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10th Assembly: Group wants senate presidency zoned to South-East

The South East Forum for Senate Presidency, a pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged the party to zone the office of the Senate President to the South-East.

The Spokesperson of the group, Mr Nkem Ayanta-Lafia made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

He said following the outcome of the 2023 general elections, the South-West has produced President-elect in Sen. Bola Tinubu and the North-East produced Vice President-elect, in Sen. Kashim Shettima.

The spokesperson said that since the party’s National Chairman was from the North Central, it was important that the position goes to the South-East.

He said that the balancing of various offices in keeping with national diversity, was a kind of national healing and re-integration that Nigeria needed at this time.

Ayanta-Lafia said that the five states in the South-East zone produced six senators-elect on the platform of APC, representing 40 per cent performance.

He said there was no zone apart from the South-West and North-East where the president-elect and vice-president- elect is from, no zone given the number of states had done better than the South-East.

“We urge the leadership of the ruling APC, which possesses a majority of Senators-Elect in the coming 10th Senate to zone the position of President of the Senate to the South east Zone.

“We are appealing to the ruling party to back the emergence of a South easterner for the position.

“`The position will not only assuage the feelings of non-inclusion of the Igbo people in the mainstream of national affairs, but also afford them the opportunity to have a greater stake in the ruling APC.

“We call appeal to other senators-elect from other geopolitical zones interested in the position to, in the interest of national cohesion, unity and equity, jettison them and support the South east zone,” he said.

Earlier, Ayanta-Lafia said that the forum is made up of representatives of various sheds of political and cultural persuasions in the South-East.

He said that the group is campaigning, lobbying, advocating and networking with other integral parts of Nigeria for the realisation of a President of the Senate of an Igbo extraction.. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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WHO says life expectancy increased from 46 to 73 years

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says global life expectancy for both sexes has increased from 46 to 73 years, with the biggest gains in the poorest countries.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, said this during an online media conference.

Ghebreyesus said after years of war, the organisation realised that it was better to work with one other than fight with one another.

He said that the organisation also realised that a healthier world was a safer world.

“Their vision was clear, but bold: the highest possible standard of health, for all people. To achieve that vision, they agreed to set up a new organisation.

“They debated and agreed what this organisation would be and do in a document called the Constitution of the World Health Organisation,” Ghebreyesus said.

According to him, the organisation marked the 75th anniversary of the day that constitution came into force.

He said that the organisation’s constitution was the first document in history to formally recognise health as a human right.

The WHO boss said that since then, the world has made significant progress towards realising that vision.

He said that smallpox has been eradicated and polio was on the brink.

“These are actually two of the important highlights during the 75 years of existence of the organisation.

“Forty-two countries have eliminated malaria, the epidemics of HIV and TB have been pushed back.

“Forty-seven countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease,” he said.

Ghebreyesus said in the past 20 years alone, smoking has fallen by a third, maternal mortality has fallen by a third and child mortality has halved.

According to him, just in the past five years, new vaccines for Ebola and malaria have been developed and licensed.

He said that just in the past five years, new vaccines for Ebola and malaria have been developed and licensed.

“And for the past 3 years, WHO has coordinated the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic – the most severe health crisis in a century.

“We can’t claim sole credit for these achievements, but we have played a leading role in all of them. Partnering with many partners, especially our Member States.

“And although we have many achievements of which to be proud, we still face many challenges – some old, some new.

“Around the world, people still face vast disparities in access to health services, between and within countries and communities,” Ghebreyesus said.

According to him, since 2000, access to essential services has increased significantly, but at least half the world’s population still lacks access to one or more services like family planning, basic sanitation, or access to a health worker.

He said that often it was because of where people live, their gender, their age or who they are people living in poverty, refugees and migrants, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and other marginalised groups.

“Meanwhile, since 2000, the number of people who experience financial hardship from out-of-pocket health spending has increased by a third, to almost two billion.

“Noncommunicable diseases now account for more than 70 per cent of all deaths globally. Rates of diabetes and obesity have increased dramatically, driven by unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

“Progress against malaria and TB has stalled, antimicrobial resistance threatens to unwind a century of medical progress.

“Air pollution and climate change are jeopardising the very habitability of our planet;

“And as COVID-19 has exposed so brutally, there remain serious gaps in the world’s defences against epidemics and pandemics.

