Day: August 2, 2024

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru has commended the National Council for Civil Society of Nigeria for not participating in the ongoing protests, highlighting the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s numerous initiatives to turn the economy around for the benefit of all Nigerians.

A statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike indicated that during the meeting with the National Council’s delegation in Abuja led by Comrade Johnny Emmanuel, the Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration with civil society organizations in addressing insecurity.

He cited their strong connections to local communities and ability to provide valuable intelligence, mediation, and humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected areas as he assured the delegation that President Tinubu was committed to improving the economy through robust economic policies, which have started yielding positive results.

He mentioned the economic growth in Q1 2024, the second-fastest first-qua
rter growth in the last six years, and the Defence strategy’s success in improving security as he highlighted several other initiatives, of the government to include:

– The Nigerian Student Loan Scheme to increase access to higher education

– The Livestock Ministry to address herders and farmers’ clashes

– The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF) to increase funding for infrastructure

– The sale of crude oil to indigenous refining companies in Naira

– The signing of the National Minimum Wage Act into Law

– The autonomy granted to Local Governments for effective accountability and development

.irrigation (Dams and channels)

– Zero tariffs and duties on imports of raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients

– Distribution of grains to the states and other social security interventions

‘I am still appealing to Nigerians to be patient as the President is introducing more innovations to improve the economy. He is just one year in office and he has done very well and I know that wi
th these initiatives, we will soon start to see the positive results,’ he assured Nigerians.

Earlier, the National President of the National Council of Civil Society of Nigeria, Comrade Johnny Emmanuel, commended the Minister for his outstanding performance and commitment to service.

According to him, they have been taking track records of the Minister’s achievements since when he was a Governor. Describing Badaru as a man with modest life style said that his commitment to judicious use of resources in Jigawa State earned him the nick name ‘Calculator’

The highlight of the event was the presentation of award to the Minister in recognition of his outstanding commitment, patriotism and integrity to service.

Source :News Agency of Nigeria

Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi have announced plans to share EV components and study autonomous driving software.

The two companies drew up a preliminary agreement in March, with confirmation of this partnership following 100 days of discussions. Mitsubishi has also joined the duo.

Where Japanese automakers once dominated the industry, they’ve fallen behind in recent years as EV makers like Tesla and BYD lead the pack.

Toshihiro Mibe, Chief Executive of Honda, said ‘If we try to do everything on our own, we cannot catch up.’

Both Honda and Nissan will still produce their own EV models but will share resources across key areas such as software development and components with an end goal of lowering costs by boosting volume. Collaborating on techs such as software and data platforms and System on Chip design means the two automakers can quickly launch new vehicle features, competing with low-cost Chinese brands like BYD.

The two automakers said their model lineup would ‘mutually complement’ each other acros
s several global markets for EVs and internal combustion engines. There’s no comment yet on whether the partnership will lead to the ownership of mutual capital, though.

This partnership makes a lot of sense for Nissan. The company’s profits fell 99% last quarter as it struggled to survive in the US market. It makes sense, too, for Honda, given that the automaker is likely seeking a replacement following the end of its partnership with GM earlier this year. With Nissan already owning 34% of Mitsubishi and the two sharing vehicle technology and platforms, the union seems like the next logical step for Mistubishi.

Source :News Agency of Nigeria

Police in Kano State Northwest Nigeria says it has apprehended 269 criminals who engaged in looting of various public properties and stores under the guise of #End bad governance# protest in the state.

In a press statement by the Police spokesperson, Abdullahi Kiyawa, the command revealed that it has also made recoveries of many Jerricans of 25 Litres of Groundnut Oil, a large quantity of Stationeries, Foodstuffs, and other valuable properties from the criminals.

‘The suspects are currently cooling their feet at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and thereafter will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation. More arrests and recoveries are in progress.

‘These individuals engaged in acts of violence, destruction, looting, and causing harm to innocent civilians and resulting in the damage of public and private properties.’

The Kano Police reiterated its commitment to ensure the protection of lives and properties.

‘Whoever tries to cause violence, destruction, looting of pe
ople’s and Government properties, and meddling of fake news to heat the situation will be dealt with according to the law.’

Meanwhile, the Kano state operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), apprehended thirty-two (32) individuals, mostly youths after breaking into shops and looting goods.

In a statement by the corps public relations officer Ibrahim Abdullahi, it said the arrest was made by personnel of the Corps Fagge Divisional Office, Kano command.

He added that the suspects were arrested in areas around Sabon Gari, Bata, France Road, and Murtala Mohammed Way.

Source :News Agency of Nigeria

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has delivered a compelling address to mark the launch of National Women’s Month, which is being observed under the theme: ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy towards women’s development’.

The launch took place at Tshedimosetso House in Pretoria on Thursday.

Chikunga said this year’s observance is not only a tribute to the strides made over the past three decades but also a moment for introspection and continued commitment to gender equality.

‘August has long been a month of reflection and tribute to the invaluable roles women have played in the fight against discrimination and exploitation.’

The commemoration of Women’s Month serves as a platform to pay tribute to the role played by women in the decades of struggle against all forms of discrimination, subordination and exploitation.

The 30-Year Review Report underscores the progress achieved in women empowerment. Notably, women’s representation in Parliament inc
reased from 28% in 1994 to 45% in 2019.

‘Similarly, their presence in senior management roles rose from 20% in 2001 to 36% in 2021. Furthermore, as of 2017, women accounted for approximately 61.5% of university graduates, surpassing their male counterparts,’ said the Minister.

READ | Cabinet approves 30-Year Review Report for publication

Despite these advancements, Chikunga emphasised that ‘while these are significant strides, a lot more still needs to be done’.

The year 2024 marks the 101st anniversary of women entering the legal profession in South Africa. Reflecting on this milestone, the International Association of Women Judges noted a dramatic shift from 1994, when the judiciary was overwhelmingly male and predominantly white.

‘As of February 2023, 45% of judges are women, and the composition has diversified significantly. This transformation was further celebrated with the appointment of Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, the first South African woman to lead the Constitutional Court. Chief Justice Maya
stands tall as an inspiration to all South Africans, especially women from all walks of life,’ Chikunga remarked.

In addition to these judicial achievements, Chikunga praised Tatjana Smith for winning South Africa’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, showcasing the nation’s growing prominence in global sports.

Gender-based violence and femicide

The Minister said the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) remains a critical focus. The National Strategic Plan on GBVF aims to rally societal support and intensify efforts against persistent violence.

Chikunga underlined the importance of a ‘whole-of-society and whole-of-government response’.

She used the occasion to ring the alarm on the rising trend of extortion and fraud targeting employed women.

‘We alert South African women not to be victims of such extortion and fraud,’ she advised.

The year 2024 also marks 70 years since the adoption of the Women’s Charter, a pivotal document in the struggle for women’s rights in South Afric
a. The Minister invoked the Charter’s call for the removal of discriminatory laws.

‘We, the women of South Africa, hereby declare our aim of striving for the removal of all laws, regulations, conventions, and customs that discriminate against us as women.’

She said the voices of the women who gathered at the First World Conference on Women in 1975 must be echoed throughout the month of August.

‘In the world outside, we are ignored. We are invisible, we are not important… We’ve got to change these attitudes toward us – smilingly, if necessary, angrily if necessary, and aggressively if necessary. Otherwise, there will be no such thing as true equality.’ – SAnews.gov.za

Source : South African Government News Agency

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says he will commission an independent report into the purchase of the former Telkom headquarters building in 2016 for R695 million and its subsequent renovation for R250 million.

The commission is meant to provide the Minister with recommendations within 60 days following its appointment and the necessary steps to address and remedy the situation.

Joined by the City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink, on an oversight visit to the building on Thursday morning, Macpherson said it is unacceptable that for the past eight years, the building complex has barely been utilised and has been left vacant.

‘It is disheartening that so much public funding has been spent to purchase and renovate the building, [and it has been] vandalised and occupied by criminal elements, thereby creating an additional burden for the City of Tshwane,’ Macpherson said.

‘We simply cannot spend more than eight years trying to establish how to secure public property while it deterior
ates into lawlessness,’ he said.

