Day: October 5, 2024

Former Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mike Okiro, said the amendment of Section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020, to allow for a four-year tenure for the office of the I-G would stabilise the police system.

Okiro said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

He that the amendment would afford the I-G adequate time to execute programmes initiated within the period.

‘The four-year tenure will ensure stability within the Nigeria Police. This will help sustain institutional knowledge and prevent disruptions.

‘The four-year tenure will also ensure increased productivity and efficiency in carrying out responsibilities.

‘It is my strong conviction that this will allow the I-G to focus on his longer-term planning, goal-setting, and successful execution,’ he said.

NAN reports that the Senate recently amended Section 7 (6) of the Police Act 2020, to allow the I-G to complete a four-year term irrespective of age or years of service.

Okiro said that as former chairman of th
e Police Service Commission (PSC), he had recommended that the I-G should only be removed from office by two-thirds of the senate and not the president.

‘The police and the country are losing in this situation because there is no stability in the system,’ he said.

Okiro said that sometimes inspectors-general of police stay in office at the President’s discretion and so have no tenure security.

‘The law has now negated the 60 and 35 years retirement age and years of service respectively in the civil service. With this law now, the I-G can concentrate on the benefit of the police and the country,’ he said.

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NAN further reports that with the amendment, anybody appointed to the office of the I-G would remain in the office until the end of the four-year term stipulated in the letter of appointment.

On Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary, the former I-G urged the political class to fulfill the promises made to Nigerians during campa
igns.

He said Nigeria has all it takes as a country to do better.

‘The political class should fulfill what it promised the electorate during the electioneering and Nigeria would be great if we could all unite’.

The former chairman of PSC called on Nigerians to contribute their quota to the country’s development as no government can do it alone.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chinese Embassy’s pavilion at the 60th Diplomatic Charity Bazaar in Jordan attracted throngs of visitors on Saturday, offering a glimpse into Chinese culture through an array of exhibits including food, beverages, clothing, and traditional ornaments.

Chen Chuandong, the Chinese Ambassador to Jordan, expressed satisfaction with his embassy’s participation, highlighting the shared tradition of charitable giving in both Chinese and Arab cultures. “We hope to spread love to those in need through this event,” Chen said.

The bazaar, inaugurated by Princess Basma bint Talal, featured 37 foreign diplomatic missions. The princess toured the event alongside ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, viewing handmade products and foods that showcased global cultural diversity.

Visitors flocked to the Chinese pavilion, drawn by its diverse offerings. “The interest reflects the visitors’ appreciation for Chinese art and cuisine, and underscores the friendship between our peoples,” Chen noted.

Mai Al-Nasour, a reg
ular attendee, told Xinhua that she visits the bazaar annually to experience different cultures. “I’m particularly interested in Chinese green tea,” she said.

Proceeds from the bazaar support orphans cared for by the Mabarrat Um Al Hussein Charity. Founded in 1958, Mabarrat Um Al Hussein is a home for disadvantaged orphaned boys, established by the late Queen Zein Al Sharaf, mother of Princess Basma.

The annual event serves not only as a platform for cultural exchanges but also raises funds to support the charity’s educational programs for orphans. A fixture on Amman’s cultural calendar, the bazaar continues to promote solidarity and cooperation in assisting those in need, while offering a unique opportunity for cultural diplomacy.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Mongolia’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is projected to reach 6,800 U.S. dollars in 2025, the country’s Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene has said.

Oyun-Erdene made the remarks while presenting the draft state budget 2025 during a parliamentary session on Friday, according to the government’s press office.

“After remaining stagnant at 4,000 dollars for over a decade, Mongolia’s per capita GDP surpassed 6,000 dollars in 2023, driven by improvements in port access, the identification of hidden economy in the mineral sector, and growth in tourism. According to projected estimates, the per capita GDP of our country is expected to reach around 6,800 dollars in 2025,” he said.

