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Nuclear Energy: Kogi, Chinese Govts Discuss Partnership

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Mr Cui Jianchun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, says China is keen on exploring viable areas of partnerships with Nigeria, with interest in nuclear energy.

Cui made this known on Monday in Lokoja when he was received by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi at the Government House, noting that the Kogi is a key state of interest for the partnership.

He said that his key interest as Ambassador was to facilitate China’s investment and also utilise China’s technology for the benefit of Nigeria and certain states like Kogi.

Newsmen report that Cui was accompanied by a delegation from the China National Nuclear Cooperation (CNNC).

Cui said he was hopeful that the meeting would birth a historical moment, where the CNNC would be able to establish one of its two Proposed Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) in the state.

He said that the establishment of a nuclear energy plant would further attract investment to the state, improve its infrastructure, tax revenue, job creation and attract vast social economic developments.

“China is a leading reference in areas of modern infrastructures amongst the international community.

“Although Nigeria and China have enjoyed good relationship and have achieved a lot, and states like Kogi could also benefit from China’s vested interest.

“In the areas of modern infrastructure, Information Communication Technology, industry, investments and import/exports opportunities.

“I am also hopeful that China, which is the world’s largest consumption market, could in the nearest future have a policy where Nigeria, particularly states like Kogi, could export more products into the Chinese market,” Cui said.

He said that the Embassy would also work towards establishing a department of Nuclear Energy at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, and other institutions in the state.

This, the envoy noted, will be part of the Embassy’s plans to nurture local breed in the field.

Cui also urged the Kogi government to, in a similar vein, encourage and facilitate some of its young engineering talents for exchange programmes in the country.

Gov. Bello exchanging souvenirs with Amb. Cui of China during the visit.


Responding, Bello thanked the ambassador for finding Kogi worthy of such recommendation, noting that the meeting s between two sincere governments who are both interested in the advancement of their peoples.

“I want to thank the Chinese government for finding Kogi State worthy for such huge investment and I appreciate you and your delegation for this auspicious visit.

“After the presentation I and the members of my cabinet were already very enthusiastic to internalise these plans in the state.

“And to foster the relationship with the Chinese government by engaging in every discussion in the interest of the people of the confluence state.

“I also want to guarantee you of a great relationship with the CNNC team with the state and the state would be glad to have a stronger tie with China,” the governor said.

Bello also urged the Chinese government not to relent in sharing their wealth of experience with the Nigerian nation in areas where the country was currently facing temporary difficulties.

Newsmen report that fielding questions from their Presentation, representatives of the CNNC noted that nuclear energy was a safe technology for humans, plants and the environment.

Newsmen also report that the nuclear plant, once established, would end the power challenge confronting the nation. (NAN)

Foreign News

Russian Army Fires Ballistic Missiles at Kiev from Crimean Peninsula

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The Russian Army has hit the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, with ballistic missiles, injuring four people and damaging an uninhabited three-storey building, according to officials.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said  that two of the injured  people were in a central neighbourhood and  had been taken to hospital.

Rocket debris also fell in two other neighbourhoods.

According to the Ukrainian air force, two ballistic missiles were fired at the city of millions, from the Russian-controlled Crimea Peninsula.

Both were shot down.

Half a dozen explosions from anti-aircraft missiles had previously been heard in the city centre.

The air raid warning was only triggered a few seconds beforehand, it said.

Ukraine has been facing  Russian invasion for over two years.

Since then, the Ukrainian air defence system has been massively reinforced with Western systems. (dpa/NAN)

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Cambodia Arrests 2 Foreigners for Smuggling 2.27 kg Narcotics

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Cambodian customs police at the Phnom Penh International Airport said they have arrested two South Korean nationals for an attempt to smuggle 2.27 kg narcotics to South Korea.

The duo, a man and woman, were caught Sunday night while they checked in for a ZA215 flight bound for Seoul.

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia said in a news release on Monday.

In their body searches, our customs officials found many packs of drugs wrapped around their waists, the news release said.

“As a result, some 1.29 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 0.98 kg of ketamine were seized from the two suspects’ possession.’’

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker.

Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grammes of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the country’s Anti-Drug Department (ADP), Cambodia nabbed 3,899 drug-related suspects, including 106 foreigners, in 1,659 cases from Jan. 1 to March 3, 2024.

According to the report they confiscated a total of 2.79 tonnes of narcotics.

Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. (Xinhua/NAN)

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February Ends with Extreme Heat – WMO

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The UN weather agency, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), says February saw more extreme heat and unusually high temperatures in both hemispheres.

Summarising the state of the climate, it said the month ended with extreme heat in the southern hemisphere where it is summer, while high temperatures atypical of the northern hemisphere winter prevailed.

Parts of North and South America, northwest and southeast Africa, southeast and far eastern Asia, western Australia and Europe all saw record-breaking temperatures, either on a daily basis or for all of February.

“The anomalous heat is consistent with the persisting warming observed since June 2023, with seven consecutive new global monthly temperature records, including January 2024,” Alvaro Silva, a climatologist working with the WMO, said in a statement.

Global sea surface temperatures were record high. While the El Niño weather pattern “has stoked temperatures in some parts of the world, human induced climate change is the long-term major contributing factor,” he added.

Conversely, a large part of northwestern Canada, central Asia – and from southern central Siberia to southeastern China – witnessed exceptional cold during the last week of the month.

The meteorological winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere finished officially at the end of February.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) raised increasing concern on Friday that more refugees would cross into Chad from Darfur in the coming weeks amid a worrying lack of food and other essentials.

Almost a year since the start of the civil war between rival militaries in Sudan, neighbouring Chad urgently needs more humanitarian aid and significant development investment, the agency reported, especially in its eastern areas which are hosting the refugee influx.

This investment will allow the country to continue its generous open-door stance towards refugees.

“Chadian officials are concerned that many more hungry Sudanese families will come in the next weeks,” said Kelly Clements, UNHCR’s Deputy High Commissioner, who is in the country to review the relief operation.

“The country is committed to keeping its borders open, despite the fragility of this region.

“But, doing so will put even more strain on Chad, which has so graciously been hosting refugees from Sudan’s war – now raging almost a year – and other refugees still here from earlier emergencies.” (NAN)

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