operational information from leaking into the hands of adversaries.

The permanent secretary said the efforts should also secure the lives of field operators particularly in light of the complex, dynamic and asymmetrical nature of warfare engaged by the military.

He said the war against terrorism required a corresponding change in the tactics to keep the operatives ahead of the enemies always to ensure the success of the mission.

“Also noteworthy to the success of any military operation is having minimal casualties and it is against the backdrop of the above that this course is conceived.

“I salute the initiative of the conveners of this course for their vision and foresight to drive the process of reinventing and reinvigorating the spirit of the nation’s military and security agencies.

“To all the participants here, take maximum advantage of what it offers and to build their capacities and competencies for the ever evolving dynamics of warfare space.

“The course is aimed towards bringing in different sectors together, especially in the intelligence and defense sector, to be able to work together in a collaborative way in terms of intelligence sharing and joint operations,” he said.

The Director-General, NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said the course was organised for top military officers and other agencies of government who were at the forefront of managing security crisis.

Wahab said the course was aimed at finding a comprehensive approach to deliveries of intelligence, deliberate release of information or misinformation, because it depends on which side of the divide.

He said the nation’s security operatives must develop their ability to propagate intelligence as the major driver of their operations, adding that no operational success could be achieved without intelligence.

He said that trust and confidence had made sharing of intelligence difficult among security agencies, as it was important for the military and other security agencies to earn each other’s trust and confidence.

“So when people understand the weaknesses and strengths of everybody, it becomes easy even when you are reluctant you still warn the person before giving out information.

“The need to share, the need to know is important and so it borders on capacity and capability of the officers involved,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Lizzy Okoji

The Governments  of Hungary and Romania have approved visa free access to all Nigerians fleeing Ukraine, the Federal Government has said.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Nigerian Mission in Hungary.

The federal government that arrangements are underway for transportation of Nigerian nationals to enable them stabilize,

The government advised affected Nigerians to approach the borders with their valid documents and cooperate with immigration officials to ease the process.

“The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Budapest, Hungary wishes to inform nationals arriving from Ukraine, that the Government of Hungary has enacted Decree 56/2022 (24.II).

“Which permits third country nationals with valid Ukrainian resident permits to enter Hungary on a temporary basis, without a Schengen visa.

“As such, Nigerians arriving at the Hungary-Ukraine border can enter Hungary, either on transit to Nigeria, or temporarily reside in the country.

“Affected Nigerians are thereby advised to send their names, phone numbers, email addresses, and copy of their passports   biodata page to the Embassy’s Consular email; secretary@nigerianembassy.hu.

“To enable the facilitation of the aforementioned arrangements. For information to on consular assistance, please contact the following persons who will be on ground to coordinate;

“Mr Stanley Okpara (Consular Officer) – +36308202903 and Mr Ayotunde Adigun +36308639203,” the Hungarian Mission Stated.

Similarly, the Romanian Mission in a statement urged affected Nigerians to contact its consular officer on +40747309174 and Head of Chancery on +40786091964 for assistance.

“The following persons are deployed to the four entry points and may be reached accordingly; Siret, Suceava County- Mr Dayo Adeoye on  +407493359685 and Mr Suleiman Ahmed on +40754859685.

“Sighetul Marmatiel, Maramures County, Mr P.O Akanmode +40752482924. At Isaccea, Tulcea County, David Abraham, +40764505900 and at Halmeu, Satu Mare County, Mohammed Liman, +40749828499.

“Affected Nigerian nationals are advised to ensure they arrive at the entry points with valid travel documents and cooperate with Romanian Immigration Officers at the borders,” the Romanian Mission stated. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says the global energy demand is set to increase from 275 million barrels of oil equivalent a day (mboe/d) in 2020 to 352 mboe/d by 2045.

Dr Mohammad Barkindo, OPEC Secretary-General, made this known on Monday in Abuja at the Fifth Nigeria International Energy Summit’s Panel Session.

”No single source of energy can meet this demand growth alone,” Barkindo said quoting OPEC’s World Oil Outlook, its flagship publication which looked at the longer term projections for the industry,

This, he said was due to the phenomenal economic changes stating that global economy in 2045 would be more than double the size from 125 trillion U.S dollars in 2020 to almost 270 trillion U.S. dollars in 2045, based on 2017 purchasing power parity (2017 ppp).

According to the secretary-general, the global population is expected to reach 9.5 billion people by 2045, an increase of 20 per cent.

“Demand for ‘Other renewables’ – combining mainly solar, wind and geothermal energy- represents the single largest incremental contribution to the future energy mix, rising from 6.8 mboe/d in 2020 to close to 36.6 mboe/d in 2045.

“Moreover, it is also the fastest growing energy source with its share in the global primary energy mix. This means renewables’ share of the energy mix is projected to rise from 25 per cent in 2020 to 10 per cent in 2045.

“Clearly, multiple sources of energy are required to meet this rise in demand. Oil is forecast to remain the fuel with the largest share of the global energy mix until 2045,” he noted.

He recalled that in 2020, oil accounted for 30 per cent of global energy requirements and by 2045, it was expected to account for approximately 28 per cent oil and gas together are still expected to account for more than 50 per cent in this time horizon.

“We need to ensure energy is accessible and affordable for all; we need to transition to a more inclusive, fair and equitable world in which every person has access to energy as referenced in UN Sustainable Development Goal Seven (SDG7).

“And we need to reduce emissions. It is an energy sustainability trilemma, with each piece having to move in unison.

“The challenge of tackling emissions has many paths, as evidenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

“It is not just one path for all, whether that be a country or an industry.

“The capacities and national circumstances of developing countries must be taken into account in all actions.

“In order to not render countries already struggling even more besieged, it is necessary to carefully consider the adverse socio-economic impacts on these countries due to mitigation activities, in order to identify remediation measures and share best practices,” he said.

He added that cumulative oil-related investment requirements amounted to 11.8 trillion U.S. dollars in the 2021-2045 period.

According to him, of this, 80 per cent, or $9.2 trillion is in the upstream, with another 1.5 and 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars needed in the downstream and midstream, respectively.

The OPEC boss said the investment requirements, clearly underlined that any talk of the oil and gas industries being consigned to the past and of the need to halt new investments in oil and gas was misguided.

”Any shortfall could have severe consequences, particularly if supply falls and demand does not. We could see crude oil and product shortages, all of which would have an impact on the global economy,” he said.

He said investing in technologies such as blue hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), while harnessing the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle and remove’ carbon principles were all critical paths towards a sustainable society in Africa.

”These principles not only minimise the environmental impacts of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, but also contribute to achieving socioeconomic development and prosperity,” he said.

Additionally, he said hydrogen production development could make Africa a net exporter in the global market.

He further noted that the unfortunate reality for developing countries was that a staggering 759 million people worldwide did not have access to electricity in 2019, with three out of four of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

Moreover, he said there were roughly 2.6 billion people or 34 per cent of the global population who did not have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies.

This, he said included a massive 70 per cent of Africans who had no access, exposing them to high levels of household air pollution.

According to him, the energy poverty numbers for Africa are stark and Africa accounts for less than three per cent of global emissions.

“As an industry, we must approach these critical issues together through dialogue and cooperation, ensuring that all voices are heard and all viewpoints are considered.

“In this manner, we can reinvent the industry to allow it to fit with a just, equitable and fair energy transition, where no one is left behind.” Barkindo noted. (NAN)

By Ruth Oketunde

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, has commended the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, for successfully performing open heart surgeries on four patients for the first time.

He gave the commendation on Monday in Abuja, when he visited the facility for an on-the-spot assessment of the patients and some equipment in the hospital.

Mamora who commended the team which carried out the surgery said the procedures were done seamlessly as the patients were already getting better.

He added that it was important for Nigerians to encourage and promote the success stories of Nigerian professionals, as such would discourage medical tourism outside the country.

“If we do something on a positive side and it is not reported, then it would be like lighting a candle and putting it under the table.

“This is one feat that must be commended by all and even as we give glory to God, let the accolades be given to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is because his administration has upgraded our facilities, health and medical facilities in general.

“And it is a gradual process of improving our capacity to handle cases that are considered impossible, because all along we have the capacity in terms of personnel.

“What is needed is the conducive environment, in terms of facilities and with that we will be able to fly out trades as health sector practitioners,” he said.

Prof. Saad Ahmed, Medical Director, FMC Jabi, added that the surgeries were conducted with the support of Save the Heart Foundation.

The medical director called on philanthropists, corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to donate to the facility’s medical indigent fund, so as to generate funds for treatment of patients.

“The essence is to domesticate it and make it a routine procedure for the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja.

“This is going to be for the benefit of all Nigerians as well as our neighbouring countries and some other parts of the world.

“Though we started small, but we look at making it bigger in the nearest future,” he added.

On his part, Dr Alex Tosan, Chairman, Board Members, FMC Jabi, commended the medical director, top management and the team that carried out the surgeries.

He added that the surgeries which were done at subsidised costs were carried out only by Nigerian experts.

“The patients are doing very fine as most of them are even surprised to find out that the surgery had been conducted.

“Within 48 hours, all of them were up and about, none of them suffered from any pain, they are not suffering from any post-traumatic stress that accompanies major surgeries,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister who had an interactive session with the four patients at their wards, also inspected some equipment at the hospital.(NAN)

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Representing Kogi West, has appealed to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to come “to a middle ground” in the disagreement between them.

Adeyemi while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, in Abuja, described the ongoing ASUU strike as most unwarranted given that universities had been off and on from ASUU strikes which has affected academic activities.

NAN reports that the union had embarked on a one-month nationwide warning strike on Feb.14 to press home its members’ demands

Adeyemi said that the two parties should reconcile for the sake of the Nigerian students.

“Most children of the elites are not schooling in Nigeria so for me I think ASUU should bend a bit and the Federal Government should bend a bit, there must be a compromise.

“I want government and ASUU to reconcile; I want them to sit down again. Nobody should take extreme position, extreme position because the role of ASUU is so crucial, critical to national development.

“We must also bear in mind that ASUU members deserve good condition of service but the good condition of service must always be within the available resources,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, said that the union deserved good condition of service to be able to teach well and to be able to have confidence in their professional calling.

“Be that as it may, government must try its best to meet some of ASUU’s obligations.”

NAN reports that ASUU insisted to continue its strike unless the Federal Government meets all existing demands.

But the Federal Government on its part believes that the ongoing strike would be called off soon, saying it was taken aback by the renewed strike which university teachers embarked on Feb. 14.

Addressing the resumed conciliation meeting , the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said government was surprised ASUU negated the understanding and assurances it gave through the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council(NIREC) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria , Rev. Supo Ayokunle.

According to the Minister who was in Botswana for the meeting of the African Regional Labour Administrative Centre(ARLAC) when ASUU declared action, said he thought the university teachers and their employer, the Ministry of Education would have resolved the areas of disputes within days.

“I sincerely thought ASUU and the Ministry of Education would have resolved the issues, which hopefully are not major areas of dispute, warranting industrial action.

”To my surprise , I came back , and the strike is still on. Be that as it may, it is the mandate of my Ministry to apprehend industrial disputes wherever they occur and we have apprehended this.

“ From this negotiation we are having today, ASUU will appreciate that government means no harm. This is because even if there are still lapses in implementation of agreement , they are not such that will lead to industrial action. To that extent , we have to do everything possible to resolve this.

”I must tell you that on the government side, they were taken by surprise in that before then, NIREC met with you(ASUU) and reported to the President. Having met with you (ASUU) and having given the details of their meeting with you, we sincerely hoped we won’t again take this route of industrial action.

”So, the government side is taken by surprise- Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and all are taken aback.”

Ngige, however, assured that the strike had been apprehended by his ministry and that the ongoing conciliation would prepare ground for an expanded meeting which will involve NIREC.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

God’s Love Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Home in Okpekpe, Edo State, took the opportunity to thank Davido and his friends and to pray for them when they receive their portion.

The property has only got 597,940 Naira. God’s Love Orphanage in Okpekpe, Edo State, is ranked number 80 on Davido’s list of beneficiary orphanages.

The money is greatly welcomed because the owner (a retired nurse) looks after the children with her monthly pension of roughly 100,000 Naira (with frequent support from well-meaning individuals and organizations), which is insufficient to care for 24 children in today’s Nigeria.

In its 13 years of existence, the home has had some successes, producing two HND graduates, several trained artisans, and SSCE holders.