NEWS
Buhari Seeks Debt Relief, COVID-19 Vaccines for Africa
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on European countries and global financial institutions to consider reducing the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on African economies by restructuring debt portfolios and providing complete debt relief.
The president made the call at the Financing Africa Summit held at the Grande Palais Ephemere in Paris, France, on Tuesday, with the theme: “External Financing and debt Treatment”.
He observed that many African countries were already experiencing debt distress and the debt service suspension by France and the G-20 was not far reaching enough.
Buhari added that there was need for more sustainable and affordable financing solutions, including debt relief and further debt restructuring.
He also called for the release of vaccines to the Africa, which, he asserted, had been left behind in protecting majority of its citizens.
The Nigerian leader said the fall in commodity prices as COVID-19 took a toll on the global economy had further slowed growth in some countries and strained health facilities.
“It is in this vein that we solicit the support of the French government, with its influence in the European Union, to lend its voice to the efforts being made to mobilize additional resources for developing economies most especially in Africa, in order to strengthen the quantum of investments to our economies.
”This financial support should also be extended to the private sector,” he said.
The president said the European Union should encourage fair and equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines to less developed countries and promote the establishment of manufacturing facilities.
As for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Buhari noted that African countries would need financial support for green energy investment and COP-26.
He said Nigeria was refocusing on gas, while adopting a Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative.
On the theme of “Africa Private Sector — Reforms – Infrastructure’’, the president said Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) would be fully explored to ensure more precision in development, cutting down waste and reducing chances of corruption.
“The government intends to leverage on Public-Private-Partnerships to bolster its job creation and anti-corruption drive.
”In terms of job creation, Nigeria has an abundant labour force since 30.5 percent of its population is between the ages of 25 and 54.’’ (NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja, the nation’s capital, after spending two weeks abroad.
The President arrived back at the Presidential Villa in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Nigerian leader had travelled to the Netherlands on April 23 for a summit on economic growth.
After the three-day event, he proceeded to Saudi Arabia, where he joined other leaders from around the globe for the World Economic Summit (WEF).
The Nigerian leader did not immediately return to Nigeria after the event, spending more days abroad.
No official reason was given for the extended stay that has aroused speculations from some Nigerians.
This newspaper earlier reported on Tuesday that President Tinubu was due in Nigeria this Wednesday, according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
High Court sitting yesterday in Effraya, Etung local government area of Cross River state has granted motion exparte, disbanding the state Cocoa Allocation Surveillance team from operating at the government Cocoa estate.The court placed the injunction order restraining the team from harassing allottees of government cocoa farms in Etung local government of the state.
The order came five days after Otu’s administration issued a statement suspending activities of the surveillance team barring them from operating at government Cocoa estate in the state. The court presided over by Justice Amajama Eneji, yesterday after the proceedings, adjourned the matter for argument till May 23,2024 after a counter affidavit to the motion on notice and statement of defense was filed by counsel to Cross River State government Barr.Woda Ogar.In a brief interview with journalists at the court premises at Effraya, counsel to Cross River State government, Wada Ogar, said, “ I just came today to find out that there were 27 others recently filed.”The application ex parte was taken and has been variously adjourned to May 23rd for hearing of the motion on notice. But what I came here for was suit no. HA/16, 17 and 18, 2024 which have been served on me and I have filed my responses.”Well, it is the allegation of the claimants that some hooligans are taking over the plots over which we are in court, harassing the people and all that.”That is why in the first place, they brought an application ex parte to restrain those people and then they alleged that, surveillance committee set up by the government was being used to perpetrate illegalities, because of that, the court made another ex parte which had gone viral” Woda said.Meanwhile counsel for claimant, Mba Ukweni ( SAN),averred that he and his clients (claimants ) came to court to take a motion for interlocutory injunction to restrain government and its agents, her appointees from interfering with allottees of government cocoa farms.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State in his 100 days in office has been said to have made history with the payment of 100 percent monthly pension to Local Government Pensioners and 85 percent monthly salary to local government workers in the state.This positive development which started in the month of April, 2024, is coming after several years of percentage payment being experienced by local government pensioners and workers in the state.
It was a jubilation galore for the beneficiaries as they said that it will go a long way in cushioning the effect of the current economic hardship as well as giving them a sense of belonging with their counterparts in the Kogi State Civil Service. Governor Ododo also made his mark within the 100 days in office by entrenchment of good governance through the appointments of capable Commissioners and Special Advisers to kick start effective administration.In the education sector, Governor Ododo made his feat in the payment of external examination fees such as WAEC and JAMB, creation of online registration portal for the registration of indigenous students of Kogi in tertiary institutions across the country for payment of their bursary allowances, payment of outstanding fees to all Students’ Associations and Youth Organisations in the state.Ododo equally ensured the completion of internal roads at Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara as well as inspection of legacy projects in the institution and Kogi State University, Kabba.Furthermore, the Governor embarked on training of teachers in the Kogi State Public Schools/ Deployment of a new set of teachers recruited by the Kogi government.Inorder to boost food security within the period under review, Governor Ododo’s administration, cleared over 8,000 hectares of farmland for this year’s farming season, conducted a census of genuine farmers in the state to determine farmers to benefit from government subsidies and interventions and refurbishment of over 200 Tractors which were distributed to farmers across the state to carry out their farming activities.On information dissemination, the Governor installed a Transmitter at Radio Kogi headquarters in Lokoja to ensure effective publicity of government policies and programmes, provision of operational vehicles to the Radio Station and Solar Power to ensure uninterrupted transmission.In an effort to avert possible flooding in the state during this year’s raining season, Governor Ododo within his 100 days in office, awarded contract of N29.9Billion Erosion Control Projects at Ankpa, Okene and Ijumu local government areas
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