The Minister said the terms of reference for the independent investigation will be to provide him with answers to the following questions:

What led to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure buying the Telkom Tower complex and whether the purchase was necessary?

What was the process which was followed for contracts to be appointed and whether the contractors were fit for purpose?

Whether the purchase of the complex by the Department of Public Works was the best option for the South African Police Service?

Whether any officials should be held accountable for the position the department finds itself in, in relation to the purchase and renovation of the building?

Are there any grounds to reclaim any monies paid to contractors where work was not done, or not done according to building standards or health and safety standards?

What will be the best way forward considering the current state of the building?

What steps can be taken to avoid the situation from occurr
ing again?

‘As the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, we need to start moving faster to ensure that public investments are secured and utilised to avoid the wastage of any public monies in a fiscally constrained environment.

‘We simply cannot be spending millions to repair and address vandalism, and poor planning and spending by the department,’ the Minister said.

‘We will have to start working closer with role players such as the City of Tshwane to ensure our buildings are used for the public good and do not fall into disrepair and cause a burden for the municipality. By working together, we can reclaim these buildings, unleash infrastructure investment and turn the country into a construction site. Let’s Build South Africa,’ the Minister said.

Source : South African Government News Agency

Youth empowerment will be one of the apex priorities of the seventh administration, says North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi.

He announced on Friday that the provincial government was working towards implementing the Labour Activation Plan that will result in 27 000 work opportunities and training to unemployed people with the focus being the youth.

‘Through the National Youth Service Fund, we will implement training and skills development opportunities that will benefit over 1 200 young people at the Departments of Public Works and Roads, Social Development, Human Settlement as well as Arts, Culture Sports, and Recreation,’ he told the media.

Mokgosi was speaking during the Provincial Annual Media Day launch in Mahikeng.

Currently, he said, the administration is investigating a new model for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to ensure that this programme assists young people with various skills.

The Victor Thebe Sifora Provincial Bursary Scheme will also be resuscitated and that the grant will f
und no less than 100 students for the 2025 academic year.

Service delivery

The Premier acknowledged that the province was confronted with many challenges and said they would work hard to ‘speedily’ resolve them.

Mokgosi highlighted the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme – Thuntsha Lerole – which he believes has proven to be an important instrument in expediting the provision of services in municipalities.

‘We are ramping up the programme with the implementation of phase four whose focus will be on accountability to allow members of the public to give feedback and report cases of bad or lack of service delivery.

‘As mentioned during the address last week, the Executive Council will not hesitate to intervene in any municipality if the situation requires such intervention. There are promising signs of improvements in several interventions already being implemented across municipalities,’ he explained.

The province was also working around the clock to create economic opportunities for its citizens as th
ey attend to service delivery concerns.

Through the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), they have so far garnered investment commitments to the tune of R164 billion that will create over 5 000 jobs.

He said they will be rolling out three mega infrastructure projects in water, sanitation, and road infrastructure in the City of Matlosana, J.B Marks and Maquassi Hills local municipalities.

These projects will cost R19 billion and are expected to create over 60 000 work opportunities targeted at the youth and women.

In addition, through the Growth and Developmental Strategy (GDS), Mokgosi said they will initiate the North West Development Fund (NWDF) in partnership with the private sector.

‘The setting up of the fund will be arranged in a way that will ensure good governance principles are adhered to whilst ensuring that there are as few impediments as possible to ensure seamless delivery of programmes and projects.’

He announced that the fund will help resuscitate the province’s ailing tourism sector particularly
, provincial parks as well as the refurbishment of the George Dick Montshioa and Pilanesberg Airports.

Media Day

The Premier announced that a Media Day will be held annually after the Premier’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) to communicate developmental initiatives of the administration as well as interventions on various socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, poverty and income inequalities afflicting our communities.

His Office will also hold quarterly media sessions to report progress registered in attending to several challenges, remedial action plans and achievements.

‘The media plays an important role in keeping our communities abreast of key government programmes that are primarily aimed at changing the lives of our people for the better.

‘We affirm and fully support the independence of the media to hold government accountable as enshrined in our Constitution.’

Source : South African Government News Agency