Latest Breaking News and Updates
The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E Hamza Abdi Barre received the Ambassador of Indonesia to Somalia, Dr. Mohamed Hery Saripudin.
The Prime Minister and the Ambassador discussed the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two nations.
The discussion also focused on cooperation in the fields of economy, society, and culture.
Source: Somali National News Agency
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E Salah Ahmed Jama has officially unveiled the Development Coordination Forum for Somalia’s Aid Architecture.
The event which was attended by officials from government agencies and international partners, was organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Somalia.
Source: Somali National News Agency
The Nigerian Army on Sunday in Abuja condemned the maltreatment of civilians by persons clad in military camouflage at 2 Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Kaduna.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Mwachukwu, stated that the assault was an aberration of the values and ethics of professionalism, courage, selflessness and service to humanity which the Nigerian Army represented.
He stressed that the army was aware of a provocative and unacceptable video footage trending in the social media in which certain persons clad in military uniform were molesting civilians.
He added that the army as a disciplined and regimented organisation was committed to the supremacy of the Constitution, defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.
“Authorities of the Nigerian Army have directed immediate investigation into the audio-visual footage to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.
“Outcome of the investigation and sanctions against the persons clad in military camouflage who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be army personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
“While appreciating the general public for their continued support, the Nigerian Army urges all law-abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarter.
“Members of the pubic are urged to report any untoward conduct by troops to the Nigerian Army Human Rights desks at the headquarters, Nigerian Army or at the divisional headquarters,’’ Mwachukwu stated.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
The Nigeria Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have expressed readiness to conduct a thorough investigation on the cause(s) of Max Air craft tyre loss.
The accident occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on Sunday.
The NCAA Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu, said in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, that the outcome of the investigation would help the agencies to make appropriate recommendations to prevent any recurrence of such incident.
“A Max Air flight NGL1649 a B737 aircraft with registration 5N-MBD departed Yola for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 144 passengers and 6 flight crew on board.
“During landing at Abuja airport the aircraft lost some tires, the flight crew brought the aircraft to a safe stop on Runway 22 at 2.57pm local time.
“All persons on board were evacuated safely and the airport emergency services including the rescue and fire fighting services response was excellent,” he said.
The NCAA boss affirmed that Abuja airport was shutdown due to the disabled aircraft on the runway, as Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport is a single runway airport.
Nuhu stated that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by NAMA accordingly.
“All relevant agencies including NCAA, FAAN, NAMA and NSIB swung into action collaboratively to ensure the prompt removal of the disabled aircraft from the runway and reopening of the airport for flight operations.
“Several flights both domestic and international flights were stranded at Abuja airport, while incoming flights diverted to other airports.
“The damaged wheels of the aircraft were replaced and the aircraft taxied on its power from the runway to an assigned parking position,” he added.
According to him, the runway was inspected and swept for damage and debris by officials of NCAA, Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) after which the runway was declared safe.
He said that, subsequently, the airport was reopened for resumption of flight operations after 8 p.m.
“It has come to the notice of NCAA of sensational media reports of the incident, classifying it as a crash landing thus creating panic and concerns amongst the traveling public.
“The media are urged to seek clarifications and or information as to make accurate reports of any situation.
“The traveling public should be rest assured that NCAA and other aviation agencies will spare no efforts to ensure the continued safe flight operations in Nigeria as has been the case over several years,” he said.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
The Idiroko Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to desist from using faded number plates to avoid prosecution.
Mr Akinwunmi Olaluwoye, the Idiroko Unit Commander of FRSC, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ota, Ogun, noted that some criminals used faded number plates to commit crimes, hence the warning.
“We are, therefore, warning those who are fond of using faded number plates to desist from such act to prevent them from being apprehended by the FRSC,” he said.
The unit commander said the command had started arresting those found wanting, following a directive from the headquarters in Abuja.
He said those arrested by FRSC, especially motorcycle riders, were forced to buy new number plates before they were released.
Olaluwoye said motorists around Idiroko axis were fond of using foreign number plates due to its closeness to the border, while some used faded number plates.