“For all these reasons and more, the world needs WHO now more than ever,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Ukraine to resume electricity exports to Europe after 6 month halt

Ukraine will resume exporting electricity to Europe after a six-month pause due to crippling Russian missile attacks on the country’s infrastructure, Energy Minister German Galushchenko, said on Friday.

“The Ukrainian power grid had been functioning for almost two months without any restrictions on consumption and with a power reserve,” Galushchenko said in a statement, saying repairs had been a success.

He said that exporting the surplus electricity would provide additional financial resources for the reconstruction of the destroyed and damaged energy infrastructure.

An export of a maximum of 400 megawatts to the European energy grid had been agreed. Ukraine was connected to the grid shortly before the war began.

However, the actual amount of electricity exported will depend on the needs of Ukrainian consumers, said Galushchenko, adding that their own electricity consumers “unquestionably” remained their priority.

In the face of the all-out Russian invasion more than 13 months ago, Ukraine continued to export electricity to neighbouring ex-Soviet republic, Moldova, and the European Union from June until October.

This was when targeted Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy supply began.

In 2022, electricity generation in Ukraine fell by over 27 per cent due to the war.

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant near Zaporizhzhya, which has been under Russian control since March, was shut down in September.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Imo Strikers emerge 2023 Sheroes Cup tournament champions in Abuja

Imo Strikers FC on Friday defeated Dannaz Ladies 1-0 to win the 2023 edition of the Sheroes Cup tournament which was played at the Area 3 football pitch in Abuja.

The only goal was registered in the 57th minute, courtesy of an own goal after a well-taken corner kick by Oparanmegwa Pattra.

The victory ensured that the Owerri-based female team won the pre-season tournament, organised by Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF) for Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship and nationwide clubs.

Eight clubs from different parts of the country participated in the week-long competition.

Coach of Imo Strikers, Nelly Orisakwe, attributed their success to hard work and prayer.

“We sacrificed a lot and we worked so hard. For the first time we are participating in this tournament and we won.

“We have seen our weaknesses collectively and individually, I will go back and prepare them for the task ahead.”

Also speaking, Coach of Dannaz Ladies, Bashiru Fatai, said the competition had helped them to discover the loopholes in the team ahead of the commencement of the league.

President of RSDF, Paul Edeh, during the prize presentation, promised to sustain the sponsorship of the competition since it served as pre-season tournament for most clubs.

“This pre-season tournament for Championship and Nationwide teams is in its 5th edition and it was conceptualised to help prepare the clubs ahead of the commencement of the NWFL, Championship and Nationwide leagues.

“Amazingly, the competition has also thrown up lots of talents as well as revealed that the FCT Football Association (FA) is supportive of women football development in Nigeria.

“We will continue to partner with the FCT FA which indeed is one of the best football associations in Nigeria,” Edeh said.

The RSDF boss later presented N2 million as the price money for the teams.

Overall winners of the competition pocketed N500,000 being the prize money in addition to the trophy while the first and second runners up smiled home with N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.

A total of N400,000 was shared among the other six participating teams.

The Foundation also gave N50,000 to each of the eight participating teams for feeding at the commencement of the tournament.

Nicholas Elechi, a member of the Board of Trustees of RSDF, donated N200,000 to the winners while urging them to keep winning.

The Foundation also gave a set of jerseys and five balls each to all participating clubs.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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NMC, NTIC honour best Mathematics students

The Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) has underscored the need for students to embrace the study of mathematics to enjoy successful science-related careers.

The Managing Director of NTIC, Mr Feyzullah Bilgin, gave the advice in Abuja at the 20th Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC) for Primary 5, 6 and JSS3 students.

The competition was organised by NTIC in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) to promote the study of the subject.

“Mathematics is the key of all the science subjects and when a person is very good at maths, the person is going to be able to think abstractly and highly.

“The study of mathematics will help the student become successful in anything, including other subjects.

“In the past in Greece where philosophers were famous and active, they had an academia and at the gate was written: ‘no one can enter if you do not know mathematics’,” he said.

Bilgin advised students of the college to study very hard, so as to “become the best of the best.”

He also advised parents to always support their wards with relevant tools to enable them realise their dreams of studying Mathematics.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NMC, Prof. Promise Mebine, described mathematics as the language of science on which “the future is built”.

