The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday that 483 illegal migrants had been rescued off Libyas western coast.

The UN migration agency said the illegal migrants were rescued in two separate operations by the Libyan Coast Guard.

While IOM teams were there to provide emergency assistance, including medical support, we maintain that Libya is not a safe port, it said.

The agency estimated that more than 4,500 illegal migrants were intercepted or rescued so far this year off Libyan coast and ended up in arbitrary detention.

Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores, in order to escape insecurity and chaos that have plagued Libya since the fall of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

In 2020, a total of 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, the agency estimated, adding that 381 migrants died and 597 went missing on the central Mediterranean route during the same period.

Rescued migrants end up inside overcrowded reception centres across Libya, even after repeated international calls to close those centres.

Source: NAN News

Ethiopias unilateral actions over the filling and operation of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will have massive negative repercussions, Egypts Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Ati warned on Sunday.

Abdel-Ati gave the warning during his meeting in Cairo with the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Donald Booth and Marina Vraila, head of the political, press and information section of the European Union (EU) delegation to Cairo, Egypts Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources said in a statement.

The minister and the U.S. and EU diplomats tackled the current position of the GERD negotiations and ways to restart the talks with the aim of reaching a fair and binding legal agreement for filling and operating the mega dam.

During the meeting, Abdel-Ati reviewed Egypts clear desire to complete the negotiations, emphasising his countrys determination to preserve of its water rights, according to the statement.

The minister also affirmed Egypts full support for the Sudanese proposal which calls for forming an international quartet led by the Democratic Republic of Congo, the current chair of the African Union (AU), that includes the AU, the United States, the EU and the United Nations.

Ethiopia, an upstream Nile basin country, unilaterally carried out the first phase of filling the dam in July 2020 and is planning to go ahead with the second phase in July this year in spite of the concerns of Egypt and Sudan, which have repeatedly called for a prior tripartite binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the controversial dam.

Ethiopia started building the GERD in 2011, while Egypt is concerned it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile water.

Sudan has recently been raising similar concerns over the 4-billion-U.S.-dollar dam.

Over the past few years, tripartite talks on the rules of filling and operating the giant hydropower dam, whose total capacity is 74 billion cubic meters, have been fruitless, including those hosted earlier by Washington and the recent ones by the AU.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will fully utilize the enormous gas resources in the country to uplift the economy and drive industrialization.

The president stated this at the virtual Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) 2021 Pre-Summit Conference and official launch of the Decade of Gas in Abuja on Monday.

While setting the tone for the development of the industry in the next ten years, Buhari said given the countrys potential of about 600 trillion cubic feet of gas, the commodity had the enormous potential to diversify Nigerias economy.

The rising global demand for cleaner energy sources has offered Nigeria an opportunity to exploit gas resources for the good of the country.

We intend to seize this opportunity. he said.

The president told participants at the Pre-Summit that while his administration had prioritized gas development and recorded remarkable progress, it is well known that Nigeria is a gas nation with a little oil, but the country has focused on oil over the years.

He said: That is the paradox that this Administration decided to confront when we declared the year 2020 as The Year of Gas in Nigeria.

It was a bold statement to demonstrate the resolve of this Administration that gas development and utilization should be a national priority to stimulate economic growth, further improve Nigerias energy mix, drive investments, and provide the much-needed jobs for our citizens in the country.

Before the declaration of Year 2020 as The Year of Gas, this Administration had shown commitment to the development of Nigerias vast gas resources and strengthening of the gas value chain by reviewing and gazetting policies and regulations to enhance operations in the sector as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy of 2017.

Our major objective for the gas sector is to transform Nigeria into an industrialized nation with gas playing a major role and we demonstrated this through enhanced accelerated gas revolution.

While enumerating what his administration has done to energise the sector, the president said the development of gas infrastructure had commenced along with the domestic utilization of LPG and CNG.

He added that the process of commercializing gas flares, development of industrial and transport gas markets, and increasing gas to power had also commenced.

We also kick started other policies and projects like the National Gas Expansion Programme, Autogas policy and the construction of the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline.

After a thorough review of these laudable achievements and successes in the gas space, we acknowledge that Nigeria still has more work to do in the gas space.

This has led the Federal Government to begin a more proactive push towards gas development.

This initiative will ensure further optimal exploitation and utilization of the countrys vast gas resources, he said.

The president commended the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigeria LNG Limited to actualize the dream of transforming Nigeria with its massive gas resources.

He described the NLNG as the Federal Governments arrowhead in the reduction of gas flaring in Nigeria.