Olaluwoye advised motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations to reduce road crashes and ensure sanity on highways.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), a non-profit civil rights organisation, has urged the National Assembly to consider passing the five gender bills into law as part of the ongoing constitution amendment.
WARDC, in collaboration with USAID and SCALE/PALLADIUM, made the call at a knowledge-building roundtable for media professionals in Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bills are aimed at greater constitutional inclusion of gender/women’s rights.
The bills are seeking, among other things, affirmative actions in political party administration and ministerial and commissionership appointments.
They also seek expansion of the scope of citizenship by registration.
Recall that WARDC and some other women groups and private individuals had stormed the National Assembly in March 2022, demanding the passage of the gender bills.
The Executive Director of WARDC, Dr Abiola Akioyode-Afolabi, said that one of the bills sought reservation of 111 seats to women in the National Assembly to address the low representation of women.
“The National Assembly should ensure affirmative action for women in political party administration to enable more women participation and voice,’’ she said.
She noted that one of the bills sought granting of citizenship to foreign husbands of Nigerian women, adding that one of the bills sought allocation of at least 10 per cent of ministerial positions to women.
“The fifth bill sought to ensure indigeneship rights to women to avoid the discrimination and violence women suffer in a bid to participate effectively in society.
Akioyode-Afolabi spoke on ‘Beyond the Five Gender Bills – The Unfinished Gender Business of the Buhari Administration’’.
She called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the National Gender Policy to show his administration’s approval of 35 per cent affirmative action.
She said that some African countries had mandated reservation of seats for female federal lawmakers.
According to her, South Africa reserved 46 per cent of such seats for women.
“Ethiopia has 38 per cent for women, Senegal has 41 per cent.’’
The executive director also called on Buhari to sign the sexual harassment bill into law before the expiration of his administration.
She urged women to continue to raise their voices.
“There is no retreat, no surrender,” Akioyode-Afolabi said.
In her keynote address, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Dean Emeritus from the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said that there was nothing strange about the five gender bills.
She spoke on ‘Building Knowledge around the Five Gender Bills and the 1999 Constitution’’.
“It is essential to include women in the constitution of any country; this is founded on international law and the rights of women to participate in the government of their nation.
“It is important to have more women in politics.
“However, the constitution of Nigeria has excluded female legitimacy.
“This is inequality, injustice and exclusion of women to participate in decision-making process.
“Fortunately, most women cannot hold themselves bound,” Ezeilo said.
The Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade, called on the media to correct the anomalies surrounding women’s rights.
Arogundade said that signing the sexual harassment bill into law and passage of the five gender bills in the ongoing constitutional amendment process would foster unity and development of the country.
He expressed optimism that the media would make a difference by setting agenda.
He said: “Gender equality will make half of the world’s population active players in economic and political development process.”
NAN reports that five hashtags were composed at the event to further create public awareness on the bills.
They include #sexualharassmentbill, #consider5genderbills, #affirmativeaction and #equalcitizenship.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to repositioning Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) through transformation, to improve productivity across the country.
The Director-General of the MCO, Mr Simon Nkom, made the commitment at a one-day Review for Development (R4D) Retreat, in Abuja.
Nkom said the essence of the retreat was for repositioning the entire mining cadastre to meet up with recent challenges being faced by the office.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MCO inuagurated a new Online Mining Cadastre System based on GAF’s eMC+ framework, in November 2022.
The new system will connect the six newly-established zonal offices in six geopolitical zones with the headquarters in Abuja and ensure efficient and transparent management of the mining sector in Nigeria.
Nkom said through this system, investors would be provided with possibility to submit applications, adding that the system would enable the investors to track the processing.
“The essence of the retreat is for us to do a review on how to adapt on the new EMC+ system.
“We have to discuss on how we can move forward to be able to achieve the best in the next years to come.
“Knowing where we are coming from, we have to work hard to ensure we get what we are looking for, to be able to achieve our objectives.
“In view of that, there’s a need for the staff to be retreated to make the work better.
“With the help of Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Service (DSS) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Nkom said there had been a code of conduct to ensure that at the end of the day, the government and other relevant stakeholders would be figured out.
According to him, if the people do not re-orient themselves, then they are going to have a problem in terms of the process and in terms of the new technology.
“For the first time in the history of the mining cadastre, this event has been the first retreat.
“So, there is a need for re-organising and putting in the key things to play a big role in the mining cadastre in terms of adding value,” he said.
The director-general said that the main aim and objective of the system was to migrate it to an onlined system in a good time.
He said that with the system, anybody could have access to submit an application from any where in the world.
He said that number of people submitting their applications were increasing and going toward perfection.
“So, the system has been made easy for people to submit their applications online.
“There has been about 40 per cent total increase of submitted applications online so far from day to day at different hours which is the essence of the system.
“Offices have been made where people who have challenges with submitting any type of application can be enlightened on how to go about it, especially when it comes to visas applications.
“Looking at the system, one can say that the mining system is a legal activity and the mandate is insurance,” he said.
Nkom said the office had a department of protectorate, which was in charge of illegal activities and it has a mines surveillance unit made up of security agents.
He said that the system continued to issue licences in the fastest possible way within the stipulated time in order to eradicate the illegal mining activity.
The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Bawa Abdulrasheed, said that corruption was probably the most important factor affecting service delivery in Nigeria today.
Bawa said that the Federal Government over the years has introduced several policies and law to tackle the problem of corruption in the public sector.
“Sector like the Economic and Financial Crimes Act 2004 and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, as well as the service delivery initiative.’
According to him, the commission has severally advocated that to prevent corruption is cheaper and less time consuming than to fight corruption.
“It is hereby, imperative for every public officer to ensure the implementation of laws and policies are strictly complied with, while transparency and accountability must be brought into action to promote excellent service delivery in organisations.
“Therefore, it is necessary to make full use of the system (eMC+), which has the potential to create environment free of corruption.
“The system increases the ease of conducting business by reducing number of human contact and increase the effectiveness transparency and accountability.”
Abdulrasheed, however, urged the staff to effectively carry out their duties, to promote a corrupt free environment to enable achieve it’s mandates.
The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bola Owasanoye, said that integrity and good work ethic have great benefit in the delivery of service.
Owasanoye advised public servants as well as other stakeholders to cultivate the attitude of integrity and good conduct for effective service delivery.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Mr Samuel Atuahene Antwi, a Nutritionist at the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, has urged mothers and caregivers of toddlers not to stop sending them to the child welfare clinics popularly known as ‘weighing’ even after they turn two.
Mr Antwi said even though such children were still expected to be seen at the centres for the necessary care and observation, every six months until they turned five, mothers and caregivers abruptly stopped taking the vaccines.
He gave the advice during a health promotion dialogue, ‘Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility,’ a Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy.
Mr Antwi said the continued visits to the child welfare centres help health providers pick up and detect some defects in the children for early interventions, explaining that defects are especially related to developmental stages such as speech, walking, and others.
He added that the ‘weighing’ also help in growth monitoring and promotion, as the child’s weight would be checked and plotted on the gender-appropriate graph to check for normal growth or any deviations.
The Tema Metro Nutritionist bemoaned the behaviour of some mothers when they send their children to the welfare clinic, saying ‘some mothers come appearing too busy and only want the child to be measured quickly for them to leave.’
He reminded them that the clinic was not only for weighing, noting that the time was also used for counselling on proper childcare, as the future of the children depends on the kind of care they receive in their childhood.
He further said mothers receive training on how to properly feed the child, both during the exclusive breastfeeding period and during complimentary feeding, adding that family planning services, food demonstrations, hygiene, the use of mosquito nets, and birth certificate registrations are all available at the child welfare clinics.
Mr Antwi again said the children also receive vitamin A supplements and other vaccinations that help prevent sickness and infant mortality.
The 13 vaccines children receive by age two include BCG, Hepatitis B, yellow fever, measles-rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, influenza, rotavirus, polio, and meningitis A.
‘GNA-Tema Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility,’ according to Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Tema Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency, is a public health advocacy platform that was designed to examine the four techniques of health communication: informing, teaching, persuasive, and urging.
Mr. Ameyibor noted that through the weekly health dialogue forum, the GNA platform serves as an excellent communication route for medical practitioners to educate the public about healthy practises and other general health concerns.
Source: Ghana News Agency