The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • FG seeks to end relocation overseas

    FG seeks to end relocation overseas

    The Federal Government (FG) said it is seeking ways to end the trend of Nigerians relocating abroad.

    The government said it plans on achieving this by ensuring Nigerians are gainfully employed to discourage the need to travel abroad.

    Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh made the statement in Abuja while receiving the Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Ms Deemah Yahya who paid him a courtesy visit in connection with the upcoming Digital Nigeria Day Conference.

    He said the government intends to correct the trend through industrialisation, which can be achieved by synergising with DCO in the area of human capital development.

    His words: “The synergy is what we require, capacity building is key and technology transfer is what Nigeria and Africa in particular needs at the moment so that the world can be a global village. We need to collaborate in all areas to ensure harmony.

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    ”If we collaborate and synergise in the area of human capital development, it would guarantee industrialisation, when people are gainfully employed and moved out from poverty, then Africans and Nigerians would not be struggling to travel abroad because everything is here. We have all the raw materials, what we really require in terms of digitalisation is for us to cross fertilise ideas, train and retraining our people then things would be better.”

    IYahya said the group is in Nigeria to understudy her digital ecosystem and understand who the players are.

    She said, “We are very proud that Nigeria is a founding member of the Digital Corporation Organization (DCO), which is a multilateral organisation that focuses on advancing the digital economy in member states. We represent 12 countries, from three continents, representing 600 million in population and $2 trillion in GDP.

    “We are very happy that Nigeria has been a founding member and we are here not only to reiterate our commitment to empowering digital economic transformation strategies of Nigeria but also to understand the eco system of Nigeria. Who are the players in terms of government, private sector, and civil society, for us to understand how DCO can help support the growth of Nigeria and hopefully be an enabler.”

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  • ‘141m people in crisis situations need emergency assistance’

    ‘141m people in crisis situations need emergency assistance’

    Protracted conflicts and natural disasters in Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Ukraine, Nigeria and many other countries across the world have disposed of over 141 million people to need of emergency assistance.

    Of the number, the North East of Nigeria alone is home to about 8.3 million following 13 years of attacks by Boko Haram insurgents particularly in the region’s BAY states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    These figures were given at a humanitarian and development ‘Peace Nexus Partners Engagement Forum’, an interactive session organised in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, by Actionaid Nigeria and attended by leaders of nongovernmental and civil society groups.

    “Currently, 141.2 million people require humanitarian assistance – most of them affected by violent conflicts,” said the lead resource person of the forum, Mubarak Yusuf.

    Mubarak, who is a consultant with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs which drives the process of national humanitarian development and peace planning, added that displacements forced by conflicts and natural disasters globally have reached the highest level after World War II at 68.5 million.

    He recalled further statistics establishing that an estimated three million people have been displaced by the insurgency in Nigeria’s North East, forcing some 3.9 million members of host communities to endure overstretched resources, leaving both categories of people in emergency needs; just as about 1.5 million returnees are in lack and need support to start life all over again.

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    Explaining the concept of the workshop on Humanitarian Development Peace (HDP) Nexus in Yola, the Humanitarian Resilience Manager of ActionAid, David Habba, said it was ActionAid’s way of getting humanitarian and development actors to deliberate on the operationalization of the Humanitarian Development Peace (HDP) Nexus, being the new way of working (NWOW) by which people doing work on humanitarian, development and peacebuilding can collaborate for maximum effects.

    Lead resource person of ActionAid workshop on Humanitarian Development Peace (HDP) Nexus in Yola, Mubarak Yusuf, fielding questions from newsmen:

  • Okotie to Buhari: make restructuring your greatest legacy

    Okotie to Buhari: make restructuring your greatest legacy

    Interim Government advocate Rev Chris Okotie has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to support restructuring and write his name in gold.

    ”Nigerians made President Muhammadu what he is and I believe that as a patriot, and statesman,he would do the right thing by supporting our proposition for an interim government and write his name in gold,” Okotie said in an interview with AIT.

    The Reverend argued that Buhari has the power to midwife restructuring at this time, despite the ongoing transition programme.

    He does not agree with those who claim that Aboriginal Democracy as being canvassed is out of sync with the 2023 general election.

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    ”We must have a nation first before we talk about the architecture of power,” Okotie insisted.

    He admitted that because it’s time for politics it is natural for people to follow and be part of the electoral process.

    Okotie said nevertheless we owe it to posterity, not to the APC, PDP, Labour party or any of the parties, to save this nation and our collective patrimony.

    He said, restructuring through the adoption of Aboriginal Democracy and it’s components,’is doable’. Buhari elated over election of Owodunni as first black councillor in Canada

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    Buhari elated over election of Owodunni as first black Councillor in Canada

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  • Nigeria targets self-sufficiency in sugarcane cultivation

    Nigeria targets self-sufficiency in sugarcane cultivation

    After attaining surplus sugar refining capacity, Nigeria is pushing for self-sufficiency in the cultivation of the main raw material, sugarcane.

    The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) which made this point in Yola, Adamawa State, said it is facilitating efforts to raise sugar production beyond the consumption level of the country, as the country which currently consumes 1.7 million metric tonnes of sugar, aims now to raise its production to 1.8 million metric tonnes

    Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Zacch Adedeji, who led a team of the management staff of the Council on a working visit to the Numan Operations of Dangote Sugar Refinery, said Nigeria has in the last 10 years raised its refinery capacity to beyond refining infrastructure need, but that the country still has work to do to raise sugarcane production to feed the refineries.

    This, he said, would be done in the course of a fresh sugar production masterplan that President Muhammadu Buhari approved recently.

    He led an extensive tour on Tuesday to the Numan refining facility currently being expanded, as well as a tour of the 8035-acre Dangote Sugar Refinery cane plantation within the Numan sugar complex.

    Fielding questions later from newsmen, the NSDC Executive Secretary said, “Our total sugar consumption today is 1.7 million metric tonnes. By the end of the next 10 years, we want to be in a position to produce 1.8 million metric tonnes, meaning that we want to produce more than we consume in the country.

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    “Under Nigerian Sugar Masterplan, we have the Backward Integration programme that we are implementing in which we have had huge achievements in the last 10 years (first phase), most importantly on the refining side. Today, we only import raw sugar which we refine locally.”

    He said that the country still has challenges that are expected to be tackled in Phase 2 of the Sugar Development Masterplan, which is producing enough quantities of sugarcane for existing sugar refineries around the country.

    According to him, the NSDC is seeking investors who would join the cane-growing end of the process to fill the raw material sourcing gap.

    He added that apart from the big-time sugar producers, including the Dangote Group, the BUA Sugar Company in Lafiagi, the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate in Niger State, and the Shonga Sugar Production Company in Kwara State, the NSDC is looking to outgrowers who may be mostly individual farmers, to grow sugarcane and supply to the various refineries.

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  • I lost $2 billion in one day but still alive – Kanye West

    I lost $2 billion in one day but still alive – Kanye West

    One of the highest-decorated hip-hop acts Kanye West also known as Ye has affirmed reports of losing his billionaire status following his revelation that he just lost $2 billion in one day.

    After being repeatedly criticised over ‘hate speech’ against the Jewish and Black Lives Matter movement, Ye has decided to dole out ‘Love speech’ to all.

    His anti-semitism in recent has indeed cost him a huge fortune as he was announced by Forbes to have dropped off their billionaire list.

    Read Also: Kanye West no longer a billionaire, says Forbes

    This, according to Forbes, happened after his lucrative deal with Adidas got terminated on Tuesday because of his Anti-Semitic comments in recent times.

    Ye whose net worth was valued at $1.5 billion when calculated off of a multiple of annual earnings, is currently reported to be worth $400 million without the German athletic wear company.

    Confirming the reports, the rapper-cum-fashion entrepreneur informed one ‘Ari Emmanuel’ that though he indeed lost $2billion in one day, yet didn’t die.

    Ye emphasised that his post was that of ‘love speech’ while reassuring ‘Ari Emmanuel’ of his and God’s love.

    The Yeezy boss wrote: “ARI EMMANUEL I LOST 2 BILLION DOLLARS IN ONE DAY AND I’M STILL ALIVE. THIS IS LOVE SPEECH. I STILL LOVE YOU. GOD STILL LOVES YOU. THE MONEY IS NOT WHO I AM. THE PEOPLE IS WHO I AM.”

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  • Redesigning currency unnecessary- Kate Henshaw

    Redesigning currency unnecessary- Kate Henshaw

    Movie star Kate Henshaw has expressed worries over the sudden development from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign some naira notes.

    CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele stated President Muhammadu Buhari has authorised the redesigning, production and circulation of new N200, N500 and N1,000 notes, adding the Deposit Money Banks (DMB) holding the existing denominations of the currency to “begin returning these notes back to the CBN effective immediately,” The Nation report.

    Reacting, fitness enthusiast actress Kate Henshaw has condemned this development noting that there are pressing issues the country needs to swiftly address.

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    She said: “Nigeria to redesign in the midst of all that is going on, in the thick of elections, floods, insecurity etc. It is redesigning of the Naira and giving up just weeks for this to happen!! The Nigeria I know, some traders will soon stop receiving the current currency”

    Barring the short time frame given, kate expressed empathy for residents in rural communities, she added: The queues will be a nightmare!! Quote me…What of those in the rural areas who handle mostly cash & have to travel miles to the nearest bank?
    Why not phase it out gradually? I don’t get it!!

