Category: Foreign

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the President African Development Bank (AfDB), has expressed appreciation for the Green Climate Fund’s approval of 150 million dollars to support its Desert-to-Power Initiative.Adesina made this known through his verified twitter handle @akin_ adesina.

According to Adesina, this will support efforts to expand electricity access in Nigeria and 10 other countries in Africa’s Sahel belt.

The 10 other countries are Burrkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Djibouti, Senegal and Chad.

He said the initiative would help the countries’ efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDDs) targets and the Paris Climate Agreement commitments.

“This initiative will provide 10 gigawatts of electricity to reach 250 million people across the Sahel region, including Northern Nigeria,” Adesina said.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Desert-to-Power, a 20 billion dollars flagship initiative led by the AfDB to light up and power the Sahel region, was inaugurated by the Bank in 2015.

It is aimed at supporting the development of an electricity generation capacity of 10, 000 mw through photovoltaic solar systems via grid and off-grid projects.

The Desert-to-Power initiative will create the world’s largest concentrated solar zone and draw lessons from successful projects already financed by the Bank, including the Noor Ouarzazate solar power project in Morocco, and the Ben Ban solar project in Egypt.

The Sahel is among the regions in the world that radiates the most sunlight. The Initiative will harness this solar energy source and it is part of the AfDB’s new deal for Energy in Africa and a key pillar of the Great Green Wall initiative. (NAN)

AN international non-governmental organisation, Qatar Charity Foundation, yesterday entered into collaboration with Jigawa State Government and Mallam Inuwa Foundation to provide solar-powered water plants, boreholes, hand-pumps and mosques in across the state’s 27 local governments.

The three parties agreed on the partnership at a meeting at the Jigawa State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The collaboration borders on ways of supplying and installing solar-powered water systems, installation of pumping and boreholes for the benefit of millions of people in various communities in the state.

According to the terms of the partnership, the host communities that will benefit from the project are to be coordinated by the state government and Mallam Inuwa Foundation is to ensure that all the identified locations have free access to clean and potable water, Juma’at and five-daily prayers mosques and other social development projects.

Speaking at the ceremony, Jigawa State Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar said the initiative was in furtherance of his administration’s productive engagement and collaboration with international governmental and non-governmental organisations. He promised to provide plots of land for the projects.

On his part, the Qatar Charity Country Director in Nigeria, Mr. Hamdi Elsayed, said the project will directly be implemented by Qatar Charity Foundation with the support of the people of Qatar.

He said the foundation will support the state in modern farming, especially irrigation.

Mallam Inuwa Foundation, founded by Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, is a community-based foundation  to improve the lives of people in  Hadejia Local Government  Area of Jigawa State and its environs.

THE Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the India High Commission in Nigeria have indicated the need to strengthen warm and friendly ties between the two countries and among their institutions.

They stated this at the weekend during a cultural display by Gorekhnath Gotipua Dance Troupe, which was sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations at the NIIA, Lagos as part of activities marking Diwali Festival of Lights.

Diwali is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolise the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.

This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

In his welcome address at the event, NIIA Director-General, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, said when the institute was approached by the high commission to host the dance troupe, it was delighted, given the long standing relations between them over the years.

According to Osaghae, the relations between Nigerian and India dates back to 1958 when India established its first mission in Nigeria, two years before Nigeria’s Independence.

Nigeria and India, he added, have a highly diverse national population and share similar colonial legacies.

“They have both developed strong bilateral relations, commercial and strategic ties. NIIA has greatly benefitted from the goodwill and cooperation of India. In October 2007, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Nigeria and on October 15, 2007, a MoU for cooperation between NIIA and the India Council for World Affairs (ICWA) was signed.

“In August 2018, the NIIA Press Library digitisation project received a major boost with a grant of $55,000, which was equivalent to N20,000,000 then. In September 2018, the project was completed and a year later, on the March 14, 2018, it was commissioned by His Excellency, the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mr. Abhay Thakur.

“In June 2021, under the new tenure at the NIIA, the India High Commissioner, Mr. Thakur, kick-started the NIIA Ambassadorial Forum.

“Today, in furtherance of the friendship that exists between both countries and between NIIA and the High Commission of India in Nigeria, we are delighted for you to showcase your cultural programme to Nigerians at the NIIA as you celebrate the Diwali Festival of Lights.”

The NIIA DG called for more strengthen of ties between the two countries and among their agencies.

The high commission’s head of chancery, Rachit Rawat, thanked NIIA DG and his team for agreeing to host the 12 member Gotipua dance ICCR troupe.

Rawat said: “Our relations with NIIA have been close and our collaboration has included regular participation in virtual and in-person events and interactions.  Several of our think-tanks, including Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RUS), have engaged with NIIA over the years.”

The head of chancery noted that the last one year and a half have been challenging both personally and professionally for everyone globally.

“Friends, this is a time for celebrations. Diwali, the festival of lights and happiness, is being marked by Indians and friends across the globe. This year, it becomes most significant as it also coincides with two very important events – NIIA is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and India is celebrating 75 years of its democracy,” he said.

The troupe entertained the invited guests with acrobatic dances and songs to the delight of all.

The Federal Government is organising the Nigeria International Partnership Forum (NIPF), a high-level event to accompany and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the Paris Peace Forum.

This was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday evening.

The one-day NIPF will bring together the Nigerian and French governments and private sectors in wide-ranging discussions focused on security, regional stability, trade and industrialisation.

It aims to attract investment to Nigeria and bridge existing infrastructure gaps.

Additionally, it will spotlight Nigeria’s immense trade and investment opportunities, reset false and distorted narratives about Nigeria, and shedlight on the efforts, initiatives and successes achieved in both the public and private sectors, as the country charts a trajectory of recovery from the COVID-19 induced global economic downturn.

Highlight of the forum will be the participation of President Muhammadu Buhari, who will deliver the keynote address.

Speakers and panelists at the NIPF include top Nigerian and French government functionaries. Ministers and Heads of MDAs as well as Nigerian and French private sector operators are also participating.

Others include the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (UN); Directors General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and French Development Agency; Presidents of the African Development Bank and African Export Import Bank; the French Minister of Foreign Trade and Economy; and the National Security Adviser, Major General (retd) Babagana Munguno.

4 newborns died in a fire that broke out at a hospital in central India, prompting the government to order a probe into the incident, officials said on Tuesday.

The blaze razed through a neonatal care unit of the state run Kamala Nehru Children’s Hospital in Bhopal city late on Monday night.

“Four children died in the fire that broke out in the special newborn care unit ward probably due to an electrical short circuit,’’ regional minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang told reporters.

Sarang said that there were 40 infants in the third-floor ward, 36 of which were safe as firefighters had shifted them to an adjacent ward during rescue operations.

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Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a high-level probe into the incident, Sarang added.

Footage on news channels showed angry parents protesting at the premises, alleging that instead of saving the children, the hospital staff had fled.

The fire services took over three hours to douse the blaze which started around 9 pm local time.

Chief Minister Chouhan expressed his condolences over the deaths and announced a compensation of 400,000 rupees (5,400 dollars) for the family of the victims.

Deaths of fires incidents, including in hospitals, were common in India and were often due to poor safety measures.

Earlier on Saturday, 11 patients died after a fire broke out in the COVID-19 care unit of a hospital in neighbouring Maharashtra state. (dpa/NAN)

With violence escalating in northern Ethiopia, the United Nations has warned of a spreading civil war in the country.

UN political affairs envoy, Rosemary DiCarlo said at a UN Security Council meeting that no one can predict what continued fighting and insecurity will bring.

“But, let me be clear what is certain is at the risk of Ethiopia descending into a widening Civil War is only too real.

“The conflict in the northern region of Tigray has reached catastrophic proportions.

“The fighting places, the future of the country and its people as well as the stability of the wider Horn of Africa region in grave uncertainty in recent days.”

The Ethiopian government’s conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) began a year ago and has accelerated in recent days.

Read Also: 4 newborns killed in India hospital fire

A nationwide state of emergency was declared last week and residents of the capital were told to be ready to take up arms to defend residential areas.

In November 2020, Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive against the TPLF, which had long run the northern region of Tigray and was a major player in Ethiopia’s national politics.

Tensions began to simmer when Abiy came to power in 2018 and sought to reduce its influence.

Since the beginning of August, the conflict had spread from Tigray to the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.

Together with rebels of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the TPLF is advancing towards the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. (dpa/NAN)

THE head of Iran’s clandestine overseas services paid a surprise visit to Baghdad after an assassination attempt on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, highlighting Tehran’s outsized role in Iraq’s security.

Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani, the Revolutionary Guard commander, who replaced Qassem Soleimani after his assassination last year, arrived in Baghdad late on Sunday to meet Kadhimi and the leaders of Iran-backed militias, Iraqi media and insiders reported.

Earlier, an explosives-laden aerial drone targeted Kadhimi’s home in the highly fortified green zone. Kadhimi was unhurt, but six guards were injured. Iraq’s president Barham Salih described the attack as a prelude to a coup attempt. Washington, Moscow, London and other capitals have decried what was seen as a major attempt to destabilise the country.

No one has admitted carrying out the attack, and the Iraqi government has launched an investigation.

“We will pursue those who committed the crime. We know them well and we will reveal their identities.

“We maintained security in the country, but some are still trying to tamper with Iraq’s security and want it to be a gang state,” Kadhimi said in a statement.

THE Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government has sustained the measures earlier imposed on the Republic of Guinea, including its suspension from the regional body.

At the third Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, and chaired by the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, leaders of the region also slammed similar sanctions on the Transitional Government in the Republic of Mali.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit, which was convened to discuss political developments in Guinea and Mali, where the military had forcefully taken over governments.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, the summit called on other international bodies to support the implementation of the sanctions.

