By Emmanuella Anokam

Dr Mohammad Barkindo, the Secretary-General, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says it has never wavered from its core values in spite of the challenges in the oil industry.

Barkindo made this known on Tuesday in his keynote address at the Mediterranean Gas (MedGas) event Dinner, at Athens, Greece.

Barkindo said that over the last six years, the oil industry and OPEC had been faced with a range of challenges, complex and confounding in equal measure.

Yet, we never wavered from the core values at the heart of OPEC, respect among nations, cooperation, dialogue, and working toward collective solutions.

I have no doubt that these values can carry us forward to a brighter tomorrow.

In a few weeks from now, I will complete my assignment as OPEC secretary-general, which began six years ago, on Aug. 1, 2016.

The pace of change in world events over that time has been staggering. These changes have had major ramifications for the energy industry, he said.

Barkindo, while reflecting on how best to synthesise many strands and facets of these changes, said an illuminating gateway to explain the trajectory was the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland.

He said the meeting, which took place from May 22 to May 26, was the first of such meeting since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Economic Forum in Davos, founded by Klaus Schwab, represents more than a meeting in the popular imagination.

It is the platform for and exemplification of the virtues Schwab has extolled for the past half century: an interconnected world with free flow of goods, services, ideas and people contributing to shared prosperity, stability and peace.

These aspirations have been shaken to the core by events of the last two years.

Isolationism and protectionism, once confined to the fringes of political discourse, have received new prominence in elections across the world.

Supply chains have struggled to adjust to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three decades of intensified globalisation risk going into reverse, he said.

He recalled that there was a lot of discussion on nearshoring, onshoring and reshoring, as well as on the impact of rising interest rates and an end to the era of cheap borrowing.

Barkindo said nothing had challenged the Davos worldview more than the war in Ukraine and the subsequent geo-political fallout.

He said certainly, there had been a lot of column inches and boardroom discussions devoted to questions regarding the future of globalisation.

He said that investment patterns that had dominated the last three decades were also being put to the test.

The OPEC secretary-general listed the patterns as the idea of corporations opting for cheap offshore manufacturing, slick global supply chains holding costs down and keeping inflation levels low.

The question now is whether the momentum behind globalisation is shifting toward local sourcing.

Attention in public discourse has gravitated toward issues such as so-called supply chain sovereignty and domestic production facilities.

The deployment of sanctions and attempts to sever some countries from the global economic system has seen fractures in geopolitics spill into the economic sphere.

And we should not be under any illusion that the attempt to decouple economies or reverse globalisation is a product of the 2020s, he said.

He further explained that this had been a mantra for many politicians over the last few decades.

According to him, many communities have expressed grievances at missing out on the opportunities that come from globalisation, or feel they have been aggrieved as a result of it. (NAN)(www.nananews.ng

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

TAJBank Limited, Nigerias leading non-interest bank, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of private sector (ICD).

According to a statement by Hamid Joda, Managing Director of TAJBank, the MoU is aimed at attracting funding for major infrastructural projects in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ICD is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group,

According to the managing director, the MOU represents a convergence of will between both entities.

He said that it would build a relationship between the Nigerian bank and the international organisation to explore avenues of financing key capital projects in the Country.

Joda said that the banks recently launched Sukuk would be offered in tranches of N10 billion each as soon as regulatory approvals were secured.

We are delighted to have crossed another milestone with the signing of this MOU, and especially with the ICD.

It only further buttresses our intention of stimulating investments in critical sectors of the economy leading to national development.

As we all know, Nigeria has a huge infrastructure gap that requires funding through long-term funds like that of the ICD, he said.

Mr Sherif Idi, the banks Executive Director, also expressed his joy over the development.

Idi said that the MoU further demonstrated that TAJBank was sustaining its giant strides.

This is seen in this partnership as we hope to do more in securing investments that will further bring about creation of jobs and production for better national advancement, he said.

NAN reports that TAJBank, a leading non-interest bank in the country, commenced operations about two years ago.

The non-interest banking services provider had a few days ago unveiled plans to launch a private sector targeted N100 billion Sukuk programme under a Mudaraba structure.

It had said that the Sukuk programme will afford it the opportunity to grow its capital base and by so doing, position it on a strong pedestal to finance large and long-term
projects in Nigeria.

The ICD is a multilateral development financial institution under the IsDB saddled with the responsibility of supporting the development of its member-countries.

The ICD provides finance for private sector projects, promotes competition and entrepreneurship and encourages cross border
investments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Hadiza Mohammed

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would see the two agencies engage in direct exchange of news content and information.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement at NAN headquarters in Abuja, the Director-General of BTA, Mr Kiril Valchev said that the contract represented the first agreement Bulgaria and Nigeria had signed in the past 25 years.

Valchev described the agreement-signing ceremony as a historical moment as it marked the beginning of a mutually beneficial programme that would enable both news agencies to help each other and have full access to news content.

According to the BTA director-general, the Bulgarian news agency publishes more than 1,000 news reports and no fewer than 3,000 photos every day.

He said the Bulgarian news agency would, following the signing of the MoU, begin to publish NAN news stories about Nigeria in its daily bulletin, seven days a week.

He said BTA would offer training opportunities to NAN reporters as part of the MoU signed between the two news agencies.

Valchev said the Bulgarian news agency would send reporters to cover the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

He urged the management of NAN to consider opening a permanent office in Sofia, adding that BAT will support NAN towards that end.

He urged the NAN management to endeavour to take steps towards opening its office in Sofia in the early part of 2023.

Responding, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Ponle, welcomed the idea put forward by his Bulgarian counterpart.

Ponle said NAN had accepted the offer and would work towards it through the Federal Ministry of Information.

He said in February, the management of NAN were in Addis Ababa in furtherance of plans towards the reopening of the agencys office in the Ethiopian capital and global penetration.

The NAN MD said the signing of the MoU marked a significant milestone between the two agencies and that it was the beginning of a sustainable and mutually beneficial engagement.

According to him, the world was becoming a small global village with NAN having a major role to play in the community.

Ponle said NANs role as a major player in the global community was the reason for its trustworthiness, credibility, truthfulness, relevance, and currency in news content dissemination attributes that have made it reliable.

He added that NAN is the largest content provider in Nigeria and has maintained its position in the 36 states of the country.

Valchev signed the MoU on behalf of the Bulgarian news agency while Ponle signed the document on behalf of NAN. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng )

(Edited by Cecilia Odey/Emmanuel Yashim)

Source: NAN News

By Ismail AbdulAziz

At least 2,000 pilgrims out of the 43,000 Hajj slots allocated to Nigeria by the Saudi Arabian government have arrived at the Holy city of Madinah for the 2022 Hajj.

One million pilgrims, including those from Saudi Arabia are expected to perform this years hajj.

Nigerians already in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj are those from Borno, Nasarawa and the FCT.

Pilgrims traditionally visit Madina to pray at the mosque of Prophet Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, either before they begin the Hajj rites or once they have completed them.

Prayers said in Prophet Muhammeds mosque are believed to have rewards of praying a thousand times anywhere else except for prayers said at the holy mosque in Makkah.

Alhaji Zikrilluh Hassan, chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON) admonished pilgrims to always be good ambassadors of the country during their stay by adhering to rules and regulations of the host country.

NAN reports that several committees of NAHCON, which include media, medical, accommodations, finance and operations were already on ground to make the stay of pilgrims comfortable in Madinah and in Makkah.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that pilgrims have started settling down in their accommodations around the Holy Mosque in Madinah.

Most of the hotels are few minutes walk to the mosque but pilgrims need to pay for transportation to say their five mandatory daily prayers at the mosque.

About two million Muslims visit the Holy Kaaba in Makkah annually to perform Hajj, a religious event that takes place in the Islamic month of Dhul Hajj.

During the period, Muslims are strictly forbidden from engaging in any type of sin including arguments, violence, and illegal sexual activities.

They are enjoined to adopt a calm demeanour throughout the pilgrimage. (NAN)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News

By Doris Esa

The Federal Government says the demand for fish exceeds 3.6 million metric tons but the country is only able to produce about 1.2 million metric tons.

Mr Ime Umoh, the Director, Fisheries Department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, made this known at the Second Dialogue with Regional Economic Communities (RECS) implementation of Fisheries Governance Project phase 2 (FISHGOV-2) on Monday, in Abuja.

The three-day dialogue is co-hosted by African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD, and African Union-InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources, AU-IBAR, with the support of European Union, EU.

According to Umoh, Nigerian fish industry can only produce 1.2 million metric tons of fish from industrial, artisanal and aquaculture sub-sectors.

Umoh, who said that Nigeria had benefited from Phase 1 of the FISHGOV project, and the success was glaring, expressed optimism that the Phase 2 would also boost fish production in Nigeria.

The Minister of Agriculture has a very big passion for fishing production because we believe that fish is the cheapest source of protein and the total fish for the country is more than 3.6 metric tons.

But we are not able to meet up this target because of some of the issues that we are going to be discussing in this dialogue.

We are only able to produce about 1.2 metric tons in all the sub-sectors in the industrial, the aquaculture, and also the artisanal sub sector, he said.

In the area of achievement, Umoh said the Fisheries Department had licensed 164 fishing vessels, through the Nigerian Territorial Waters and the Economic Zones.

He further said that to safeguard the health of Nigerians, the Federal Department of Fisheries had drafted inspectors to ensure importers follow due process before selling the commodity to Nigerians.

Frozen fish is good because before frozen fish is brought into the country, we have what we call task certificate; we have to certify where are they bringing this frozen fish, what is the health status, how is being stored, we inspect the cold-room.

We have inspectors in Lagos, Abuja and others who go there to certify that the frozen fish being brought into the country is in very good condition, he said.

He said that government had also installed monitoring systems in Abuja and also one in Lagos to monitor the activities of the fishing vessels.

In the artisanal sub sector, we have been able to register the canoes and build up the capacity of artisanal farmers as well as supplying them with inputs, canoes, fishing gears and other equipment that will help them to increase their production.

In the aquaculture sub sector, we have established what we call fish farm estates, feeds farm clusters, and other activities that will stimulate the aquaculture production in Nigeria.

We have also intervened on the whole value chain in terms of the production, processing and also the marketing structure

We have also provided processing equipment, storage equipment and enhanced a structured market facilities that will help the aquaculture sub sector to grow, he said.

Speaking with newsmen, African Union Commission, AUC, Ms Panduleni Elago, promised that Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, CAADP would support artisanal fish farmers and small scale fish farmers to bridge the gap existing fish demand in Nigeria.

Elago, who is CAADP Advisor, said fish is one of the healthiest and cheapest proteins to human being.

Fish is one of the healthiest and cheapest proteins to human being, and as we strive to end hunger in Africa by 2025, we also seek to support all those involve in the fisheries sector; small scale farmers, the non-state actors and civil societies, he said.

Mr Ernest Aubee, The Head of Agriculture and Food Security Division of the ECOWAS Commission, said that ECOWAS had collaborated with the Nigerian Navy to protect the territorial waters of the sub-region from criminal activities as it affects fish production.

According to him, ECOWAS is putting a lot of emphasis on fisheries and aquaculture, and it is in this light the European Union, and the African Commission came together to develop a fisheries governance programme for Africa called PESCAU. (NAN) ()

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Abdulsalami Abubakar, on his 80th birthday, June 13, 2022.

The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina on Monday in Abuja, joined family members, friends and associates of the former Head of State in celebrating the milestone.

He noted with delight the historic roles Abubakar played in the unity and peace of Nigeria, and in laying the building blocks of democracy.

Buhari also noted the meritorious service of the former Chief of Defence Staff, sacrificing for the country and African continent by participating in peace missions and negotiating for the upholding of democracy across the continent.

He extolled the humility and humanity of the Army General, who chose the noble path by ensuring transition to democratic government in 1999, and midwifed a peaceful handover process in 2015.

According to the president, the nation owes Abubakar debt of gratitude for always putting the interest of the country and its citizens first, and working for the greater good of Nigeria and a better Africa.

He prayed that the almighty God would continually bless the former Head of State with good health, strength and wisdom. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) says Nigeria will begin local production of uniforms for its military and paramilitary personnel from January 2023.

The commission said in a statement signed by its Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Manji Yarling, on Monday in Abuja, that the production of the uniforms would be a joint venture project.

The commission said that the Public Private Partnership (PPP) between Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Sur Corporate Wear, would lead to the creation of Sur Corporate Wear Nig. Ltd.

The DICON Sur collaboration which will span a concession period of 20 years, will be responsible for producing uniforms for the Army, Navy, Air force, Police, Civil Defence and other military and paramilitary organisations, it said.

The Acting Director-General of ICRC, Micheal Ohiani, in a meeting, charged all stakeholders in the project to resolve all issues hindering the completion of the factory and report to the commission in one week.

Also, Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, Director, Contract Compliance Department, ICRC, during the rescheduled meeting, urged all stakeholders to ensure that the project was completed within the stipulated time frame.

Ewalefoh said that the project was important to the nation as it would curb capital flight and create no fewer than 920 jobs.

He said that the project would also be a thing of pride for the nation to produce its uniforms.

The director said that as the project progressed, the DICON Sur joint venture woud be expected to begin to source all its raw materials from within Nigeria.

The fact that we produce our military and paramilitary uniforms locally is a pride to all of us. It is a pride that we all must uphold.

Sudan is producing their own military kits and I know DICON can do it if they have the right support, he said.

Ewalefoh assured all stakeholders that ICRC would liaise with all the relevant government agencies to fast-track the ongoing process of securing approval for off-takers when production would begin in January.

He said that going forward, ICRC through its Contract Compliance Department, would make the DICON Sur project a priority and monitor its progress until completed.

The director pledged that the commission would continue to intervene to make PPP projects operate smoothly.

The Managing Director, Sur Corporate Wear Nig. Ltd., Burhan Karabulut commended the management of ICRC for intervening and ensuring that the project was hitch-free.

Karabulut also commended the investors for agreeing to release funds for the completion of the project, following the intervention of ICRC and the meeting of stakeholders that ensued.

He said that the company had so far taken the project to 68 per cent completion, adding that the remaining funds for the project would be released soon to meet the completion goal.

If the work resumes in July, it is assumed that we can start commissioning as of January 2023; but this January, the commissioning will not be 100 per cent production, he said.

Karabulut, however, said that the designs for the uniforms had yet to be approved, adding that the company could not source its raw materials for production.

He said that without the approval, the production could not begin. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Lydia Ngwakwe/Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, has called for the filling of vacant positions of principal officers in the Upper Legislative Chamber.

Kalu, in a statement he issued on Monday in Abuja, said that the vacancies created during party primaries should be replaced without further delay.

According to him, during primary elections by political parties and for Senate re-elections in particular, some senators, including principal officers, fell out with their respective political parties and switched to other parties.

This switch automatically overturned the principal office positions earlier held by the distinguished senators.

The vacancies created are expected to be replaced in earnest.

The vacant positions do not call for election on the floor of the senate.

It, therefore, falls on the senate caucus of the zones that produced the principal officers to select replacements from their zones, he said.

According to Kalu, the caucus is expected to write their party about the nomination for onward transmission to the Senate President. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News

By Ephraims Sheyin

A play, Emir Sanusi Truth in Clay, produced by Duke of Shomolu Productions, is to be staged in Lagos and Abuja in August, according to a statement by the producers.

Mr Joseph Edgar, Executive Chairman of Duke of Shomolu Productions, signed the statement, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

It said that the play would depict the lives, drama and intrigues surrounding the dethronement of both Emir Sanusi I and his grandson, Emir Sanusi II, leaning heavily on the eye witness account of the Dogarai (place guards), who served both Emirs.

The Play will excitedly work very assiduously through the very colorful traditions and culture of the Fulani and other people of Northern Nigeria, in its bid to foster an equivocal retelling of a very compelling story.

Through some of the most enigmatic storytelling, the play will explosively carry audiences through a voyage of rediscovery, taking them through the sacrifices made by both subjects as they waltzed through a market of misunderstanding leading up to what seemed like a predestined and epocal climax, the statement explained.

It said that the National Troupe of Nigeria had already endorsed the production and would also be partnering in its execution.

According to Edgar, the former Emir has confirmed his readiness to attend both performances to be held in both cities.

He said that the play would make history as the first co-locational play in Nigeria, if not Africa, utilising different casts in both locations.

The chairman added that the play would be directed by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, generally regarded as an institutional pillar of Nigerian theatre.

NAN recalls that Yerima also wrote and directed Duke of Shomolus Aremu, a play that depicted the life of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The play attracted influential statesman to both the Lagos and Abeokuta showing.

The statement quoted Mrs Mofoluwake Edgar, Managing Director of the firm, as stating that the outfit had emerged the biggest purveyors of historically-backed stage productions in Nigeria.

With over 12 productions, including Ufok Ibaan, Isale Eko and Emotan, to mention a few, our firm continues to push its vision of retelling our national historical stories to a new generation in a firm bid to foster national reawakening using the arts as a strong vehicle of delivery.

As part of the vision, the firm has pulled in respected directors like Makinde Adeniran, William Benson and Segun Adefila as it pursues its vision of excellence, it quoted the managing director as saying.

It further quoted her as saying that more than 100,000 Nigerians had physically seen the productions that had thrown up one of the largest collections of theatrical images on the continent.

The statement added that Agip Recital Hall of the Muson Centre in Lagos, and the Musa Yardua Centre in Abuja, would host the play.

It added that the firm would be running a theatre festival in December where it would stage four plays Ufok Ibaan, Our Duke Has Gone Mad, Awo oand Ogiame Erejuwa II.

It also announced that a play Ladi Kwali would be staged at Easter in 2023, adding that it would be written and directed by Nigerias first Professor of Dance, Bakare Ojo, currently the Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts and Culture.

Nnamdi Azikiwe will also be showing the same Easter 2023, it said, adding that First Bank and Purple are principal sponsors of the projects. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun says the country has made tremendous progress irrespective of its challenges.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Sunday, Onobun said that the journey since June 12, 1993 had not been without challenges.

He enjoined citizens to continually pursue peace at all times, exhibit tolerance and endeavour to live in unity.

As we approach the general elections, I urged you all to get registered to be able to vote to ensure the right candidates are voted into office.

Together we can defend our democracy, we are the pride of the nation, let us uphold its honour.

Let us always remember the labours and sacrifices of our heroes past and strive to do better so that we can leave a lasting legacy for the unborn generation, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News