Day: October 5, 2024

Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Chairman of African Union High Level Panel on Sudan, says the Dangote Refinery is a testament to Nigeria’s ingenuity and African entrepreneurship.

Ibn Chambas said this in Lagos on Saturday when he visited the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.

He commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his ‘business acumen, courage, tenacity and vision matched with action’ in driving through such a mega project to its conclusion.

Ibn Chambas said Dangote had cemented his status as the true leader of the African Private Sector.

‘I believe these are the types of transformational projects that would propel Africa out of poverty.

‘Projects like the Dangote Refinery create jobs, have multiplier effect on the national and regional economies, provide cheaper and reliable fuel for transportation,’ he said.

Ibn Chambas also commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring provision of crude oil to Dangote Refinery.

‘I would also like to take this opportunity to salute President Bola Tinubu for his bol
d and forthright decision to ensure provision of regular and dependable supplies of Nigeria crude oil to the Dangote Refinery.

‘As a successful entrepreneur in his own right with a proud record of success in the private sector in the past, Tinubu understands the challenges.

‘He has demonstrated commitment to creating an enabling business environment in Nigeria in general, and the smooth operation of the refinery in particular.

‘I encourage all Africans across the continent and in the diaspora to visit the Dangote Refinery for inspection.

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‘A visit to the refinery provides an insight into the tremendous potential and hope there is, not only for Nigeria but, indeed, for the entire African continent,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Nasir Danladi Bako, renowned broadcaster and Administrator on Saturday, described Thursday’s Inaugural Annual International Lecture organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as an event that surpassed the expectations of everyone.

Bako, who is the Kogunan Sokoto, expressed this thought in a statement.

It will be recalled that the lecture, with the theme: ‘Insecurity in the Sahel (2008 – 2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts, and Options’ – was conceived by the management of NAN as part of efforts toward helping to tackle insecurity in the Sahelian region of Africa and especially Nigeria.

The renowned broadcaster congratulated the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, the management, and the staff of the agency for a successful summit.

According to him, the fact that President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by no less a person than the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu testifies to the weight the event carried.

‘The Chair of the occasion was the
former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (GCFR) while the Guest Speaker was Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, famous diplomat and the current African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns.

‘That is not forgetting the presence of the Katsina State Governor Dr Umar Radda.

‘The very high-calibre guests, the intensity of the presentations, and cerebral intellectual engagements spiced with the unearthing of unique intelligence perspectives made the whole Summit resonate with journalists, diplomats, and the security community at large.

‘For the leadership of the News Agency under Mallam Ali to have pulled this through within its first year in office shows the deep foresight and head-hunting capacity of President Tinubu in appointing Mallam Ali as the agency’s Managing Director.

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‘This inaugural edition surpassed all expectations and surely the next edition will hopefully raise the bar of the agenda-setting function of the mass media
in their constitutional role of holding government accountable on behalf of the citizens.

‘Congratulations again,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday that the Israeli army has destroyed a significant portion of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket capabilities.

In a recorded video address, Netanyahu also said Israeli forces are dismantling the Lebanese group’s tunnel system near the border. “While the threat has not been fully eliminated, we have shifted the balance of the conflict,” he said. “About a month ago, as we neared the end of dismantling Hamas battalions in Gaza, we began fulfilling the promise I made to the residents of northern Israel.”

Netanyahu also took aim at French President Emmanuel Macron, who in a recent radio interview emphasized the need to prioritize a political solution and called for halting the supply of weapons to Israel for its operations in Gaza.

“President Macron and other Western leaders are now advocating for arms embargoes on Israel. Shame on them,” Netanyahu said. “Israel will prevail with or without their support, but their shame will persist long after the war is
won,” he added.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon, resulting in significant civilian casualties and displacing residents from many areas. The airstrikes have also targeted and killed key Hezbollah leaders, including the group’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah. In addition, Israel has launched what it describes as a “limited” ground operation in Lebanon.