The communique, issued at the end of the summit, stated that “the Authority decides to uphold the suspension of the Republic of Guinea from all ECOWAS governing bodies as well as the travel ban and freeze on financial assets imposed on the members of the CNRD and their family members until constitutional order is restored” in the country.

Similarly, regarding Mali, the ECOWAS leaders resolved that in “conformity with the decision taken on September 16, 2021, the authority decides to impose sanctions with immediate effect against individuals and groups who have been identified, including the entire transition authorities and the other transition institutions.

“These sanctions will also be imposed on the members of their families. The sanctions include a travel ban and a freeze on their financial assets. It further instructs the President of the Commission to consider and propose additional sanctions at its next Ordinary Session on December 12, 2021, should the situation persist.”

The ECOWAS Summit attended by leaders from 13 countries then called “on the African Union, the United Nations, and the bilateral and other multilateral partners to endorse and support the implementation of these sanctions.”

Speaking to the media at the end of the summit, Osinbajo noted that African countries have gone far beyond military coup as a means of changing political actors and that coups are unacceptable.

He added that ECOWAS Heads of State and Government would continue to prevail on the military juntas in Guinea and Mali to return their countries to democratic rule.

According to the VP, “one of the important points that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government make is that coups and coups de’tat generally are just completely unacceptable….and that we cannot continue to have a situation where they are tolerated for the simple reason that in Africa, West Africa in particular, we’ve gone way beyond military coups as an answer to the question of change in political actors.

“There is a very strong feeling amongst the Heads of State that we must insist that other international bodies: the UN, EU, and other regional groups must support the impositions of sanctions on individuals and groups that choose not to follow the democratic process of change of government and choose to go by way of coup de‘tat.”

Referring to the situations in Guinea and Mali, the Vice President said “it appears from all indications that much progress has been made in Guinea, although we are still concerned that there ought to be much more clarity on transition.

“But Mali is a much more difficult situation; there is much concern because very little progress had been made.”

President of Ghana and Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had earlier briefed the meeting on the outcome of a high-powered delegation led by himself to Guinea and Mali on the 17th of September and the 17th of October, as part of the resolutions of the previous Summit held on the 16th of September this year.

At the end of the Extraordinary Summit, the ECOWAS communique stated that “the Authority endorsed the main recommendations contained in the memorandum on the political situation in the Republic of Guinea and the report on the political situation in the Republic of Mali.”

The Vice President was accompanied to the Extraordinary Summit by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd) and the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu.

THE Nigerian government and Republic of Cote d’Ivoire have signed a cooperation agreement to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially trafficking in women and children.

This is in line with the present administration’s deliberate policy to enhance regional cooperation in the fight against human trafficking, especially within the African corridors.

Nigerian delegation that signed the agreement was led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The agreement, which is expected to further deepen collaboration and mutual cooperation between the two countries, was signed during the second session of the Ivorian-Nigerian Joint Commission that took place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Adekoye Vincent stated these in a statement on behalf of the Press and Public Relations Unit of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The statement reads: “As part of the deliberate policy of the present administration to enhance regional cooperation in the fight against human trafficking, especially within the African corridors, the Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a cooperation agreement with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons, especially trafficking in women and children, among other cooperation agreements.

“This was the high-point of the second session of the Ivorian-Nigerian Joint Commission of Cooperation, which held from November 4 to 6, 2021, in Abidjan. This agreement, which is expected to further deepen collaboration and mutual cooperation between the two countries will be implemented by the NAPTIP for and on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The objective of the agreement is to develop a common front to prevent and punish trafficking in persons by sharing of intelligence and sensitisation campaigns in both countries; to protect, rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of trafficking into their original environment and to promote friendly cooperation between both countries.”

The Nigeria’s delegation included Ambassador Zuberu Dada, Minister of State, for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General of NAPTIP, as well as several senior government officials and representatives from various ministries, departments and agencies.

This development came on the heels of the renewed commitment and strategic focus of the Director-General of NAPTIP to strengthen ties with Anti-Trafficking Agencies within the West African sub-region to effectively curb human trafficking.

The director general, in an interactive session with the Ivorian counterparts, discussed current trends of trafficking, shared concerns and challenges in the fight against human trafficking and pledged their commitments towards jointly curbing trafficking in persons.

An officer with the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday opened fire on his colleagues in the central state of Chhattisgarh, killing four of them and injuring three others.

Indian NDTV broadcaster said the incident took place in the camp of the CRPF 50th battalion in Linganpalli village under Maraiguda police station at 3:15 a.m. local time (21:45 GMT on Monday).

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According to preliminary information, constable Reetesh Ranjan, fired at his colleagues with his service weapon, an AK-47 rifle; the shooter was later arrested.

NDTV said an investigation had been launched into the shooting to establish its motive. (Sputnik/NAN)