According to the president, NLNG, which contributes about one per cent to GDP, has generated 114 billion dollars in revenues over the years, nine billion dollars in taxes, 18 billion dollars in dividends to the Federal Government and 15 billion dollars in Feed gas Purchase.

The president noted that these achievements were accomplished with 100 percent Nigerian Management and 95 per cent Nigerian workforce.

He also applauded NLNG for winning the award for outstanding business strategy, in 2020, for going ahead with Train 7 during the global pandemic.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources and NNPC are in various regards setting the pace.

I would like to charge all other relevant MDAs on the need to partner with the international oil companies, the indigenous oil companies and financial institutions to actualize the dream of fully utilizing our gas resources to uplift our economy, he said.

Buhari affirmed that later this year, Nigeria would host the 4th International Petroleum Summit in Abuja.

He invited delegates at the NIPS Pre-Summit to attend the flagship event of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources that will once more allow us to engage our partners and friends from around the world, exchange ideas and policy options and set the tone for the industry in the next few years.

Source: NAN News

China urges the U.S. not to attempt to break Chinas bottom line and to prudently handle issues involving the Taiwan question, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Zhao Lijian, the ministrys spokesperson, made the remarks at a press briefing.

The remarks were in response to a query on the U.S. ambassador to Palau joining the Palau presidents delegation in its visit to Taiwan.

The one-China principle is a widely recognised norm for international relations and a universal consensus acknowledged.

Its accepted and practised by the vast majority of countries around the world, adhering to the one-China principle is a common will and prevailing trend.

Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue between China and the U.S, the spokesperson said, calling the one-China principle the political foundation of China-U.S. relations.

Zhao said that China firmly opposes official exchanges in any form between the U.S. and Taiwan, which is a consistent and clear position.

He called on the U.S. to stop official exchanges with Taiwan and not to send wrong signals to separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence.

China urges the U.S. to fully recognise the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communique.

China also urges the U.S. to properly handle issues relating to the Taiwan question so as to avoid causing serious damages to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Source: NAN News

North Korea said on Monday that the UN Security Councils position (UNSC) on missile launches by Pyongyang amounted to double standards that violated the countrys sovereignty and right to self-defence.

North Korea has conducted two missile tests recently, with two cruise missiles launched toward the Yellow Sea on March 21 and two ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on March 25.

Though Pyongyang described the tests as a right of a sovereign state to self-defence, the launches sparked concerns among a number of states that requested closed consultations on the matter in the UNSC.

It constitutes a denial of the sovereign state and an apparent double standard that UNSC takes issue, on the basis of the UN resolutions direct products of the U.S. hostile policy toward the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The normal activities fall within the right of our state to self-defense, Jo Chol Su, the Director-General of the Department of International Organizations of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The diplomat recalled that the UN body remained silent when the United States launched an airstrike in eastern Syria in late February.

He said neither did the council respond to the United Kingdoms recent announcement that it would make a drastic increase in its nuclear warheads.

Same for Frances test of a new-generation, multi-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile, he added.

The United Nations Security Council does not have a single record of having questioned or discussed such acts.

It is indeed preposterous that such countries spearheading the moves to undermine global peace and stability are picking on our self-defensive measure, the statement read.

According to Jo, if the UN continues to use a double standard policy, it will only contribute to the aggravation of the situation and confrontation, not dialogue, on the Korean peninsula.

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Osuoha

An Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI), says national acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine will lead to a decline in the spread of the pandemic.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the group, Ms May Ikokwu, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Ikokwu called on Nigerians to avail themselves for immunization to drastically reduce community spread especially the deadly second phase.

She explained that the vaccine had reduced the spread of the pandemic in other climes as the United Kingdom and United States of America.

In a recent report, the UK claimed that they have observed 82 per cent decline in deaths for those who have received the vaccine, including those with underlying ailments, cases of new infections have also reduced.

So also in the USA, the number of new infections and deaths have decreased. It would be good if every adult gets the vaccine, so that life can return to normal, she said.

Ikokwu, who expressed hope that COVID-19 pandemic would be defeated, reiterated call for national immunization and strict compliance to the safety protocols.

The vaccine will help check infection and normalise the situation, so I encourage all to take it,she said

The SOHI boss, however, expressed excitement at the reports that Nigeria was developing her own vaccines that were going through several stages of testing.

Ikokwu added: If successful, our own homegrown COVID-19 vaccines would reduce our dependence on vaccines sourced from overseas and increase the availability and reach of the vaccines.

NAN reports that Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said that they had actually developed a comprehensively deployment plan on how to deploy these vaccines in phases. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

The Federal Government is yet to release the funds it promised Edo for the hosting of the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) with less than a week to its commencement.

Musa Ebomhiana, a Project Manager in the Media and Communications Sub-Committee of the festivals Local Organising Committee (LOC), disclosed this on Sunday in Benin.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however that, while the Edo State Government still remained hopeful the fund would be released, an early release would be better.

This will ensure smooth planning for the nations number one sports fiesta, he said.

Ebomhiana pointed out that the need to have a smooth planning was the reason the states Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, had last week appealed for the funds early release.

We are taking seriously the promise by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, that money will be released before the commencement of the festival.

We know and are sure that the Federal Government will not want to disappoint the youths and sports enthusiasts. We believe that it will do the needful.

Ebomhiana however said all that was needed, aside funds, for the successful hosting of the countrys biggest sports event had been put in place by the Edo government.

He said sports men and women would not only be provided with the best and most modern sports facilities in the country.

The festival official added that the participants and other visitors would enjoy the hospitable nature of the people.

The remodelled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin boasts of the best facilities in the country, so also are other centres that will play host to various sports during the festival, he stated.

Ebomhiana disclosed that the accreditation of sports journalists for the festival would begin on Tuesday, warning however that it would not be an all-comers affair.

Only journalists with duly-confirmed media organisations will be considered, he said.

NAN reports that the 20th NSF has been scheduled to hold from April 2 to April 14.

It was earlier billed to take place in March 2020, before it suffered several postponements as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By EricJames Ochigbo

Rep. Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos)has commended the Service Chiefs for their resolve to jointly combat security challenges facing the country.

Babajimi, also Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

The rep said that lack of strategic cohesion among security outfits had been a major weakness in the nations security landscape.

As a nation, Nigerias lack of joint and strategic cohesion amongst its many security outfits has been a major weakness in our security landscape.

It is therefore gratifying to see a new resolve by the military services chiefs to work jointly together as the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

This deep cooperation will strengthen command and control as well as effective leadership oversight of operations in the field, he said.

Babajimi pledged the committees commitment towards providing all the requisite legislative support needed by the gallant troops and their Commanders to ensure successful operations.

The lawmaker said that the unity of command posture was a step in the right direction, commending the determination to embrace global best practices to further strengthen security architecture in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Sen. Bola Tinubu, one of its national leaders, as a man of excellence, a true democrat and a great leader.

Gov. Mai Mala Buni, National Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, while congratulating Tinubu on his 69th birthday.

Buni, also the governor of Yobe, said Tinubu had, no doubt, dedicated his life to the service of humanity, promotion of good governance, growth and development of democracy in Nigeria.

As a leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is passionate about the future of the people as a developmental democrat; he is a proponent of due process and rule of law.

His humble and humane disposition made him a great philanthropist; the APC family is so proud of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubus many achievements, he said.

Buni prayed the Almighty God to grant Tinubu many more prosperous years, good health, strength and wisdom to continue to serve humanity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government has charged the new Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zach Adedeji, to work towards realisation of goals in the sugar sector of the economy.

Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment gave the charge while inaugurating Adedeji as the Chief Executive Officer of the council in Abuja.

Adebayo disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by his Special Assistant on media, Ifedayo Sayo.

He said the Federal Government relied on Adedeji to work assiduously towards realisation of Nigerias self sufficiency in sugar production.

You are therefore expected to discharge your duties in accordance with the rules and regulations as laid down in the Act establishing the council and other extant rules,he said.

He urged him to create a good working relationship with his staff, board and management to ensure a successful execution of his mandate.

In response, Adedeji described Sugar as an important commodity in the global agricultural market, with an annual average production of 120.1 million tonnes and consumption of 118.1 million tonnes.

According to him, Sugar is produced under a broad range of climatic conditions in some 120 countries, and is one of the most heavily traded agricultural commodities.

World sugar trade averages about 64 million tonnes per year and raw sugar accounts for around 60 per cent of internationally traded volumes.

Our fundamental objective is to continue to work with relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies to provide desired support and interventions to achieve ultimate target of 1.8 million tonnes.

Also, we will continue to welcome the support of our principals toward the vision of attaining sugar self-sufficiency, he said.

Adedeji commended the erstwhile Executive Secretary of the council and management staff for the progress made in the implementation challenges in the sugar development industry.

He emphasised the need to swiftly address challenges to enhance justification to effectively reward non-performance amongst the operators. (NAN)

Source: NAN News