Furthermore, the prime minister noted that if 14 mega projects are fully launched in 2026, there is a likelihood that per capita GDP could reach the milestone of 10,000 dollars by 2028 for the Asian country.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Two people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday evening targeting a residential building in Jiyeh, a seaside town located 30 kilometers south of Beirut, local TV channel MTV reported.

The airstrike hit a three-story building in the Nabi Younes neighborhood, and the explosion was heard across much of Beirut and in Sidon, the capital of Lebanon’s South Governorate. Civil defense teams were dispatched to the scene to clear debris, while ambulances transported the injured to hospitals.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon, causing great civilian casualties and forcing residents in many areas to leave their homes. It has also launched what it describes as a “limited” ground operation in Lebanon.

Israel’s escalations further fuel its ongoing clashes with Hezbollah that started on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, triggering Israeli retaliatory fire and airstr
ikes in southeastern Lebanon.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Most parts of Mongolia are predicted to experience colder temperatures than the long-term average during the upcoming winter, according to the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring on Saturday.

“During the upcoming winter months, most regions of Mongolia, particularly in the eastern part of the country, are expected to experience temperatures below the long-term average, along with increased precipitation,” the weather monitoring agency said, urging the public, especially nomadic herders, to take necessary preparations for the winter ahead.

Last winter, Mongolia faced extreme wintry conditions known as dzud, accompanied by record snowfall — the largest since 1975 — with around 90 percent of the territory covered in snow up to 100 centimeters thick.

The harsh weather conditions last winter resulted in the deaths of at least 7,949,400 livestock animals across the Asian country, accounting for over 10 percent of Mongolia’s total livestock population, according to the National Statisti
cs Office.

“Dzud” is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock animals die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow.

Mongolia’s climate is characterized by a strong continental influence, featuring long, frigid winters and short, warm summers. Temperatures around minus 25 degrees Celsius are considered normal during winter.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has challenged religious leaders in Nigeria to be more committed to the fight against corruption by preaching the right messages.

Olukoyede gave the charge in Abuja, when he received a delegation of leaders of The Citizens Church for All Nations at EFCC’s corporate headquarters.

The chairman spoke through his Chief of Staff, Commander of the EFCC, Michael Nzekwe.

‘If we do the right things in our little spaces, Nigeria will be a better place.

‘So, religious leaders, the pastors, the imams, should preach the right messages.

‘We expect a role from your end and the role we expect is that at our level as preachers, let’s preach the truth to the people.

‘Let’s tell them the truth. Let’s tell them of the dangers of corruption,’ he said.

He expressed concern that people in churches were living above their means and that the church knew them.

‘We must come to that level, where we will be able to speak the truth to the powers-that-b
e in our congregations.

‘Tell them of the dangers of corruption. We can only get it right in our spaces, from the family to the church and mosques by being able to tell people the truth.

‘Let them hear that they should not steal. Each and everyone of us must be a participant in the Nigerian project.

‘So, let our voices be loud, let us not cover what is wrong because at the end of all things, each and every one of us will face judgment.

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‘God is taking note of the things that you saw and pretended that you never saw them,’ he said.

He also cautioned religious leaders against perpetration of fraud under the cover of religion or divine grace.

‘In EFCC, we acknowledge God in all we do, not just in the Christian faith but also in the Muslim faith. Our Muslim brethren consistently pray for the Commission, our Christian brethren also do the same.

‘It is by the grace of God that we do the things that we do here. We acknowledge that and pu
t it in front,’ he said.

Pastor Dickson Iroegbu, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, explained that the visit was motivated by the need to identify with the commission and appreciate its anti-corruption efforts.

‘We decided to celebrate you for the work you are doing for our nation and also pray with you because we are seeing all the efforts that you put in.

‘We recognize them, but without God we can do nothing. As a church we recognize that to build this nation, synergy with the spiritual arm is important.

‘Nigerians are watching and we believe that even as the presence of the Lord continually abides with you that you will do more for our nation.

‘We value our image as a nation and we know that this commission is positioned for protecting our image as a nation. We know that it is not easy but God is with you,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria