By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after attending the Summit of Heads of State and Government 15th Conference of the Parties (Cop15) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian leader had on Monday presented the countrys position at the summit.

The president had at a side event of the summit urged the World Bank, African Development Bank and other partners to support the One Planet Summit initiative and activate the 19 billion dollars pledge.

In his capacity as the President of the Conference of Heads of State and Governments of the member states of the PAGGW, Buhari said:

The inter basin transfer of water from Central Africa to the lake Chad should be taken seriously.

The meeting was President Buharis first assignment at the PAGGW Conference of Heads of State and Government following his election to head the institution in December last year.

NAN reports that the presidents Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and other government officials welcomed the president at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede/Ella Anokam

The Northern Solidarity Group on Monday presented the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination form to Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources for 2023 presidential poll.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, spokesperson for the group, Mr Suleiman Abdullahi said the minister has a good chance of getting the APC ticket and winning the presidential election.

He said that the minister needed the support of all Nigerians to emerge as the countrys next president.

We picked the APC Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to surprise the Minister State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, to contest for the presidency of this country.

Our decision as his fans from Northern Nigeria is based on the fact that we found him capable to led the country to the next phase.

Nigerians can see from his antecedent from the state to the federal level that he has garnered necessary experience and well acceptable across the country.

So we know that his chances of winning the ticket of the APC is brighter, he said.

Sylva while addressing the group, expressed joy for the love shown to him by Nigerians from all walks of life.

He said he was honoured and humbled by the show of love and committment, adding that it was however, not for him, but for Nigeria.

I have tried my best since I was appointed by President Muhammad Buhari to give my service to Nigeria.

But to realise that my efforts have been noticed by some Nigerians to the extent of taking the trouble of obtaining the expression of interest and nomination forms for me, is very humbling.

And I must also say very shocking at the same time, but I am very happy and pleased by this gesture, the minister said.

While expressing appreciation to the group, the minister however, said that he would not give a straight answer to them.

Im really thankful for what you have done, but I need to consult, I need to consult my constituency and consult leaders of this countryand I will get back to you, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC expression of interest and nomination forms were sold for N100 million for presidential aspirants while governorship aspirants paid N50 million for the forms.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and other partners to support the One Planet Summit initiative and activate the US billion pledge.

He said the pledge, meant for the activities of the Pan African Great Green Wall Agency (PAGGW), would be utilized for land restoration, tree planting, development of climate resilience infrastructure and investments in small and medium-sized farms.

The presidents spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the president made the charge at a side event he convened at the ongoing UN Conference Of Parties, COP15 in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire.

The presidential aide noted that the meeting was President Buharis first assignment at the PAGGW Conference of Heads of State and Government following his election to head the institution in December last year.

The meeting, which involved the 11 Sahel African states, discussed ways and means of accessing and utilizing US billion pledged by donors for the activities of the Pan African Great Green Wall Agency (PAGGW).

The Nigerian leader also underscored the importance of recharging Lake Chad, now down to 10 per cent of its water volume.

In his capacity as the President of the Conference of Heads of State and Governments of the member states of the PAGGW, Buhari said: The inter basin transfer of water from Central Africa to the lake Chad should be taken seriously.

He asked the secretariat of the Agency, funders and the soon-to-be appointed consultant to carry out the measure as a way of restoring the socio-economy of the more than 30 million people of the Lake Chad basin area.

As it is at the moment, the drying up of the Lake Chad has destroyed fish farming, animal husbandry and crop agriculture, leading to social and economic dislocation with serious consequences for peace in the basin area.

This has led to migration to Europe by many, creating problems for you over there. These should engage your attention as a committee, he said.

At the select meeting, which included International/Development Partners, Buhari said US billion pledged fund would also support small holder farmers, create institutional framework to enhance security, stability and governance, and capacity building.

All of you may wish to know that, in December 2021, I was elected to lead and drive the Agenda of the PAGGW bloc for the next two years.

This bloc, which includes Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Sudan, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Mali, Eritrea, Djibouti, Burkina Faso and Chad, is facing dire and present danger due to the devastating effect of desertification and drought which is impacting negatively on the security of our communities and the livelihood of our people.

There is therefore an urgent need to confront these challenges associated with desert encroachment and drought, he said.

The president requested for more support for The One Planet Summit initiative, and the political will to actualize the mandate.

He said: It is on this note that on behalf of member States, I welcome The One Planet Summit Initiative that pledges US Billion to support the activities of the PAGGW which necessitated this very important engagement with you this morning.

The purpose of this meeting therefore is to draw your attention to this pledge and to inform you formally, that member states want to trigger the process for accessing the funding by utilizing the GGW Accelerator window mainly to address the following:

Land restoration and tree planting, Investment in small and medium sized farms/support to small holder farmers, Develop climate resilience infrastructure, Institutional framework to enhance security, stability and governance, and Capacity Building.

I therefore call on you, especially the World Bank, African Development Bank and the One Planet Summit Initiative to support this drive, he said.

The president also called on the multilateral institutions to set up a task team to work with PAGGW.

I will further request the partners, particularly the United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and One Planet Summit to advise on a suitable Financial Consultant for the PAGGW that can coordinate the process under the auspices of the UNCCD and PAGGW in a transparent manner.

It is my hope that the parties to this meeting will give us maximum cooperation in this regard and make good their pledge to support Africas drive to addressing these climate challenges.

Finally, I will also direct Nigerias Minister of Environment to convene a meeting of Council of Ministers of member states to brief them on the outcome of this brief meeting.

In her remark, Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary General, who represented the United Nations, described the meeting as a new era in the Great Green Wall programme.

She enjoined the Agency, the 11 African nations involved as well as the group of donors under One Planet Summit to move proactively with scale and urgency to set up government governance structure.

She also demanded that they should focus on land restoration, put in place the digital backbone to connect farmers with markets and ensure that the programmess and activities of the PAGGW were well rooted in individual national plans.

Mohammed advised countries to include the One Planet initiative in their national plans, and not treat it as added-on development project.

She said the initiative must align and adhere to the priority of top national development plans in order to succeed.

I believe that the capacity and commitment of the secretariat of the PGGWA, working together with UNCCD, and your team will be in the best place to engage with partners to develop the pipeline that will ensure that across the countries we are speaking to today, these efforts are made to come to realization sooner than later, she added.

The Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Ibrahim Thiaw, described the coming together of Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti as a great inspiration.

He expressed the hope that the US billion pledged at the One Planet Summit in Paris in 2021 would turn the dollars into hectares. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Bamidele Opeyemi, Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, says President Muhammadu Buhari has done a lot in terms of infrastructure development across the country.

He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

Opeyemi who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District while listing the achievements of the Buharis administration to include the developments in the transport sector, said that the administration had done so much with little resources than previous administrations.

In terms of provisions of infrastructure in this country, the current administration has done so much with little resources than previous administrations did when there was so much money, he said.

On security, the lawmaker said, unfortunately Nigeria is going through a very tough time some of the challenges are banditry and serious economic downturn.

This is not so much about the All Progressives Congress (APC). Some of these problems that we are having to contend with economically and politically are global in nature.

Some of these problems are things that even this administration inherited and has been managing.

In a country where there is so much insecurity; it doesnt even lie in the mouth of anybody to be shouting about the achievement of an administration.

We didnt pretend that we are inheriting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) some years ago, a Nigeria that was all set, or an economy that was buoyant, or a country that was well-secured.

We cannot politicise the issue of insecurity. It didnt start with APC. Its been a matter of continuous degeneration of a political system, he added.

Bamidele explained that part of the issues were global in nature, citing the increase in the price of fuel as a global challenge.

You have to understand the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the impact, including some of the economic sanctions from Russia is having on the rest of the world.

If you are not able to relate some of these things holistically, there will be tendency to continue to blame APC or Buhari, he noted.

On whether Nigerians should give APC another chance in 2023, the lawmaker said APC still has a long way to go because we are talking about a Nigeria project; its a work in progress.

But should that be a basis to deny APC the opportunity to continue to be in government? No, because its not about APC now stepping down for PDP to take over because PDP was actually in charge, they didnt do any better than APC is doing today.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Acha

Flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, continued on Monday following the withdrawal of the earlier threat to shut down operations in airports across the country.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu who monitored activities at the airport, reports that as at 12 noon, Air Peace and Ibom Air landed at the facility from Lagos.

The two flights also took off to Abuja with few passengers.

Recall that the management of Air Peace had, in a tweet on May 8, assured the flying public of the restoration of its flight operations across the country.

The tweet read in part:This is to inform the public that the Airline Operators of Nigeria has withdrawn its planned shutdown of operations as a result of governments promises to urgently intervene in the aviation fuel crisis and immense consideration for the flying public.

Air Peace, has, therefore restored its flight operations while the operators engage further with the government, it stated.

However, NAN further reports that the usually busy airport was a shadow of itself as the facility was virtually empty with few workers. (NAN)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi chapter, on Monday solicited the support of its Rivers State counterparts and APC youth leader for Gov. Yahaya Bellos (GYB) 2023 presidential ambition.

The youths made the call at a Stakeholders Roundtable in Port Harcourt, while canvassing support for a youthful and purposeful leader like Bello during the 2023 general elections.

The Kogi NYCN Chairman, Amb. Usman Ogohi, appreciated the audience granted to his team and commended the Rivers youth leadership and stakeholders.

According to him, NYCN is a non-partisan group, which is poised to ensure adequate and capable leadership across all sectors, especially as it relates to youth welfare and representation.

Ogohi noted that Bellos emergence in Kogi was a clear signal of what a capacity-filled youth could do if allowed to handle the helm of affairs.

He stressed that the Governor had made youth participation and inclusiveness in politics to take a new dimension in Kogi.

He also called for the unity of Nigerian youths, to take over power in 2023.

if we dont support and stand for what we believe in, no one will do that for us and we would be doing ourselves a great disservice, he said.

The Kogi NYCN Chairman stressed that what set Gov. Bello apart from others was his strong belief in equity, fairness and justice.

He noted that these had reflected severally in his appointments and spread of development projects across the state.

In his response, the Rivers APC Youth Leader, who is also an APC statutory delegate, Baridakara Gbarato, thanked the Rivers NYCN chairman for making necessary arrangements for the roundtable.

Gbarato noted that beyond individual and party interests, youths must strive to build good relationships and leverage on building a networking platform that could improve members of their constituency.

He further tasked the youth on active political participation, adding that, if politics is left in the hands of the elders, youth constituency will continue to suffer misrepresentation and good governance.

While lauding Kogi NYCNs efforts towards Governor Yahaya Bello for President advocacy in the country, he stressed that at the right time, his profile would be accessed and the needful would be done accordingly.

Earlier, the Rivers NYCN Chairman, Nwisabari Bani, commended the leadership traits of Kogi NYCN Chairman and for showing strong desire towards the Governor Yahaya Bello for President emancipation project ahead of the 2023 election.

Bani urged the youth to wake up to the reality of the need to be politically partisan, stressing that youth could not achieve their dream or change the narrative without playing their part in the political system. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Perpetua Onuegbu
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has completed the Seventh National Action Plan (NAP 7.0), following the 30-day extension of the previous completion date of April 6.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business/PEBEC Secretary, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

PEBEC, at its meeting held in January, had approved the commencement of NAP 7.0 to run from Feb. 7 to April 7, with a target to deliver 57 reforms within the 60-day accelerator window.

NAP 7.0 marks the end of the 90-day accelerated reform cycle targeted at implementing reforms for improved efficiency and transparency of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Oduwole noted that the completed reforms for the NAP 7.0 included the publication of Insolvency Regulations pursuant to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

According to her, the reforms provide the much-needed support for the operationalisation of the extensive insolvency provisions in CAMA 2020.

She said that public companies would now be able to upload their share registers on Corporate Affairs Commissions Company Registration Portal (CRP).

Furthermore, enforcement of compliance with Order 172 on the timeline for Distribution companies (Discos) to complete new connections for maximum demand users to the distribution grid has commenced.

The reform will improve Discos turn-around time for connecting maximum demand users.

Likewise, the Trademark Registry has resolved previously recurring errors in the manual generation of certificates/recordal documents, Oduwole said.

She commended the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, for her kind and timely support for the implementation of the reforms.

She said that the PEBEC Secretariat would continue to work with MDAs to deliver outstanding reforms for the benefit of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and the Nigerian economy after NAP 7.0 window closed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PEBEC is chaired by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, while the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, serves as the Vice Chairman.

It also consists of 13 ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Service and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Its membership cuts across high-level representation from the National Assembly and the Judiciary, as well as State Governments, Local Governments and the private sector.

NAN reports that some of theparticipating MDAs in the reforms include the CAC, Trademarks Registry (Federal Ministry ofIndustry, Trade and Investment), Citizens and Business Department (Ministry of Interior).

Membership also includes Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Others are, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and National Agency for Food andDrug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The NAP 7.0 was designed to reduce the challenges faced by MSMEs across four areas Agro-Export Implementation Action Plan, Automation Reforms, Regulatory Reforms and Executive Order 01/ReportGov.NG compliance reforms.

The reforms also include the streamlining and simplification of ago-export regulatory practices with a view to boosting the competitiveness of Nigerias agro-exports while enhancing Nigerias foreign exchange earnings as stated in the Agro-Export Plan. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

By Uchenna Ugwu

The Ebonyi State Government has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his two-day official working visit to the state.

Gov. David Umahi on Sunday, expressed deep gratitude over the visit in Abakaliki.

The President had on May 5 and 6, visited the state for commissioning of projects, including King David University of Medical Science and Technology.

Others included the University Flyover, dualised concrete road, Presidential Lounge of the state International Airport.

Umahi described Buharis presence in the state for all the projects commissioned as generous.

We are pleased to convey to you the warm appreciation of Ebonyi people and the South-East, over your positive dispositions to the development of the zone.

While we assure your Excellency of our unwavering support and solidarity, please accept always, the assurances of the esteemed regards and best wishes of the Government and Ebonyi people, Umahi said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Bashir Rabe Mani

Alhaji Jelani Aliyu, the Director-General (DG), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), says the private sector has so far invested over N500 billion in the automotive industry.

We have encouraged, supported, and enabled the private sector to come and put in over half a trillion naira to set up factories and assembly plants across the country, Aliyu told newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DG spoke to newsmen on the efforts of the council to bolster the local production of vehicles in Nigeria.

Aliyu said: We have companies like Dangotes Sinotrucks, Innoson in Nnewi, Elizade, Lanre Shittu, Honda West Africa, Mikano, Nord, all producing vehicles in the country.

We have companies and assembly plants in Lagos, Nnewi, Kaduna and Kano. Some are beginning to come up in Bauchi, Kano and Ogun states.

So, there are a number of companies actually producing and assembling vehicles in Nigeria.

Aliyu further stated that these companies have a combined capacity of producing up to 400,000 vehicles per year.

We are not there yet, we are not producing 400,000 vehicles per year, because of market challenges.

We are, however, doing a lot to unlock that potential and put a stop to the importation of new and used vehicles.

As we speak, you can see that there are individuals and companies that believe in the current and future economy of Nigeria in a such a manner that they can invest this huge amount of money, he explained.

Aliyu also said that the council is speaking to the bigger companies such as Toyota, Volkswagen and Nissan to come into Nigeria and directly set up their own production plants.

He added that the council is also working to effectively implement an automotive policy, with a view to wooing these companies back to Nigeria.

We need a set of regulations to ensure that government gives maximum support to those who invest in this sector, because, when these companies come in, they put in hundreds of millions of dollars.

They want to be sure that regardless of what the government is doing, their investments must be protected, Aliyu said.

According to the director-general, the council has also engaged an international firm, KPMG, to review the automotive policy in tune with the extant global movement in producing vehicles.

He recalled how in the 70s and 80s, firms like Peugeot, Volkswagen, Anamco and Leyland were producing over 140,000 vehicles per year and suddenly stopped.

Aliyu said, all that stopped overnight because the prices of crude oil that the country was so dependent on as a resource dropped from US per barrel, to below US.

So, overnight, Nigeria went into recession, overnight, Nigerians became poor, those people who could buy new vehicles like 504 and 505 Peugeout, and volkswagen beetles could no longer do that.

So, these companies could no longer sell their products, and were forced to leave because of market forces.

Aliyu said that the council is working tirelessly to bring back that lost glory and discourage the heavy reliance on fairly used cars, called tokunbo cars, by Nigerians.

He said that the council is diligently implementing the National Automotive Industry Development Plan ( NAIDP), to reverse the ugly trend.

Aliyu insisted that the vehicles produced in Nigeria were of the same qualities with those imported, if not even better.

These vehicles made in Nigeria are configured to work with our extreme environment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, a frontline Senatorial Aspirant for Nasarawa West Senatorial District, has admonished members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace peace and unity in the interest of the partys progress and development.

Wadada gave the advice while delivering his address at the Nasarawa West Zonal valedictory meeting in honour of the National Chairman of the APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, held on Sunday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The former two-term member of the House of Representatives, emphasised that unity among APC faithfuls is a determinant factor for consolidating the successes of the party in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections in the state and the country at large.

The founder of Keffi Polo Ranch described Sen. Adamu as a political legend who made his mark in Nigerian politics, adding that Adamu has reached the zenith of his political career and is being admired by the younger generation.

Wadada said that the relationship between him and Sen. Adamu is harmonious in spite of their political differences.

And that is why I tell whoever cares to listen that when you see any political issue between myself and Sen. Adamu, stay out of it.

Whatever happens you will never understand what is in between us and above all as I mentioned earlier, there are two pieces of advice that he gave me in the past that was meaningful to me and shall continue to be meaningful to me.

Earlier, the former Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Dr Zainab Ahmed Tanko, also extolled the virtues of Sen. Adamu, who she described as her mentor.

She commended Adamu for his contributions to the creation of Nasarawa State and his efforts towards ensuring that the state has a sense of direction since inception.

In attendance at the event were the serving and immediate past former Speakers of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Nasarawa State APC Chairman, Mr John Mamman, Local Government Chairmen of Karu, Nasarawa and Keffi, among other stakeholders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News