Day: September 10, 2024

Middle): The leader of the Tunisian delegation and President of Tunisia Africa Business Council, Anis Jaziri, addressing diplomatic correspondents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival in Nigeria, while the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, (left) looks on (NAN).

By Mark Longyen

A 20-member business delegation from Tunisia has arrived in Nigeria for the Nigeria-Tunisia Economic Forum, aimed at exploring and creating various investment opportunities between the two countries.

The delegation, led by the President of Tunisia Africa Business Council, Anis Jaziri, was received by Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nearly weeklong event, which is tagged: ‘Multisectoral Economic Mission in Nigeria,’ will officially kick off on Tuesday and end on Friday.

The forum, which is organised in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, is expected to boost Nigeria-Tunisia bilateral economic relations.

Speaking to diplomatic correspondents on arrival, Jaziri said the delegation’s visit was an unprecedented one by such a large group, comprising representatives from multiple sectors of the Tunisian economy.

He listed the various sectors to include construction, information technology, health, trading, engineering, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, mechanical, electrical and chemical industry sectors.

‘The purpose of our visit is to create real opportunities between Tunisia and Nigeria. There are huge things that we can do together.

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‘Like, you know, Tunisia has very good products, very good services in many sectors. We have the know-hows, and we want to see exactly what’s going on here in Nigeria.

‘We also want to see in which sectors, and in which fields, we can seal economic cooperations.

‘We will also have many B-to-B meeti
ngs, and hope that these will bring together big partnerships between the Tunisian economic operators, and their partners in Nigeria,’ he said.

Speaking earlier, Antit explained that choosing Nigeria for the forum was strategic because Nigeria is the richest and biggest ECOWAS member state and Africa’s largest economy.

The ambassador added that Nigeria has a significant economic potential and favourable climate for investment and attracting businessmen.

He said that organising the forum in the country was part of the framework aimed at adding a new momentum to the existing bilateral relations between Tunisia and Nigeria.

According to him, the forum is the second lap of the first forum, Financing Investment Trade Africa (FITA), which was held in June in Tunisia, and was attended by no fewer than 35 Nigerian companies.

The envoy called for more trade among African countries, and expressed dismay that most African countries historically trade with other continents.

‘Africa is first for Africans. So it’s tr
ue that we should, of course, deal with other people, with other continents, with other countries, but the priority is for the continent.

‘So, the priority of business is between Africans themselves. Tunisians and Nigerians are also Africans,’ he said.

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He recalled that the earlier visit of the Nigerian businessmen and CEOs delegation to Tunisia for FITA was very successful, as many contracts were signed between various companies on both sides.

‘Now, we are organising the reverse, a big delegation made up of more than 20 businessmen coming to Abuja, Nigeria, for the the Multi-sectoral Economic Forum.

‘This falls within the framework of our keenness to strengthen bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries in the economic and investment fields.

‘The Tunisian delegation that will participate in the forum is the first of its kind and in its size from Tunisia to Nigeria,’ he said.

According to the United Nations COMTRADE data
base on international trade, Nigeria’s exports to Tunisia was 35.72 million dollars in 2023.

It says that the main products exported from Tunisia to Nigeria were gypsum, salt and leather stock, among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has expressed readiness to support the advancement of traditional medicine in the country.

The Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Mr Uche Nnaji, stated this on Monday, at a one-day dialogue on re-thinking natural medicine, held in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the meeting was ‘Support the Provision of Quality and Safe Traditional Medicine through Appropriate Regulatory Mechanisms.’

The event was organised by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA).

Nnaji, who reiterated the Federal Government’s dedication to supporting and strengthening local industries, highlighted their crucial role in driving economic growth and development.

He emphasised that traditional medicine played a major role in people’s life and national development, adding however, that the innovation was still low, hence the need for support.

‘The Federal Government is committed to the growth of local content and ind
ustries, so the ministry will give its support to the development of the sector.

‘Our support will improve industrialisation so that resources such as traditional medicine knowledge, products and technology can be transformed into innovative and commercialised products,’ he said

The minister promised to collaborate with the agency, particularly in product research funding and training, among other possible partnerships.

The Director-General, NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, said that medical science had made incredible advances all over the globe, especially in traditional medicine.

Emeje, therefore, called for public and private support to promote traditional medicine in Nigeria like the rest of the world.

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The NNMDA D-G said that the inclusion of traditional herbal medicine in clinical practice would also help to achieve health for all.

‘The traditional medicine sub-sector holds the master key to the much-desired future of Niger
ia’s healthcare delivery and economic greatness.

‘With its associated bio-resources, it is a strategic sector that can be used as a tool for the overall development of the country, starting from the natural improvement of health.

‘Also, traditional medicine simulates small and medium scale agro-business, small scale product industries in health, raw materials and a feedstock to the global knowledge economy in research and product development,’ Emeje said.

He said that in recent years, research on African traditional/herbal medicine had been increasing clinical trials and research by public or private researchers across the world.

‘Africa has a great pool of diverse medicinal plant sources, as well as a long and well characterised traditional medicinal system.

‘Also, modern technology and techniques have revolutionised the progression of drug discovery from medicinal plants and have become an essential tool to monitor and maintain the quality of traditional formulation, and mechanism for its formulation,’
‘ he added.

Dr Merlin Wilcox, a Principal Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, called for the government’s support to research and development of traditional medicines.

This, according to him, will enable citizens to enjoy its benefits.

‘However, scientific evidence is needed to support the provision of safe and quality medicine to the citizens.

‘The government needs to strengthen policies that will make it more presentable and available in dosages,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

At the inception of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the vexatious issue of fuel subsidy regime was ended to address the huge infrastructure development gap created by the use of funds to power the subsidy.

Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, amounting to 30 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, falls short of the international benchmark of 70 per cent set by the World Bank.

Nigeria spent more than N400 billion monthly to subsidise petroleum imports before the inauguration of President Tinubu, according to Mele Kyari, head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL).

These are funds that would, otherwise be used to check infrastructure decay and shortfall in the country.

‘The fuel subsidy is gone. The subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.

‘We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.

‘This is one
decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements,’ Tinubu said in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023.

Nigerian were left with a choice of finding alternatives to subsidy funding that has been recognised by leading Presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.

The choice offered by the Tinubu administration was the use of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in vehicles, especially the commercial vehicles that constitute over 80 per cent of petrol users in the country.

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At the inauguration of 30 hybrid CNG-powered buses with the capacity to transport 3,000 passengers recently, Tinubu said the use of natural gas to power the nation’s transportation industry would reduce transportation costs.

He said it would also enhance productivity, and save the nation trillions of Naira s
pent on the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

‘If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we will definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people.

‘These CNG buses are promising and will enhance our transportation system before the inauguration of President Tinubu.

‘Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. In Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 percent of our petroleum demand, costing us trillions of naira every month.

‘The solution is here. We have it. We will work on it. We promise you, definitely, things will get better. Prosperity will be achieved’, Tinubu said.

Energy experts say Nigerians need to take advantage of the CNG-powered vehicles to ameliorate the huge financial implications occasioned by high cost of petrol and it attendant increase in prices of goods and services.

‘CNG is an important and feasible gas
eous fuel that is relatively very cheap, environmentally friendly, safe to handle, and has abundant available energy resources.

‘By considering the availability and infrastructure facility, CNG seems to be a prominent alternative fuel for diesel engine applications”, says Ashok Nanthagopal in a study on Eco Friendly Biofuels for CI Engine Applications published in Natural Gas (Second Edition).

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According to him, earlier reports showed that CNG fuel could stand well below conventional fuel for the consideration of performance aspects.

Olalere Odusote, former commissioner for energy to the Lagos state government said the CNG powere-vehicles are worth embracing.

‘By embracing CNG, we can enhance energy security, create jobs, and propel Nigeria towards a brighter future for all its citizens’, the media recently quoted him as saying.

Experts say that CNG use is gaining acceptance worldwide because of its environmental and economic benefits; it is a clean-burning f
uel that produces lower emissions than traditional gasoline or diesel, and it can also be less expensive to use.

Some of the known advantages of CNG use include lower emission, energy savings, energy security, and longer engine life.

The disadvantages include limited range, limited fueling infrastructure, high upfront costs and safety concerns.

The concern of Nigerians centres on the disadvantages of the CNG use and the availability of conversation service.

The government, has responded to this concern through the Presidential CNG Initiative, established as a component of the palliative intervention of the administration to cushion the hardships of the fuel subsidy removal can allay the fears of users.

Another energy expert, Mr Taiwo Adewole said that the introduction of CNG)vehicles into Nigveria”s transport industry would help fight pollution.

‘CNG powered vehicles and generators will help fight pollution from fossil fuel that an average Nigeria uses on a daily basis. The government also needs to wor
k on adequate power supply”, he told a local energy medium.

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Retired Air Vice Marshal Akugbe Iyamu, former Acting Director-General, National Emergency Mangement Agency.

‘There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do” Iyamu said.

Mele Kyari the Group Chief Executive Office of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has also thrown his weight behind the CNG initiative.

‘Is it late? Yes,, but we will make progress, we will cover the gap in order to ensure that the volatility we see with Premium Motor Spirit does not apply to gas”, said Kyari.

This is possible through making accessible and assessable the process of conversion and continuing encouragement of its use among both the commercial and private car owners in the country.

Those in the transport industry, however, say the decision to use CNG for vehicles depends on individual needs and preferences, as well as the availabili
ty of refueling infrastructure in the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is to partner with the media to ensure effective advocacy ahead of the 2024 supplementary immunisation.

This is contained in a communique issued on Tuesday at the end of a media orientation workshop for the 2024 integrated Supplementary Immunisation Activities (SIAs) meeting in Abuja.

The communique was co-signed by representatives of the Print and Electronic media and the NPHCDA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NPHCDA in collaboration with partners, held a media orientation workshop on the programmes of the 2024 integrated SIAs.

The orientation workshop was also carried out for the media to identify their roles and responsibilities in ensuring the success of the programme.

NAN reports that the 2024 integrated SIAs will be held in 26 selected states namely; Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Rivers, Ekiti, Ogun, and Ondo.

Others are Osun, Oyo, Benue, FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauch
i, Gombe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe and Borno.

Participants emphasised on the importance of advocacy, effective information dissemination and adequate support of the campaign strategy.

They recommended that the NPHCDA should be timely with accurate dissemination of information to support communication and mobilisation of all expected groups for the vaccination.

Participants urged the agency to provide adequate personnel for the campaigns and support training and capacity building for relevant stakeholders.

The media representatives on their part reiterated their commitment to supporting the success of integrated SIAs efforts.

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‘We commit to effective amplification of messages on vaccination importance, dissemination of accurate information to address issues of vaccine resistance and misinformation,’ the communique reads.

The parties recognised the critical role of vaccination in preventing and controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.

Dr Ladan Al
iyu, the Director of Advocacy and Communications of NPHCDA, told NAN that 2024 integrated SIAs objectives include achieving 95 per cent vaccination coverage for Measles and Polio.

Aliyu said it would also include 80 per cent coverage for Yellow Fever, and achieving 85 per cent coverage of zero-dose children in targeted Local Government Areas.

He said that there would be vaccines for cases of Yellow Fever, Measles/Polio, Tetanus and Diphtheria (TD), Human Papilloma Virus, among others.

The director said that the NPHCDA was aware of the activities of anti-immunisation campaigners, but noted that they factored the said challenge in their planning stage so as to mitigate it.

‘We have what we call Crisis Communication Plan for addressing issues at both national and sub-national levels, depending on the peculiarity of the case.

‘The crisis communication plan is being implemented by experts; they are dispelling and quelling some of these rumours that stop people from being immunised.

‘Bringing in traditional a
nd religious leaders who are close to every community, to carry out this campaign is also part of our strategy to dispel some of the rumours carried out by anti-immunisation campaigners,’ he said.

Aliyu, who said that the integrated SIAs campaign would commence in September, appreciated the Media’s continued support in ensuring the population receives accurate information.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have signed an MoU to improve access to affordable, safe and nutritious food in the FCT.

Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, while signing the documents on Tuesday in Abuja, said the initiative would boost sustainable development and address issues around food insecurity, as well as improve the health of the people.

Wike, who was represented by Mr Chidi Amadi, his Chief of Staff, said: ‘there is no better time to have this than now when we have issues of malnutrition.

‘Today is not just a mere show but the collaborative efforts we just endorsed will translate to useful results, dividends that will reflect in the lives of people in the FCT, especially those in area councils.

‘We enjoin you to ensure that all that needs to be done in the campaign to drive this process are put in place.

‘Improving nutrition is very key especially now that food scarcity has become a serious challenge in our country.’

Mr Ubokutom Ny
ah, Mandate Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public-Private Partnership (EPRGPPP) said the partnership would strengthen value chains, empower primary-schools with nutritious food and improve food security.

‘This MoU will pave the way for interventions that have long-term benefits for the health and well-being of our pupil’s and residents especially those who are below the pyramid.

‘It will improve access to fortified foods, enhanced nutrition education and the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

‘It will also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to zero hunger, good health and economic growth,’ he said.

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Dr Michael Ojo, Country Director, GAIN, said the three-year plan would foster a healthier food environment, reduce malnutrition and promote sustainable food systems for improved food security, access to safe, affordable and nutritious food.

‘The mu
ltidimensional index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2022 highlights that the FCTA is the 11th least poor region of government in Nigeria ranking by states.

‘This means that there are 10 other states that are doing better than the FCTA, when you look at what constitutes the multidimensional poverty in the FCT, nutrition is the biggest component.

‘I think it is appropriate that we are looking at this as a major problem and we are supporting the FCTA to deal with it.

‘If we are able to design projects and programmes that tackle some of the underlining causes of malnutrition then we hope to see the health status of FCT residents improve,’ he said.

Ojo explained that the key areas of collaboration include: building capacity on project management, advocacy and resource mobilisation, promote the adoption of biofortified crop varieties to address malnutrition.

Others are: support the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP), implementing human-centered design approaches in socia
l protection programmes and strengthening food safety measures and nutrition-related policies.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate will work with municipalities and stakeholders, including Transnet, to prevent truck congestion from the N2 highway leading to the Port of Richards Bay.

This was among the commitments made during a meeting held by the KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements Departments.

Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, recently met with the management and all categories of staff from both departments working in King Cetshwayo, Zululand and UMkhanyakude Districts.

The meeting aimed to ensure that the two departments work collectively to accelerate the construction of roads and human settlements for the benefit of communities.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Duma said the stakeholders have decided to act decisively as the issue of truck congestion is resurfacing. Other stakeholders include the Road Freight Association and Zululand Chamber of Business.

‘In addition, we commit to work with Transnet and Richards Bay Bulk Terminal to ensure safe and e
ffective movement of coal destined for exports. Our roads have been damaged and created challenges such as truck related accidents that continue to claim innocent lives.

‘There is a special team of traffic officers, uTalagu, that has been assigned to monitor the movements of trucks. Addressing these challenges means that as government we must invest in the development of infrastructure to accommodate the movement of goods and people,’ Duma explained.

A need for all stakeholders to work hard to improve the railway networks and tap into aviation and maritime sectors to facilitate the movement of goods, was also emphasised.

He noted that the province is not only a construction site but strategically located along the longest coastline in Africa.

‘This means that our economy is driven largely through the transport and logistics sectors based on the two major ports housed in the province, namely the Port of Richards Bay and the Port of Durban.

‘Both ports are economically strategic not only to the province of
KwaZulu-Natal, but also to the national economy of South Africa since they are linked to the economic heartland of South Africa, Gauteng, via road and rail networks.’

The MEC said the Port of Durban is also a transit point for cross border container traffic for neighbouring countries – a gateway to Southern Africa.

‘The Ports of Richards Bay and Durban are important contributors to international trade and a significant enabler for South Africa’s and the province’s economic development. We are working with national government to ensure the expansion of road networks – the N2 and N3, along with our ports,’ Duma said.

Apart from speeding up construction of houses for communities, the MEC acknowledged that there will be a growing demand for human settlements and pressure on road networks.

He added that with Richards Bay Industrial Economic Zone being a haven for foreign direct investment and a site for energy infrastructure, the province must be ready to be the host of the 3 000 MW gas-to-power plant to be co
nstructed by power utility Eskom.

Source: South African Government News Agency