The D-G, represented by Prof. Jonathan Ogidi, Head of International Linkages and Advancement at the centre, said any nation that did not prioritise mathematics would have no future.

“Mathematics is important because it is a means of clothing the future; a nation that does not honour and respect mathematics has no future,” he said.

He therefore advised parents to invest in the education of their children, so as to prepare them for a responsible future.

“If the parents know what it takes to invest in the future of their children, especially education, it is not the material things you buy for them that should be your priority.

“It should be how to let your child have knowledge that will keep and help him or her to stand on their own in the near future, when you are no more to help them,” he said.

Mebine disclosed that NMC has developed a Digital Mathematics Network which would contain JSS 1 to JSS 3 curriculum in digital form, to enable students learn mathematics on the go.

Also speaking, Mr Henry Aniobi, a mathematics olympian, encouraged students to be focused while in school.

“As a student, you should be focused on learning and put in your best in all that you do because this is the beginning of your life path.

“As a math olympian, mathematical problem solving is an art. When solving a problem, you need to think creatively. Mathematics helps you think outside the box,” he said.

Aniobi congratulated the awardees and thanked NTIC and NMC for the initiative.

Nwakuche Chidubem, a pupil from Pyramid Learning Academy, Anambra, who emerged overall best, received a cash prize of N100,000, a computer set for the school and a 100 per cent scholarship to NTIC.

Amah Chibuike from Diamond Special School, Imo, who came second, received a cash prize of N75,000, a tablet for the school and full scholarship to study at NTIC.

Also, Mofiyinoluwa Joshua of St. Saviour’s School, Lagos State, who emerged third got N50,000, a printer and full scholarship to NTIC.

In the JSS category, Chukwunwike Ezebube of NTIC came tops and was recognised with a certificate.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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NANS seeks holistic approach to rescue abducted students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to authorities concerned to use all means to rescue university and secondary school students from their abductors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two female Microbiology students of Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara and another 10 female secondary school students of Kachia LGA in Kaduna State had been in captivity.

Mr Vanessa Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator, Inter-Campus Affairs of NANS Zone A, made the appeal in a statement issued to NAN in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

Kwere issued the statement after NANS delegation met with the management of the university shortly after the union’s Zonal Convention held in Jigawa recently.

He pointed out that the call became imperative in view of the fact that the abducted students were under the care of government, hence they remained the property of government.

Kwere said: “We were notified of the sad news regarding the abduction of two 200 level female students of Microbiology Department, Federal University, Gusau.

“It is indeed a really heart touching incident, we had to stop by to pay a solidarity visit, to also sympathise with the institution on this incident.

“We urge the students to remain calm and keep praying for the safe return of their friends and sisters.”

According to him, the union met with the school management, including Prof. Ahmad Galadima, the Acting Vice Chancellor, who is also the current Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university; Dean Students’ Affairs, Prof. Lawal Sa’ad; Deputy Dean, Student Affairs, Dr Tagba as well as the Chief Security Officer.

Kwere said during the meeting, they discussed how the incident happened and the strategies being currently applied by the institution to rescue the abducted students.

“The meeting was presided over by the pioneer Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and President FUBK, Comrd. Usman Ladan-Fakai, and attended by several NANS officials.

“Present at the meeting include Comrd. Vanessa Enoch Kwere, the Deputy Coordinator Inter-Campus Affairs Zone A, and Comrd. Daniyalu Bello Mailafiya, the Director Special Duties NANS Zone A. And a number of stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara axes,” he said.

The deputy coordinator noted that the Dean Student Affairs had enlightened them on the efforts made by the university to guarantee the safe return of the abducted students.

He said the acting VC also assured them that the university was doing its best to maintain security within the institution, assuring that frantic efforts are being intensified to rescue the abducted students.

In a related development, the union expressed deep concern over the abduction of about 10 female students of Kachia LGA in Kaduna State, who according to preliminary report, were students of Government Secondary School, Awon.

“It is very disheartening to learn about this incident, despite still in worry of the two 200 level female students of Microbiology Department, FUGUS, abducted at their Hall of residence.

“We are in constant turmoil because of this reoccurring incidents, our governing bodies have failed to protect us from such menace, students no longer feel safe in their institutions or anywhere at all.

“Predicaments like this are what discourages and interferes with the educational process of Nigerian students, looking at most of this cases, victims always turn out to be females, we’re fragile beings who are abducted, tortured and explored.

