Somalia News Gazette

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday unveil 81 national and regimental colours for the newly established and operationalised units and retired unit colours of the Nigerian Army.

The Army’s Director of Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this while briefing newsmen on the Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the last trooping and presentation of Colours Parade for the army units was conducted in 2007.

He added that new units had been established and operationalised since then in line with the increasing operational commitments of the army as well as provisions of its extant Order of Battle (ORBAT).

He said colours were usually retired after 10 years of service.

According to him, most of the colours in the Nigerian Army have been used in multiple operations in various geopolitical zones of the country as well as foreign countries, hence deserving retirement and the presentation of new ones.

“It is against this backdrop and in line with the traditions, customs and ethics of the Nigerian Army, trooping and presentation of colours parade 2023 will be conducted to retire torn or worn out colours.

“A total of 81 units will, therefore, be participating in the parade; 53 colours will be due for retirement, while 28 will be presented to new units.

“The event is a unique ceremony not only to the units eligible for colours presentation, as many are looking up to this ceremony to witness the height of military discipline and regimentation.

“No doubt the parade will win more admirers for the Nigerian Army as it will provide another opportunity to showcase its reputation for excellent and colourful parades,” he said.

According to him, the special guest of honour and reviewing officer is the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The event will also have in attendance members of the National and Executive Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Governors of the States benefitting Units.

“Others are Service Chiefs, past Chief of Army Staff, senior military officers both serving and retired, captains of industries as well as other important dignitaries,” he said.

Nwachukwu explained that the national and regimental colours carried by army units during parades and ceremonial activities were important source of identity and pride not only for the units involved but for the army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He added that the sight of the colours created a feeling of pride in soldiers and ex-soldiers.

He said from ancient history, colours had served as inspiration for heroic acts of self-sacrifice and became the symbol of the fighting spirit of regiments.

He explained that colours also symbolised the campaigns, battle honours and badges granted to the regiment in commemoration of the gallant deeds performed by its members from the time it was raised.

“The association of the colours with heroic deeds of the units emblazoned on them has led to the custom of regarding the colours with veneration,” he added.

Nwachukwu advised motorists to make use of alternative routes and all proximate routes to the Eagle Square from 5.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Thursday.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Third Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) opened in Accra on Tuesday.

The high-level meeting, convened by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will discuss strategies for strengthening peace and security in the fight against maritime-related crimes in the GGC region.

The session is also being convened for the swearing-in of the members of the new Executive Secretariat of the Commission.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Assembly of the Heads of State of the Commission, is participating in the session.

The heads of state of other member countries were represented by country delegations.

Five member states of the GGC whose candidates were successful in the bid to represent the Commission, including Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, will be sworn into office for a three-year term.

The GGC was established by the Treaty signed in Libreville, Gabon, on 3 July 2001, comprising Angola, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.

The Commission is tasked to constitute a framework of consultation among the countries of the Gulf of Guinea for cooperation and development, as well as for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts that may arise from the delimitation of borders and the economic and commercial exploitation of natural resources within the territorial boundaries.

The GGC began operations in March 2007, with the establishment of its Executive Secretariat in Luanda, Angola.

Cameroun and the Democratic Republic of Congo joined the Gulf of Guinea Commission in 2008.

Ghana also joined the Commission in 2017.

Membership of the Gulf of Guinea Commission is open to other states in the Gulf of Guinea region for the purposes of transforming the sub-region into a Zone of Peace and Security.

The Accra meeting has since gone into a closed-door session.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Construction works on a modern maternity block project at the Keta Municipal Hospital being sponsored by MTN Ghana is progressing steadily.

The telecommunications giant through its social responsibility wing, MTN Ghana Foundation, four months ago, cut the sod to construct a 60-bed maternity and child health complex estimated to cost GHc15.2 million for the hospital.

The project, which would comprise of a 40-bed maternity ward made up of emergency rooms, a first stage ward and a delivery ward including recovery rooms and a lie in ward and, a 20-bed Neonatal Care Unit (NICU) is expected to be completed within a year to augment infrastructural deficits of the hospital.

The hospital currently has a 20-capacity maternity unit serving over 3,000 maternity and 684 NICU admissions annually.

The project would also include two operating theatres, two consulting rooms and offices for nurses, a 20-bed hostel for mothers, restroom for doctors and nurses, reception and out-patients department area, laboratory and dispensary, scrub and sluice room, anesthetics room, intensive care ward and staff eatery.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the site revealed that the project, which was being handled by the firm, Build-Haap Gh Ltd, could be completed ahead of the proposed 12-month period.

The construction, being done using a skeletal frame and had column raised for the first floor with roof beam on top in anticipation of roofing and eventual start of block works to complete the physical structure and furnishing.

Madam Doris Alorse, Nurse in charge of the Maternity Unit, Keta Municipal Hospital told the GNA that she could not wait for the completion of the project saying, not only her unit but ‘the whole hospital is happy because what they’re giving us is a whole complex, NICU and everything will be inside.’

Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, acting Volta Regional Director of Health Service speaking earlier at the sod cutting ceremony for the project on December 20 last year, thanked MTN Ghana for the ‘monumental kind gesture’ and deemed the project as ‘the first of its kind the Ghanaian business community has ever donated to the Health Service in the Volta Region.’

He said the region’s maternal mortality ratio of 103.4 per 100,000 live births in 2021 compared favourably with the national average of 111.3 per 100,000 live births same year and that it recorded 9.9 percent stillbirths in 2021 compared to the national average of 11.8 percent for the same year.

Dr Djokoto said these were as a result of the region’s implementation of cutting-edge interventions, and said despite the efforts, there was still more to be done to reach full potential of service delivery hence, the need for all stakeholders to support just like MTN Ghana was doing.

Mr Selorm Adadevoh, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Ghana, installed on the day as Togbi Nutefefia for exhibiting truth, trust and honesty by fulfilling the promise of constructing a modern edifice in the hospital, said the company was happy for the single largest investment in the health sector and hoped it would deliver improved maternal healthcare after completion.

Torgbui Sri III, the Awoamefia of Anlo State described the project as testament to MTN Ghana’s contributions in improving healthcare delivery in Ghana, lauding in particular, Mr Adadevoh, a native for leading the charge in bringing such huge investment to the area and called on other Anlo citizens to do good deeds for their land.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The EU stands ready to re-launch its regular Multi-annual Indicative Program (MIP) to accompany further progress on the consolidation of peaceful conflict resolution, reconciliation, stabilization and recovery and macroeconomic stability across Ethiopia, according to a statement issued by the Council of the European Union.

The statement also said that EU also strongly encourages the international financial institutions to assist the Government of Ethiopia in addressing the critical economic situation in the country through its economic reform agenda, and creditor countries to work towards a swift conclusion of the debt restructuring process through the Common Framework.

The Council of the European Union welcomed the significant progress in the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement, notably in terms of silencing the guns, facilitating improved humanitarian access, launching the National Rehabilitation Commission to address Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration.

EU also commended the establishment of the African Union Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission (AU MVCM), the de-listing of TPLF as a terrorist organization, the advancement in restoration of public services and the appointment of an interim administration in Tigray as well as the ongoing development of a national policy on transitional justice.

Noting that Ethiopia is a key strategic partner for the European Union in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region, and more broadly on the African continent, the Union appreciated the longstanding close cooperation and dialogue with the government on a wide range of issues.

The statement pointed out that with the resolution of the conflict in northern Ethiopia, the EU looks forward to a normalization of relations with Ethiopia and stands ready to support further progress on its path towards lasting peace.

Furthermore, the Union welcomed the improved humanitarian access to the majority of the conflict-affected areas in northern Ethiopia.

However, the release noted that the widespread humanitarian needs, including in other parts of the country affected by severe drought and other crises, require an adequate and well-coordinated response.

According to the statement, the EU is encouraged by the establishment of the National Rehabilitation Commission and is ready to offer its expertise and support to an inclusive and transparent Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration process.

Finally, the release said that the EU encourages continued and coordinated support of all international partners to the peace process. The Union, including through the engagement of the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, and together with its member states, will remain in close contact with the GoE and with like-minded regional and international partners to ensure a common approach in support of Ethiopia’s lasting peace.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia and Tanzania have kicked off a conference in Addis Ababa today with a view to accelerating the development of renewable energy in the two countries.

The two-day conference is underway under the theme “Fast-tracking renewable energy investment in Ethiopia and Tanzania”.

Addressing the conference, Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa said Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular has huge untapped renewable energy potential.

Hydro, wind and solar energy sectors were mentioned by the minister among the top priorities.

For Habtamu, engaging and encouraging the private sector is crucial to realize the potential of the huge asset of the energy sector in the years to come.

Representative of the ambassador of Tanzania in Ethiopia and General Manager of Tanzania Geothermal Development Company, Matthew Mwangomba said for his part that to ensure the enormous energy potential in Ethiopia and Tanzania, sharing expertise and experiences is critically important.

African Energy Now is hosting AENCon23 to showcase concrete opportunities in existing and upcoming renewable energy projects, including in solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy.

The conference also aims at engaging international financiers and technology providers on renewable energy investment opportunities in the two countries.

The conference which targeted to accelerating renewable energy in Ethiopia and Tanzania is attending by all pertinent stakeholders from both countries.

African Energy Now (AEN) is a grant-funded programme that supports African governments to secure financing for investment-ready projects in the renewable energy sector.

AEN provides expertise on technical and financial aspects of renewable energy projects and supports investments from the initial engagement of investors up to negotiated terms for financial close.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency