Day: June 13, 2024

The Defence Headquarters says the Air Components of the crisis operations have in the last one week, destroyed several terrorist camps operated by notorious terrorist commanders, Bello Turji’s and Halilu in Zamfara and Katsina States.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known on Thursday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Buba said the camps, which were newly discovered were acquired through Intelligence Surveillance and Recognisance (ISR), adding that they were targeted and engaged with rockets and cannons.

He said the feedback had revealed that several of the terrorists, including some of the commanders were indeed neutralised as a result of the air strikes.

‘But at this time we do not have report of the death of Bello Turji and Halilu,’ he said.

Buba said that similar air interdiction was conducted on June 8, overhead a terrorists’ enclaves in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State following confirmatory ISR.

According to him, Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated and their structures destroyed.

He added that on June 6, the air component of Operation Whirl Punch conducted air interdiction on a senior terrorist commander enclave at Tsaunin Doka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to him, battle damage assessment and feedback from locals revealed that several terrorists with high profile commanders were eliminated and their logistics destroyed.

‘Similarly, on the same day, confirmatory ISR indicated terrorist activities in a terrorists’ camp within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger killing several terrorists,’ he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, has announced that the inauguration of the President-elect will be held in Pretoria on Wednesday next week.

This comes as the National Assembly will hold its first sitting tomorrow at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the President will be elected following the swearing in of Members of Parliament.

The first sittings of the National Assembly on Friday and the National Council of Provinces on Saturday represents the establishment of the new parliamentary term, following the elections on 29 May 2024.

After receiving the list of candidates from Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Parliament has been interfacing with the elected Members and their respective parties to capture their details into the parliamentary system.

The first sitting of the National Assembly will commence with the swearing-in of all designated members in attendance by the Chief Justice. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Justice will also preside over the election of the S
peaker of the National Assembly.

‘Once elected, the newly appointed Speaker will take over the proceedings and preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker. These elections are crucial for the proper constitution of the National Assembly, as they ensure the leadership structure is in place to guide the House’s functions and duties.

‘With the Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected, the National Assembly will then be constitutionally competent to proceed with its first major task – the election of the man or woman from amongst the Members of the Assembly, to be inaugurated as the President of the Republic.

‘This is a crucial process, as it sets the stage for the formation of the new administration that will govern the country. Once elected, the person ceases to be a Member of Parliament,’ said George.

He said the Constitution stipulates that once elected as President by the National Assembly, the President-elect must assume office within five days by taking an oath or affirming their faithfulness to the Repu
blic and their obedience to the Constitution.

George said that after the conclusion of the first sittings, members will proceed to attend the inauguration of the President-elect, which is scheduled for 19 June 2024 in Pretoria.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Mrs Franka Okeke, a U.K.-based maternal health advocate, has appealed to government at all levels to improve on the health care facilities to reduce maternal deaths in the country.

Okeke made the appeal in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday while recounting her near death experience during childbirth in a government hospital in Lagos.

She said as a way of minimising maternal deaths in Nigeria, there is urgent need for government to increase budgetary allocation to primary health facilities and make the health facilities more friendly for pregnant women.

‘Government at levels should invest adequate resources in infrastructure development, equipment and drugs for the adequate provision of basic and comprehensive emergency care in accordance with global standards,’ the maternal health survivor said.

Okeke, who noted that the high prevalence of maternal mortality was of concern, called for urgent action by the government to stop needless maternal deaths.

‘Governments need
to do something to stop the needless maternal deaths in Nigeria.

‘There is need to ensure proper monitoring of private hospitals because there are many with quack doctors, while government hospitals are also too slow and there are some conditions that are urgent.

‘Besides, government should provide comprehensive health coverage for Nigerians, especially pregnant women so that out of pocket medical expenses can be minimised,’ she said.

Narrating her ordeal, Okeke said: ‘God delivered me from near death experience while giving birth. There is so much to thank God for in our lives.

‘I had fluid in the lung, several complications, haematoma and sepsis. Even doctors misdiagnosed my condition.

‘I had preterm twin babies and I had to leave them for months, and go to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and other places, looking for solution.

‘The doctors said it was my womb that was protruded which led to sepsis and more complications.

‘Also, I had surgery and doctors were not ready to repeat another su
rgery. My blood level was very low but God saved me,’ she said.

Okeke, who noted that she recently released a single track song titled ‘I’m loving you Jesus’ on YouTube and other digital outlets, said the song was to thank God for saving her life during childbirth.

Okeke also said that she had published a book titled ‘The Tears We Bleed”, endorsed by the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecologist of Nigeria, which chronicled maternal death and fistula issues in Nigeria.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The City of Ekurhuleni has warned ratepayers about scammers contacting them demanding money to stop ‘scheduled disconnections’ because their municipal accounts are in arrears.

City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the scammers send customers a WhatsApp message requesting a payment be made through eWallet services in order to block the supposedly pending cut off of electricity.

‘It is important that you are warned as our trusted clients and business associates that this is a scam, and the city distances itself from this illicit practice. The city is currently investigating the origins of the scam and those behind it so that we can put an end to it,’ Dlamini said.

The city has urged anyone with more information on the scam to share the information with the city via the call centre, walk-in centres, or My COE app.

Dlamini also urged the city’s customers to take note of the following information to avoid becoming victims of the scamsters:

The city does not make phone calls to clients pertaining to service di
sconnection;

Clients will always receive a Pre-Termination notice at least 14 days after their payment due date has lapsed;

Should clients fail to make payment by the set date, the City’s employees with Ekurhuleni identification cards travelling in marked Ekurhuleni vehicles will do the rounds to disconnect conventional electricity users and live a disconnection notice with an amount payable for reconnection; and

Prepaid users will simply have their meters blocked.

‘Contractors will not at any point come to a client’s house to discuss any disconnection issues, they simply terminate the service from outside the property. Should this irregular practice happen, the customer is requested to report the incident to the municipality,’ Dlamini said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Heads of State, Ministers, government officials, and renowned captains of industry have gathered at the 31st African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Annual Meetings (AAM) in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The meetings, holding from June 12 to June 15, would be hosting no fewer than 2,000 delegates, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The theme of the Annual Meetings is ‘Owning our Destiny: Economic Prosperity on the Platform of Global Africa.’

The three-day event is taking place jointly with the 3rd AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF).

‘This is in recognition of the increasingly closer linkages between Africa and the Caribbean and the movement towards a Global Africa uniting Africans, their diaspora, and descendants worldwide.

‘The first day of the Meetings called to strengthen the linkages between Africa and the Caribbean, the sixth region of the African Union.

‘These meetings are considered crucial for economic decision-makers in Africa and the Caribbean and are covered by the African, Carib
bean, and international media,’ Vincent Musumba, Afreximbank’s Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations), said in a statement.

Mr John Rolle, Governor, Central Bank of The Bahamas, in his welcome remarks, encouraged the attendees to capitalise on the opportunities to learn, share, and network.

Rolle mentioned that the Caribbean could benefit from learning more about the Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) from Africa.

He said that with support from Afreximbank, the Central Banks across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) could work towards replicating that system.

‘A successful project in the Caribbean could keep us on pace to deliver on targets that are already being set for an international payment system.

‘A system that even at the retail level, is more integrated, faster, and significantly cheaper for the average consumer.

‘If we perfect the multilateral cross-border payments and settlements arrangement, it could also help us to conserve the use of precious international rese
rves, especially if we expand intra-regional trade.’

Also, Mr Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice-President, Afreximbank, said the AAM and ACTIF2024 were a reunion of all Africans in the context of Global Africa.

Denyal said the meetings would also help shape the shared vision and aspirations of the Caribbean region and Africa.

‘For a continent that is endowed with such an abundance of natural resources, the quest for sustainable development has been a perennial struggle.

‘It is in this context of sustained deprivation and marginalisation, that we seek to unify our forces in the context of Global Africa for a better future.

‘ In our unity, we have the numbers, we have the voice to sit at the table when decisions are made. We are a viable force to influence global decisions.’

Similarly, Asa Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre, emphasised the significant trade potential between Africa and the Caribbean, projecting trade to reach 1.8 million dollars annually by 2028.

Coke-H
amilton suggested it was time to explore establishing a free trade area between Africa and the Caribbean.

‘Trade agreements are one way to help bring down barriers and open new opportunities.’

During a session on ‘Building Resilience in an Era of Globalisation,’ Dr Roger Ferguson, Former Vice Chair, Federal Reserve, emphasised the importance of developing diverse and flexible systems to respond to challenges.

Dr Donald Kaberuka Chairman/ Managing Partner of SouthBridge Group emphasised the importance of countries learning to manage crises rather than treating them as unique situations.

Kaberuka, Former President, African Development Bank Group said this during the first plenary session, on ‘Navigating Economic Transformation in a Poly-Crisis World.’

Also, Prof. Jeffery Sachs, Senior Lecturer in Economics, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University of Rotterdam, said that in the face of stiff competition internationally, Africa must unite.

‘You cannot operate in this world as a s
mall country. Even the small countries that are successful are part of somebody’s world.

‘ Africa is too big to be part of somebody’s world. It’s got to be Africa as a fundamental pillar of the world scene.’

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says the signing into law of the amended National Land Transport Act (NLTA) 5 of 2009 finally paves the way for e-hailing services operators to apply for operating licences like any other public transport operator.

Chikunga commended the signing into law of the NLTA Bill, 2016, by President Cyril Ramaphosa, bringing to an end a 13-year wait for the amended bill, in order to accommodate e-hailing services.

Chikunga said the department has been developing regulations in parallel to the process of finalisation of the NLTA Amendment Bill by Parliament to address the President’s reservations.

The regulations were drafted, and the public was invited to submit comments through Government Gazette No. 49863. Public comments were received and considered by the department and incorporated where appropriate.

Thereafter, extensive consultation ensued with key stakeholders in the public transport’s space, inclusive of e-hailing services operators and e-hailing applications owners.

C
hikunga said these regulations are ready and were awaiting the President to sign the Amendment Bill into law.

‘Now that the President has signed the Amendment Bill, regulations will be submitted to the Office of the State Law Advisor for certification and submitted to the Minister for approval. This means that the e-hailing services operators will move away from the interim usage of charter permits and meter taxi operating licences to operating licences,’ Chikunga said.

The National Land Transport Act was brought to the President’s desk in 2020 but was sent back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.

The revised Bill, amongst others, seeks to amend the National Land Transport Act, 2009, to insert certain definitions and amend others and provide for non-motorised and accessible transport.

Chikunga said the bill amends the National Land Transport Act of 2009 to bring it up to date with developments since the implementation and simplifies various provisions or solves problems that have arisen since th
e implementation; and makes provisions for non-motorized and accessible transport.

‘It also enhances the roles of provinces and municipalities in public transport service contracts and expands the Minister’s powers to implement regulations and safety measures as well as streamlines administrative arrangements for operating licences. Furthermore, it amends other transport-related legislation to bring it into line with the NLTA,’ Chikunga said.

The Minister added that the NLTA now reflects government’s commitment to a modern, inclusive, and efficient transport system.

‘In the whole, the Amendment Bill continues with the process of transformation and restructuring of the national land transport system as envisaged by the NLTA and initiated by the National Land Transport Transition Act, 2000.’

Source: South African Government News Agency