“We students’ representatives demand a serious and immediate intervention from the Federal Government and all relevant security bodies, it is our right to feel safe wherever we are,” he pleaded.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Somalia Bans Guns From Streets of Mogadishu

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced Friday that his government has banned people from carrying weapons on the streets of Mogadishu, the country’s capital.

“We impose a strict ban on carrying guns in the streets of Mogadishu. One cannot justify having machine guns mounted on vehicles and rocket propelled grenades in the streets, for protection from a hiding al-Shabab militant armed with a pistol,” the president said.

The president announced the ban during a Friday prayers sermon held inside his presidential compound in Mogadishu.

He said flouting the ban would not be tolerated.

“We will fight against those who fail to abide by the measures,” he warned.

Mohamud has also banned traders from importing all kinds of military gear, from uniforms to boots to equipment.

“No businessman can bring any kind of military gear into the country, let alone weapons. The traders cannot even import Abdi Bile vehicles in the country,” the president said.

Abdi Bile is a local name for a Toyota pickup model named after a Somali American runner who won the 1987 World Championship 1,500-meter in Rome, and it is popular in Somalia for being the best to mount self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

An effort to restore stability

Some security experts see the move as a big step in the process of restoring stability in Mogadishu, which has not had reliable security plans since the collapse of the Siad Barre military regime in 1991.

“Since the collapse of the military regime, there has not been a single reliable and effective security plan that helped the city’s stability. Now, banning weapons from the streets is a good sign forward,” said General Mohamed Farah Aliyow, a veteran Somali military general, and Toronto-based security analyst.

Mogadishu, a densely populated seaside capital, was known as the White Pearl of the Indian Ocean before the civil war.

Over the years, the business community has set up its own security teams to protect their lives and properties. Government officials and lawmakers also have their own heavily armed guards, and armed private security guards operate in the city, making the city awash with guns.

Guns and other small arms are still available for sale in some areas of the city, though not as openly as they were in the past.

Government goes after al-Shabab

Hours before the announcement of the weapons ban, government media declared that the second phase of the government’s war with al-Shabab militants has begun in the Central Somalia region of Hiran.

Last week, government officials said they ended an eight-month-long military operation against al-Shabab militants.

During military operations early Friday, the Somali National Army, backed by local clan militias, took control of several villages in the Hiran region from the militants.

“The liberated areas have been hideouts of al-Shabab militants, but not strong bases, we will pursue them to their strongholds in the West of Beledweyne town,” said Hiran regional governor Ali Jeyte Osman. “I told before and repeat again: al-Shabab fighters are cowards who can’t face the army and the locals.”

Osman said the army took over the villages of Berhano, Tarejento, Burdaar and Nuur-Fanah, located south of Beledweyne, which has been the center of local communities’ mobilizations against al-Shabab. Beledweyne is about 300 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

On March 25, Somalia’s Ministry of Information said that 3,000 al-Shabab militants had been killed and 3,700 more injured in the first phase of military operations from August 2022 through January 2023. The government also said 70 towns and villages had been liberated from al-Shabab.

Meanwhile, the militant group claimed that the first phase of military operations by the Somali government and local fighters had failed. There have never been independent sources confirming the claims of either side, especially the number of war casualties.

In an interview with VOA’s Somali Service this March, Hussein Sheikh Ali, the national security adviser for the Somali president, said the three neighboring countries — Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya — were to send new troops to support Somali forces against al-Shabab in the second phase of the military operations, but it is not known when these troops will arrive.

Source: Voice of America

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Somalia, Serbia Prime Ministers Hold Phone Call to Discuss Bilateral Relations

Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia H.E Hamza Abdi Barre spoke directly on the phone today with his counterpart of the Republic of Serbia Mrs. Ana Brnabic. The two Prime Ministers had an effective discussion on the long-term relationship between the two countries.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to strengthen relations between the two countries, promote peace in Somalia, stability, economic growth, support security issues, technology as well as cooperation at different levels and cooperation that is beneficial to both countries.
The development of trade and investment, debt relief, support for international forums, strengthening of long-term friendship as well as health, education and cooperation in modern security technologies were also discussed.
During the conversation Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre expressed his gratitude appreciation for Serbian scholarships awarded to Somali students.

Source: Somali National News Agency