These escalations have exacerbated ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting retaliatory fire and airstrikes by Israel in southeastern Lebanon.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

A faith-based group, Amani Muslim Women Empowerment Initiative, has awarded grants to some women entrepreneurs to boost small-scale businesses.

The Coordinator of the initiative, Hajiya Hadrat Omipidan, in her remarks at the Grant Award Ceremony on Saturday in Abuja, said that the support was part of the group’s major project for the year.

Omipidan disclosed that N250, 000 was given to each of the beneficiaries to upscale their businesses and help them stabilise against current economic challenges.

She explained that the women were carefully selected for the grant based on their dedication and hard work in the group.

According to her, the goal of the initiative is to promote self and collective developments and improve the well-being of women through empowering engagements, schemes and programmes that are in tandem with the tenets of Islam.

She said the gesture would enable more women to build momentum and connections that would foster sustainable social and economic developments.

‘We started the Armani
Muslim Women Empowerment Initiative, five years ago; it is about giving back to society.

‘We have done a lot of projects in the past; we have gone to correctional centres; we have gone to hospitals; in fact, last month, we did another hospital charity.

‘So, that is part of our own way of giving to the society; today, we are giving grants to some of our members, because we believe charity begins at home.

‘We get these moneys from our sponsors and from our members; there is nothing we get from government; it is by our personal savings, and from our sponsors.”

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Omipidan commended the sponsors for their support over the years.

‘May God continue to bless them and grant them their wishes.”

She implored governments at all tiers to help women stabilise economically.

‘I am sure if our First Lady can help us with grants like this, we will be able to do more for our society.

‘We have been doing so many charity outreaches; during Rama
dan, we fed no fewer than 300 widows; we gave out cash and food stuff; however, this is the first time we are giving our members grants to empower them,’ she said.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the group and to God for the privilege to be picked.

A caterer and a beneficiary, Sherifat Akanmbi, who is into cooking, baking and rentals of cooking utensils, thanked the group for its foresight and generosity.

‘I call on every well-meaning Nigerian who can afford to do something similar to what AMANI did today to please try and give back to the society because the economy is not really smiling for everyone,’ she said.

Kafayat Hassan, also a beneficiary, expressed her happiness.

‘This money will go a long way in my business; so, I feel happy and I advised other women to join AMANI,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Israeli warplanes launched on Saturday night a series of violent raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs, local TV channel Al-Jadeed reported.

The targeted areas included Amrousieh, Choueifat, Haret Hreik, and Burj al-Barajneh, it reported, adding that one of the raids hit a place near a fuel station and caused a massive fire.

TV footage showed that the Israeli warplanes continue flying over Beirut.

The news coverage did not mention if there are any casualties involved in the attacks.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon, resulting in significant civilian casualties and displacing residents from many areas. The airstrikes have also targeted and killed key Hezbollah leaders, including the group’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah. In addition, Israel has launched what it describes as a “limited” ground operation in Lebanon.

These escalations have exacerbated ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which began on Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbolla
h fired rockets into Israel in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting retaliatory fire and airstrikes by Israel in southeastern Lebanon

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Egypt sent 22 tons of humanitarian aid to Lebanon, the Egyptian foreign ministry announced on Saturday.

According to a statement from the ministry, an airplane carrying the aid, which included medicines and medical supplies, landed at Beirut Airport.

This initiative is in line with directives from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to provide support to Lebanon and its people in response to the repercussions of “Israeli aggression.”

In a separate development, the ministry reported that the Egyptian embassy in Lebanon facilitated the return of 286 stranded Egyptians to Egypt on an exceptional flight operated by EgyptAir, following the suspension of most commercial airline services due to Israeli attacks.

Israel has recently intensified its airstrikes on Beirut and its suburbs, targeting Hezbollah officials and facilities, and has launched what it describes as a “limited” ground military operation into Lebanon.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency