The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Secretary General

  • Trump tweets complicating oil volatility, says OPEC scribe

    The  Secretary-General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)  Mohammed Barkindo, yesterday said President Donald Trump’s tweets, highly critical when crude oil prices rise, have complicated oil markets.

    Trump has occasionally blasted OPEC when members discuss curbing production to prop up crude oil prices. But he has also praised de facto OPEC leader Saudi Arabia for taking steps to ease crude oil prices.

    The social media comments are among the various factors OPEC has been trying to juggle as it looks to stabilise markets in the face of the U.S. shale boom.

    “The tweets are one of the new additions to these uncertainties. The president doesn’t give notice before he tweets. (This) Makes our job more difficult in focusing on the fundamentals,”” Barkindo said at a news conference yesterday at CERAWeek by IHS Markit.

    Still, even though Trump’s tweets can make crude oil prices wobble, he added that he welcomes the president’s engagement.

    “It’s understandable that any president in the U.S. would take more than a passing interest in what happens to the energy and oil markets. Since we are in a digital age of course tweets have become one medium of communication. We welcome this rising interest in Washington on what’s happening. We welcome a president during this dialogue,” Barkindo said.

    OPEC will meet in April to decide if it should extend or scale back its deal with top nonproducers to curb production by 1.2 billion barrels per day to prop up crude oil prices.

    West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark for crude oil prices, was up 0.2 per cent at $56.93 a barrel. Brent crude oil prices rose 0.2 per cent to $66.73.

    Shares of oil giants Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) were up 0.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively, on the stock market today.

     

    But Trump’s tweeting isn’t alone in causing instability in crude oil prices.

    Barkindo said the Trump administration’s waivers to U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil have added to uncertainty.

    China and India, the top two importers of Iranian oil, are among eight countries that received temporary waivers on Iran sanctions. The waivers will expire in May and it’s unclear which, if any country, will get an extension.

    Meanwhile, pending legislation in the U.S. Congress is another X factor. The House Judiciary Committee passed the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act last month, paving the way for a vote in the full House.

    The NOPEC bill would change U.S. antitrust regulations to allow the U.S. attorney general to sue OPEC members for collusion.

    But Barkindo warned that the NOPEC legislation as it stands “would not serve the interest of the United States.”

    “It would also usurp the interests of the oil and gas industry that has seen such a remarkable rebound,” he said.

  • IYC commends Seiyefa for releasing DSS detainees

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide Tuesday applauded the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mathew Seiyefa, for making good his promise to review cases and release detainees held in the agency without trials.

    IYC also called on the Presidency to confirm the appointment of Seiyefa and make him the substantive head of the DSS.

    The Nation reported exclusively that the DSS commenced a process of granting freedom to suspects detained for some years without trials in its facilities in Abuja.

    Seven of the suspects, who were arrested in 2016 in Bayelsa State, were brought to Yenagoa at the weekend.

    They were brought from the DSS Headquarters in Abuja to the office of the DSS in Yenagoa and released to their family members and friends, who milled around the agency’s office.

    Some of the suspects were seen shedding tears of joy in the warm embrace of their friends when they finally marched out of the DSS facility.

    The suspects looked unkempt with overgrown bears, rough skin and dirty clothes.

    One of them, who identified himself as Clinton Ohaigbofa, confirmed that suspects held without trial were being massively released across the country.

    Clinton, who hails from Ebedebiri in Ogbia Local Government Area, attributed the development to the disposition of the new DSS boss.

    He said they were held in underground cells in Abuja for over two years, adding that they untold hardship.

    The  IYC in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, expressed satisfaction and comfort with the recent strides of Seifa describing him as a true democrat.

    Kemepado said the recent release of persons detained in the custody of the DSS without trial gave hope and value to democracy.

    He, however, urged Seifa to look into high profile cases detainees like that of El-zazaky, the leader of the Shiites in Nigeria and dispense fairness to all.

    He said: “IYC has spoken to colleagues from other ethnic nationalities and most have expressed their confidence that Mr. Seiyefa will tackle the humongous security challenges facing Nigeria today from Boko Haram to the herdsmen palava and to recent activities that threatens our democracy”.

    Kemepado thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Osibanjo for considering a competent son of the South of Nigeria to head the DSS.

    “This is positively contrary to our earlier beliefs that the President disrespected us. We want to appeal to President Buhari to confirm Seifa’s appointment as we are willing to work with him and others to sustain the peace in Nigeria and in the Niger Delta especially.

    “We call on all groups to continue to support Seiyefa with information and prayers for the overall good of all. The IYC appeals to Seiyefa not to yield to the antics of politicians but to uphold the values of his service and also uphold our growing democracy,” he said.

  • UN rebukes Burundi, Philippines president over threats

    UN rebukes Burundi, Philippines president over threats

    The UN human rights office on Tuesday condemned attacks and threats made against its investigators by senior Burundian officials and by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

    “On Nov 9, Duterte threatened to slap UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard if she investigates him for alleged extrajudicial killings,” human rights spokesman Rupert Covlille said.

    In April 2016, the ICC announced it had launched a “preliminary examination” of the situation in Burundi, at the time more than 430 people had reportedly been killed.

    This ongoing step, which under ICC procedures determines whether a full investigation should take place, focuses on “killing, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as cases of enforced disappearances that have been allegedly committed since April 2015.”

    In October 2016, President Pierre Nkurunziza signed legislation calling for Burundi’s withdrawal from the ICC, notification of which was later that month sent to the UN secretary-general.

    Under the Rome Statute, actual withdrawal takes place a year after such notification.

    The Burundian government rejected the commission and did not allow members to visit the country.

    Interviews were conducted in neighbouring countries, to where hundreds of thousands of Burundians have fled since 2015.

    On Sept. 1, Burundi’s parliament announced it would set up its own commission, made up of 12 lawmakers, to look into the UN commission’s findings.

    Speaking to overseas Filipino workers in Vietnam, Duterte railed, “I will slap her in front of you. Why? Because you are insulting me.

    “Why? Because you yourself do not believe in the research of your own organisation.”

    The Philippines leader’s new beef with the French UN official is that she supposedly brought in an expert who

    supposedly said on television that drugs are harmless.

    Duterte did not name this “doctor” but identified them as “itim (black).”

    NAN

  • Buhari congratulates UN Secretary-General designate

    Buhari congratulates UN Secretary-General designate

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Antonio Guterres on his appointment by the United Nations General Assembly as the next UN Secretary General, beginning from January 1, 2017.

     Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, believed that Guterres’ wealth of experience as a former prime minister of Portugal, head of UN Refugee Agency for several years, diplomat and politician of repute eminently prepared and qualified him for the new position.

     As a committed member of the United Nations, President Buhari said that Nigeria looks forward to working and supporting Guterres to address the world’s most pressing challenges, from defeating terrorism and violent extremism for a peaceful and prosperous future to reducing poverty and tackling the devastating effects of climate change as well as confronting the root causes of migrants and refugee crisis.

     He believed that for the UN to remain relevant in the 21st century, the new UN Secretary-General must redouble efforts and spearhead essential reforms of the world body to enable it effectively address current global challenges.

    Buhari also congratulated the outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on his successful tenure and dedicated service to humanity.

     He noted that the world indeed owes a debt of gratitude to the outgoing Secretary-General for spearheading the Sustainable Development Goals and achieving the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change, among other laudable achievements.

     Buhari also acknowledged the roles played by the UN and its agencies in strengthening democracy, good governance and stability in Nigeria, under the leadership of Ban Ki-Moon.

     The president, while wishing the outgoing Secretary-General well in his future endeavours, extended his goodwill to the new Secretary-General.

  • Readout of UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Buhari

    Readout of UN Secretary-General’s meeting with Buhari

    The Secretary-General of the United Nations on Wednesday met with H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The Secretary-General commended the President’s efforts against corruption and insecurity and to promote economic development.

    The two leaders discussed efforts by Nigeria and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram, in the North – East of the country. The Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s continued support for those efforts and underscored the need to ensure full respect of human rights, international humanitarian and refugee law in all operations.

    The Secretary-General thanked President Buhari for Nigeria’s invaluable contribution to international peace and security, including political mediation in the region.

  • “Saving our ship: Global response to refugees and migrants”

    “Saving our ship: Global response to refugees and migrants”

    Perhaps no issue on the global agenda is more susceptible to manipulation by grandstanding demagogues than refugees and migrants. ‘Us’ versus ‘them’ is a timeless if irresponsible unifier, used throughout history to obscure our common humanity by those with dangerously self-serving interests. The difference now is that more people are on the move than ever before, and in an era when storylines spread with viral speed, we see xenophobia rising and too often erupting into violence.

    This week’s United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants represents a breakthrough at a breaking point. With so many shrill voices dominating the debate, governments from around the world are responding in measured tones that can yield real results if promises are kept.

    The Summit marks the first-ever gathering of top leaders to discuss refugees and migrants. It will adopt a groundbreaking consensus agreement: the New York Declaration. Fittingly, that document honours a city renowned for its vibrant diversity,–symbolized by the Statue of Liberty standing tall in New York Harbor. Most importantly, the Declaration sets a principled and pragmatic approach for addressing the challenges of people on the move while upholding our most cherished values.

    The stakes are high. There are 244 million migrants in the world. More than 65 million people are now forcibly displaced. Half of them are children. Refugees running for their lives too often face grave dangers on their journey to safety. When they arrive, many suffer discrimination and even detention. Facing difficulties in a mobile world, they often travel farther in search of safety and stability. But legal pathways are scarce, and unscrupulous smugglers take advantage, charging exorbitant sums for a risky chance to escape.

    Wars are lasting longer and refugees are finding it harder to return home – with the length of displacement in some cases stretching across generations. Contrary to prevailing impressions, the vast majority of refugees are not in rich countries; 86 percent are in the developing world. And the poorer countries hosting refugees do not receive nearly enough help. Last year, United Nations humanitarian appeals received barely more than half the funds that were sought.

    Resettlement options are also a fraction of what they should be. Nearly a million people were identified as needing resettlement in 2015, but just over 100,000 received it.

    The challenges are enormous – but we should not forget the benefits.  With the right approach, refugees and migrants can bring benefits to both their adoptive societies and their home countries. This well-documented upside should not be lost in the debate.

    The New York Declaration should be seen in the wider context of new and ambitious international efforts to improve conditions where people live so they are not forced to leave. Central to this is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our global plan for peace and prosperity on a healthy planet. We are also pushing to prevent and resolve conflicts – and to sustain peace once the guns fall silent.

    The Summit will feature testimony from those directly affected. I am especially looking forward to meeting again with an extraordinary young woman I first encountered last month at the Olympic Games in Rio.

    Yusra Mardini is Syrian – but she competed on the new refugee team established for athletes who, like millions of other people around the world, have been forced out of their homelands.

    Before she swam in races, Yusra was in a race to save lives.

    Last year, she left Syria on an overcrowded boat. When its engine died, she dove into the Aegean Sea and started pushing the vessel, along with a few other swimmers among the group. It took a gruelling three hours to reach the shore. They arrived exhausted – but they had proven the power of human solidarity to ferry us to safety.

    Humanity is together in one boat. Stoking fear, blaming the ‘other’ or scapegoating minorities will only increase the dangers for all.

    Wise leaders understand that we should instead endeavour to save everyone, optimize the contributions of each, and steer our common ship to our shared destination: a future of opportunity and dignity for all.

     

    By Ban Ki-moon

    Secretary-General of the United Nations

  • Ban Ki-moon condemns Borno suicide attack

    Ban Ki-moon condemns Borno suicide attack

    The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has on Thursday condemned the double suicide attacks on 16 March in Maiduguri in Borno State by suspected Boko Haram elements, which left 20 people dead and many injured.

    The Secretary-General, who extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, wished those injured in the attack a speedy recovery.

    Ki-moon also reiterated the UN’s support to the Nigerian Government in its fight against terrorism, which should be grounded in international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.

  • Buhari to attend 2015 Commonwealth meeting in Malta

    Buhari to attend 2015 Commonwealth meeting in Malta

    President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Thursday, November 26 for Malta to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

    The 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will begin on Friday, 27th November 2015 in the island nation of Malta.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu on Wednesday.

    The Commonwealth is made up of Britain, Nigeria and 51 other countries that work together to pursue common goals and promote development, democracy, peace, security and good governance.

    According to the statement, the President and other Heads of State and Government who will be in Malta for this year’s summit are expected to deliberate on fresh Commonwealth initiatives on development & climate change with a view to adding greater value to ongoing efforts in these areas.

    The statement reads: “The Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will formally declare the summit open.

    “Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II is expected to host a banquet in honor of Buhari & other participating Heads of State & Government

    “At the conclusion of the Summit on Sunday, President Buhari will leave Malta for Paris where he will present Nigeria’s statement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled to open in the French capital on Monday, November 30.

    “President Buhari will join over 100 other world leaders at the Leaders Event on the opening day of the conference.

    “The Conference will be hosted by President Francois Hollande of France and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon. Pres. Buhari will also participate in a summit of the Heads of State & Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission & Benin Republic which has been scheduled to take place on December 2 in Paris on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.

    “Deliberations at the Paris meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission & Benin Republic will focus mainly on the war against Boko Haram and other security issues of common interest to participating countries.

    “President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.).”

    [news_in_pics style=”2″ display=”tag” tag=”Buhari” count=”8″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • UN celebrates girl child day

    UN celebrates girl child day

    Parents around the world have been charged to invest in today’s adolescent girls in other to have stronger and secure citizens in the nearest future.

    The call was made by the Secretary-General of the United Nation Ban Ki-Moon on Wednesday at an event held in Lagos to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.

    Ki-Moon, who was represented by Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun, Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), reiterated that there is need for everyone to work in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in making sure that every girl has the opportunity they deserve.

    According to the Secretary-General, “Let us resolve to invest in today’s adolescent girls so that tomorrow they can stand strong as citizens, political leaders, entrepreneurs, head of their households and more. This will secure their rights and our common future”.

    He also stated that the purpose of the day is to create awareness in ensuring that girl child is protected against child marriage and unwanted pregnancy, against HIV transmission, stay safe from female genital mutilation, acquire the education and skills needed to realise her potential.

    In his words, “The SDG targets also requires, ensuring their sexual health and reproductive rights. Girls everywhere should be able to lead lives free from fear and violence. If we achieve this progress for girls, we will see advances across society,” Ki-Moon submitted.

    Speaking at the occasion, on the topic titled: “Travails and Realities – Creating a Safe Cyber Environment for Girls”, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Campaign for Democracy, talked about the challenges of the internet and social media on the girl child.

    She also said that the internet, which has great advantages on the society, has brought so many doom on girls around the world. She reiterated that social media have been abused in so many ways.

    According to her: “Despite the importance of the internet, it has been abused in many ways, today, we have Cyber fraud, rumor mongering, privacy breaches, pornography, barbaric acts against female gender such as rape, abuse of female through the internet among others,” Odumakin said.

    The President seized the opportunity to condemn girl child marriage and the use of internet for terrorism, stating that these are part of the challenges of the internet. She later advised parents and guidance to cultivate the habit of reorientation for girl child on the use of social media, increase awareness for digital vices, creating legislation for safety and protection of the internet and drastic reduction of poverty rate.

    In her own address, Mrs. Josephine Effah- Chukwuma, President of Project Alert, a Non-Governmental Agency, submitted that the greatest challenge of parenting is parenting at this digital age. Reiterating that the internet is being used to expose file child to different vices which are detrimental to the survival and existence of female gender.

    Chukwuma admonished the girls to be vigilant of who they move with and what they are exposed to because the internet is being used to perpetrate all sort of evils such as rape, sexual abuse among others.

    She confirmed that most of the perpetrators are closer or know to the family and there is every reason for all girl child to be sober and brace up to the present challenge post to female gender. In the same vein, she seized the opportunity to advise parents to be friends to their daughters and always gate keep what their daughters watch and her exposed to.

    “Mothers are to brace up and rise to the present age challenge, parents should be friends to their daughters, avoid indecent exposure to avoid and reduce the increase of sexual abuse in this present age,” she said.

    While feeding questions from newsmen, Chukwuma made a clarion call to government at different levels to rise to the challenges of Cyber crime and fraud because impunity is now the order of the day.

    While addressing the crowd at the event on the topic titled “Legal Rights of the Girl Child, Mrs. K.B. Ayeye of the Chief Magistrate Court 1Tinubu, reaffirmed that the essence of the International Day of the Girl Child is to help girl Child on their rights and to help them secure the future of the child, to guide the child in fulfilling her purpose in life.

    She confirmed further that the Child Act Law has been adopted to secure and enforce the right of the Girl Child which include; right to survival, association, names, religion, movement, freedom from any form of discrimination, right to dignity, health, education and parental care among others.

    According, to the Chief Magistrate, the Child Law Act protects a girl from child marriage, exposure to criminal substances, exploitative labour, being bought, sold or hired, no sexual intercourse under the age of 18 which attract life imprisonment.

    In her words, “The child Act Law kicked against early marriage for girls, female genital mutilation, undue torture of girl child and gender indiscrimination. Ayeye later admonished the female participants to be wise and understand their right in the society.

    Across the world, October 11 has been declared as Girl Child Day by the United Nation.

     

  • Nigeria to be self-sufficient in sugar, rice, others by 2019, says Dangote

    Nigeria to be self-sufficient in sugar, rice, others by 2019, says Dangote

    [dropcap]A[/dropcap]frica’s richest man and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote yesterday said Nigeria would be self-sufficient in rice, sugar and other commodities in the next four years.

    He said this in Abuja at a meeting with the United Nations’ Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, businessmen and some philanthropists.

    Dangote, who spoke against the backdrop of his investment in the economy in the nation, added that Nigeria would soon become the largest exporter of petroleum products and fertiliser.

    The business mogul said he would not want to be known as the richest man alone, but would also lend his voice and other capacity to better the lots of Nigerians.

    He commended the steps being taken by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in addressing the challenge of corruption facing the nation.

    “War on corruption will enable government to have better outcome on any naira or dollar earned or spent,” he said.

    He said the government was taking measures to diversify the economy by promoting local production of essential commodities.

    According to him, this will enhance the growth of the economy in job creation and preservation of scarce foreign exchange.

    He said the business community in Nigeria would focus more on developing the non-oil sector to support the government efforts in diversifying the economy and reduce reliance on importation of goods.

    “We are committed to improving the economy in a responsible and sustainable way,” he said.

    Earlier, the UN scribe urged the businessmen to work towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Nigeria.

    He said the solution to the challenges facing Nigeria, which was not limited to the nation, should be all inclusive, stressing that no country could solve its problems alone.

    “No country or institution can solve its challenge alone; we must harness the power of the private sector and civil society for share of solution to the complex challenges.

    “We need to build all inclusive global partnership with the future of accountability and for share of responsibility; we must leverage on our comparative strength, capacities and resources to achieve meaningful result,” he said