NEWS
Nigeria Sets January 2025 for $5bn Africa Energy Bank Take Off
The Federal Government has set Jan. 28, 2025 as the deadline for the operationalisation of the five billion dollars Africa Energy Bank (AEB).
The bank would be domiciled in Abuja, the Nigeria’s capital city.
Amb. Nicholas Ella, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Executive Board Member, who led a delegation representing Nigeria at the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), disclosed this at the APPO’s 19th Executive Board meeting.
The meeting which had representatives of 13 member countries was held in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Ella, in a statement on Friday, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the ideals of APPO and the immediate setting up of the AEB in Abuja.
Nigeria won the hosting right for the establishment of the AEB Headquarters in July 2024, after it competed with Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, and Benin Republic.
The AEB which is being established by APPO in collaboration with the Afriexim Bank, aims to bridge financing gaps in the continent’s oil and gas industry.
“The Headquarters building (of the Africa Energy Bank) was inspected by the Technical Team in May 2024, and renovation works for its completion is ongoing.
“Nigeria is fully committed to delivering the building with furnishing to the bank in good time. We have the full support of President Bola Tinubu and our National Assembly to actualise this project in Nigeria,” Ella said.
Giving further insights, Ella said the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on June 25, 2024, approved the hosting of the bank while the ratification of the Charter and Headquarter’s Agreement are in advanced stage.
He said the FEC also approved and endorsed the Establishment Document of the AEB, and instructed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, to commence with the process of ratification.
“The Attorney General concluded the process on Sept. 9, 2024 and transmitted the AEB Establishment Documents, currently with the President for his assent. Once that is done, it will be forwarded to APPO,” he added.
On equity contribution to the AEB, Ella said Nigeria was making efforts to complete its share of the equity contribution to the AEB.
He said apart from the earlier payment of 59.1 million dollars, an additional 10 million dollars was paid into APPO Account by the federal government last week, with the intention to make full payment before the bank takeoff.
“Nigeria wishes to advocate for the establishment and funding of the Africa Energy Bank as part of APPO’s budgetary plans.
“This initiative would not only address the financial needs of the energy sector but also provide a platform for mobilising investments in oil and gas projects, which are vital for Africa’s economic growth and development,” he said.
In reaction to Nigeria’s update on preparations for the bank’s operationalisation, the Secretary-General of APPO, Dr Farouk Ibrahim, said 50 per cent of the funds needed for the AEB take off was available.
Ibrahim, who urged APPO member countries to keep up the tempo for the bank’s take off, explained that it would have three classes of shareholders with APPO and Afrexim occupying the priority shareholder position.
Responding to Nigeria’s presentation, the APPO Executive Board member from Egypt, Hisham Selim, described Nigeria’s explanation concerning preparations for bank’s take off as “encouraging.”
The date for the AEB’s take-off coincides with the 38th anniversary of the establishment of APPO, an 18-member country bloc that drives the development of the African energy industry. (NAN)
NEWS
NDA Records Successes in Military Training, Academics in 2024
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.
The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka on Friday in Kaduna.
Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.
He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.
Also of significance, Ochai said, NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.
Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.
He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.
“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.
”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.
Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.
Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .
“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”
He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.
Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “
He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.
Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.
report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)
NEWS
Corps Member Donates Delivery Kits to Pregnant Women in Katsina
A Corps member serving in Katsina State, Blessing Ene-Ameh, has distributed free delivery kits to 50 pregnant women in Mani town, Mani Local Government Area of the state
The corps member distributed the delivery kits to the expectant mothers in Mani on Friday as part of her personal Community Development Service (CDS)project.
Eneh-Ameh said that she visited a hospital in the area during one of her group CDS programmes and observed that the hygiene of women in the antenatal and children’s wards was not too good.
The corps member also stated that she had noticed that the turn up of pregnant women for antenatal care was very low.
She said, ”This attracted my attention to the need to educate pregnant women on its importance.
“There is also the need for them to keep themselves and their surroundings very neat to avoid infections for themselves and their babies.
“The aim was also to educate them on the importance of planning for the future of the baby.
”They also need to be staying clean to reduce the risk of contracting infections and other diseases by both the mothers and children, as well as the community in general.
“The training will empower the women to be able to handle and bring up children for the family,” Eneh-Ameh explained.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended the corps member for her ingenuity and magnanimity to carry out the project.
Represented by the Local Government Inspector, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ismail-Tsiga, the coordinator urged the corps members serving in the state and other parts of the country to emulate her. (NAN)
NEWS
FUSHO Ag VC Promises Collaboration with Lydia Memorial Hospital
By David Torough, Abuja
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof. Stephen Abah has promised a stronger collaboration with the Memorial Hospital, Ugbokolo for better health services to the people.
Prof. Abah stated this when he received a team of management of the hospital led by the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director, Dr.
Mark Ogbodo on Thursday in his office on a courtesy visit.The Vice Chancellor expressed his profound gratitude and thanked the management of the hospital for the visit and described the CEO of the Hospital, Dr. Ogbodo as a long time friend who has a quest for excellence.
On his part, Dr Mark Ogbodo, who is a FUHSO Ambassador and the Immediate Past Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Medical Association, Benue State Branch as well as the Immediate Past Secretary of the Association of the Nigerian Authors, Benue State Chapter said that the visit was to congratulate Prof.
Abah on his recent well deserved feat as the FUSHO Acting Vice Chancellor.Dr. Ogbodo who described Prof. Abah as a great achiever and mentor to many and whose achievements are commendable, presented to him, on behalf of the Hospital, an Award of Excellence, in recognition of his exceptional achievements and contributions to academic and medical excellence in Nigeria, examplary leadership prowess and in appreciation of his countless courtesies extended to Lydia Memorial Hospital.
He added that the Hospital’s vision is to ensure a complete state of well-being of patients and promote healthy medical practices in all forms with the mission to provide affordable and easily accessible excellent healthcare services through God’s gifted hands in the purest forms is also poised to deliver the best healthcare services to the people.
Other dignitaries at the occasion were the University’s Bursar, Librarian, Registrar and other members of the university management.