Month: August 2023

The Revival School, in collaboration with Unclesele and Nitche Entertainment, has launched ‘The Little Miss Rainbow’ platform to build the girl-child’s confidence and self-discovery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, which held on Saturday in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Embracing the Essence of Womanhood,’ was aimed at redressing the stereotyping of women and consequent loss of their identity.

According to the convener of the ‘Little Miss Rainbow’ pageant, Mrs Preere Opuofoni, the platform aims to change the narrative of negative description and stereotyping of the girl-child.

“Little Miss Rainbow is a pageant that would help solidify your daughter’s identity by giving her a platform to safely express herself.

“It will also help build confidence and give the girl-child an opportunity to be a voice for her generation,” said Opuofoni.

She explained that the rainbow symbolised fascination, hope, and calm after the storm; a pot of gold and good fortune.

“A woman personifies ageless beauty, selfless love, purity, grace and dignity. She symbolises virtue, great inner strength, tremendous patience, resilience and fortitude.

“She is the pillar of strength not only to her family but also to the society and the country as a whole; women are the backbone of a nation’s economy,”Opuofoni said.

In addition she noted that, “A true woman should naturally embrace her femininity, regardless of status or circumstance in life.

“Little Miss Rainbow derives its essence from the mission of ‘The Revival School’ which was established in 2022 as an all-volunteer school to build a community of believers/commissioned kingdom citizens.

“Its goal is centred at helping others experience a deeper level of intimacy and trust in God by hosting the presence of the Holy Spirit.”

After a keenly contested exercise, Ms Vanessa Edet emerged as the Little Miss Rainbow 2023.

The organisers intend to make the Little Miss Rainbow pageant an annual event to foster the girl-child’s confidence.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A former member of the House of Representatives, Robinson Uwak, on Sunday, commended President Bola Tinubu on his move to resolve Nigeria’s dispute with the United Arab Emirate (UAE)’s Airline and its visa issuance.

Uwak, in a statement, said President Tinubu’s move would reopen that corridor for Nigerians, who usually visit UAE for business and leisure and deepen the cooperation between both nations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Emirates Airline had, in October 2022, suspended its operations in Nigeria over allegations that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) failed to approve for the repatriation of backlog of funds accruing to its operations in the country.

Tinubu had, on Aug. 25, while receiving the ambassador of the UAE, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi in Abuja, promised to personally intervene in the dispute and amicably resolve it.

Uwak said the two countries ought to sustain their cooperation with reference to the reports that Nigerians spend an estimated N3.3 billion weekly ($381m per year) on flights to the UAE with Emirates Airlines, the UAE flag carrier, having the lion’s share of that amount.

“Nigeria as a leading market in Africa should have equal access to the other big markets in the globe for trade and investment and leisure activities,” he said.

NAN reports that President Tinubu, while receiving Al-Shamsi, had said: “We must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” in a statement signed by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale.

Al-Shamsi was also quoted in the same statement to have said: “We are getting somewhere. These are small issues, all within a family, and they will be resolved.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An oil theft situation assessment delegation deployed in the Niger Delta by President Bola Tinubu discovered an illegal oil connection on Saturday.

From the illegal connection discovered at Owaza in Abia, Nigeria loses an average of 7.2 million dollars monthly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) stated on Sunday.

It added that clandestine refineries, illegal bunkering operations and environmental devastation the team saw in communities visited, collectively translated into severe economic losses for the nation.

The delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Malam Muhammed Badaru, has service chiefs, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as members.

Other members are the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperipe Ekpo, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari.

Also in the team are Commander of “Operation Delta Safe”, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, operatives of security agencies and chief executive officers of regulatory agencies in the oil and gas sector.

The team visited the Trans-Niger Pipeline Right of Way in Owaza, Abia, where an array of dismantled illegal connections were observed.

The delegation also visited Bille, Azuzuama, Ahoada, Rumuekepe Ebocha, Abacheke, Egbema, Ohaji, and Koko communities in five states of Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Delta States.

“We are ready to do whatever it takes for a peaceful Niger-Delta. Cease and desist from crude oil theft and economic sabotage,” Malam Badaru advised at the site.

In his remarks, Kyari said while oil theft in vessels could be tracked, oil-bearing communities must play a vital role in curbing oil theft within their communities.

“Oil theft is one of the reasons why Nigeria cannot meet her OPEC daily production quota,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the site, Chief Security Officer of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd., Mr Patrick Godwin, said some arrests had been made and culprits arraigned.

In his comments, Ribadu applauded security agencies, community security contractors, and NNPC Ltd. for stepping up the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage.

“The environment and livelihoods are being destroyed while the federation is deprived of revenue capable of shoring up the economy and strengthening the Naira,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has promised to embark on comprehensive reforms in key sectors under his ministry to enhance their operational capabilities.

In a video broadcast on Sunday monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Tunji-Ojo reaffirmed his commitment to executing the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu, a transformative plan aimed at revamping sectors.

The four sectors include the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOs), the Federal Fire Service (FFS) as well as the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Acknowledging the leadership of Tinubu, Tunji-Ojo expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve and promised to uphold the responsibilities entrusted to him.

He emphasised that his focus would be on ensuring that the government’s promises translate into meaningful action, making a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

The minister promised to do all he could within his capacity not to disappoint the president in terms of the implementation of the “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

In addressing challenges relating to NIS, the minister highlighted his determination to enhance the experience of Nigerians seeking to register and obtain passports for various purposes.

“I assure Nigerians of our desire to proceed with reforms in our NIS, such that Nigerians can be treated with respect, and that we get to unbuckle all bottlenecks of passport collections.

“We will also ensure that other issues associated with the service in general are under control,” he stressed.

Besides, Tunji-Ojo said he would ensure the decongestion in NCoS custodial centres as well as providing inmates with the opportunity for rehabilitation and re-integration into the society.

“Of course, with beaming life, and hope we’d groom inmates and help inmates to ensure proper re-integration into the society.”

The minister further said that on the proposed reforms for the FFS, he would ensure that response times to emergencies was enhanced.

“We will do everything within our power as a ministry to ensure that there are key reforms in the nation’s fire service centres and turn around the response time to say 15 minutes.

“The commitment further reflects the administration’s recognition of the critical role played by the service in safeguarding citizens and infrastructure.”

Tunji-Ojo further pledged to prioritise the protection of national assets and facilities, as well as to ensure the effective protection of national infrastructure by the NSCDC.

The minister added that his commitments to reform all the services under his ministry reflect the administration’s vision for a more secure, efficient and prosperous Nigeria.

“We will ensure that in terms of protection of national assets, it’s expected of the NSCDC to respond to ensuring that our national asset are well protected.

“I assure Nigerians that under my leadership as the Minister of Interior, I will not rest on my promise of taking a clue from the zeal, determination and commitment of the President.

“I also assure that the Renewed Hope finds its footings in the Interior Ministry, and Nigerians will be proud of this administration,” he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Operation Vulindlela has made significant progress by reaching several key milestones in the second quarter of 2023.

The Presidency and National Treasury on Sunday released the progress report for quarter two of 2023 on the implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela.

According to the report, over 70% of the reforms have have been completed or are on track to be finalised within the next year.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of Operation Vulindlela in October 2020, as a joint initiative of The Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of reforms to revive economic growth and create jobs.

“Operation Vulindlela is now approaching its third anniversary. In that time, progress in the implementation of priority structural reforms has gathered pace. As it stands, over 70% of OV [Operation Vulindlela] reforms have now either been completed or are on track to be finalised within the next year.

“A minority of reforms – those in the municipal space and the additional reforms that Operation Vulindlela has taken on in the last year – will run beyond the 2023/2024 fiscal year,” stated the report.

The progress report outlines several key milestones that have been reached as part of government’s economic reform agenda.

The first of these came with the gazetting of the final date for the analogue switch-off (ASO) on 15 June 2023.

“Gazetting of the final date for analogue switch-off, has enabled analogue transmission to be switched off for all frequencies above 694 Megahertz (MHz) on 31 July 2023 to enable the use of spectrum for mobile telecommunications. This key reform will improve network quality, reduce data costs and expand digital access for all South Africans,” the report said.

In the transport sector, President Ramaphosa directed the establishment of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC) to oversee implementation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap, which is being developed by government and Transnet.

The roadmap incorporates proposals to resolve the immediate operational challenges while developing interventions to fundamentally restructure the logistics sector to support inclusive economic growth.

“A key milestone was reached with the selection of an international terminal operator to partner with Transnet at the Durban Pier 2 container terminal. This will crowd in private investment and management expertise to improve the performance of South Africa’s largest container terminal, handling 72% of the Port of Durban’s throughput and 46% of South Africa’s port traffic,” the report said.

Another key milestone was reached in the establishment of the NLCC to oversee short and long-term interventions to fix South Africa’s freight logistics system.

The NLCC has eight work streams focused on immediate operational improvements in the logistics system as well as longer-term reforms to improve efficiency and competitiveness, and will report to the President.

In the water sector, the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill received approval from Cabinet to proceed to Parliament.

The Bill, which seeks to establish an agency to manage national bulk water resource infrastructure and attract investment in water resource development, is expected to be tabled in Parliament by August 2023.

“The establishment of the NWRIA as a dedicated agency to manage and invest in bulk water resource infrastructure is the centrepiece of institutional reforms in the water sector,” the report said.

Another milestone reached is the establishment of the One Stop Shop for energy projects to accelerate private investment in new generation capacity. The One Stop Shop will facilitate regulatory authorisations for energy projects, with the aim of establishing a single, fully electronic application process.

“Progress in procuring new generation capacity to close the gap in electricity supply, with nine projects from Bid Window 5 having reached financial close to date and a further four expected to close by September 2023.”

The report provides a detailed update on each of the priority reform areas in Operation Vulindlela, including reforms to the energy, logistics, telecommunications, and water sectors as well as the visa regime.

The full Operation Vulindlela 2023_24 Q2 Report can be downloaded at https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/operation-vulindlela .

Source: South African Government News Agency