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  • Mickey Lines rebrands, changes name to Speccific

    Mickey Lines rebrands, changes name to Speccific

    It is a new beginning for Afro-fusion artiste Mickey Lines who has rebranded and chosen a new stage name.

    The talented singer, Tochukwu Somtochukwu aka Mickey Lines has officially rebranded and changed his stage name to ‘Speccific’.

    His fans had varied reactions while some opined it’ll be hard to adjust.

    Others believe it is a great development as he recently announced that he would be dropping an Extended Play- EP in coming weeks.

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    Explaining his decision for a change of name, Speccific said: “Santi had to change to CRUEL SANTINO. Buju had to change to BNXN. Poe had to change to Ladipoe. Upcoming artiste, choose your stage name well before fame.”

    BNXN follows in the footsteps of big Nigerian artistes who changed their names after becoming famous.

    ‘Pour Me Water’ hitmaker, Kizz Daniel rebranded in 2018 from ‘Kiss Daniel’. 2Face also changed his name to 2Baba in 2016.

  • Phyna addresses having baby outside wedlock

    Phyna addresses having baby outside wedlock

    Winner of the 2022 edition of BBNaija show, Josephine Otabor aka Phyna has offered clarity on speculations about having a child outside wedlock.

    While in the BBNaija house, the 25-year-old single was rumoured to have given birth to a daughter with images of her carrying the toddler circulated.

    But the Hype Priestess in a recent interview on TVC’s E-splash podcast, Phyna indicated that the child is her elder cousin’s child.

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    She said she has since taken her up after the demise of her biological mother.
    When quizzed by the host about the baby, Phyna said: “My baby girl, yea she is fine. I have not seen her, she is with my aunt. It’s not like she is my child o.

    “She’s my elder cousin’s child. His wife died. Since then I have been taking care of her. A lot of people think she is my child and yes she is. I am planning on bringing her with me I’m less busy.”

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  • Akwa Ibom partners Navy on girls college, fishing industry

    Akwa Ibom partners Navy on girls college, fishing industry

    Akwa Ibom State Government and the Navy have consolidated the existing robust relationship with an agreement to collaborate in the establishment of a Navy Girls Secondary School.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel, while playing host to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubair Gambo CFR, who was on a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, consented to the proposal for expansion of the existing Navy School at Ikot Ntuen and granted that a Navy Girls College be established in the State.

    The Governor directed the Naval Chief be taken on a facility tour of the Special School built by the State Government in Awa Ubium, Onna Local Government Area for consideration as site for the Navy Girls School.

    He directed that a dedicated line be provided from the Ekim Substation to ensure constant power supply to the Ikot Ntuen Navy college.

    Read Also: ‘Akwa Ibom has spent N1.2b to train pilots’

    “You talked about Navy School, I have a site already built that you can start a Navy Girls School in January. The facilities are there. The Commandant can go and have a look,” Emmanuel stated.

    He directed the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Capt. Iniobong Ekong rtd., to work out modalities to acquire and make available a 200 hectare parcel of land for residential estate for personnel of the Nigerian Naval Service, NNS.

    Emmanuel expressed the readiness of the State Government to partner with the Navy and an Egyptian investor for the establishment of Akwa Ibom Fish City project, estimated to produce one million tons of fish and a revenue of $500 million within a period of five years.

    Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, described his visit to Akwa Ibom State as homecoming, saying that he had served in the State as Chief Security Officer during the military era and commended the cordial relationship maintained over time between the State government and the Nigerian Navy.

    He expressed delight over the developments accomplished by the state administration.

    Gambo, who expressed confidence in the leadership of the State to leverage on the partnership with the Navy to explore the great opportunities available in the blue economy, assured that with the investment by the presidency in the sector, maritime security has been beefed up across the coastal areas.

    The Naval boss commended the State Government for the warm reception accorded him.

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  • Rema contributes to Black Panther 2 soundtrack

    Rema contributes to Black Panther 2 soundtrack

    Afro-rave pioneer Rema has contributed to the soundtrack of the iconic movie, ‘Black Panther 2’.

    The sensational song star who continues to achieve global feats with his craft had his voice featured in the trailer of the sequel of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.

    Rema, on Thursday shared a snippet of his role in the highly anticipated Marvel Studio’s movie on his Instagram, expressing astonishment while applauding everyone who featured in it.

    He said: “My voice on the Black Panther trailer, wow I’m speechless! Big ups everyone who took part in making this happen, Wakanda Forever! @marvelstudios @shanechubbz.”

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    Asides Rema, multiple award-winning songstress, Tems also featured on the soundtrack for Black Panther 2 trailer.

    The official teaser for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, released on Sunday July 24, 2022, sees the super star give a sonorous rendition of Bob Marley’s “No woman, no cry.”