Category: General

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly stabbed in the chest and died at a hospital in Okahandja in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa said the deceased was identified by her mother as Clara Frederick.

According to Mbeha, the incident happened at approximately 01h50 on Saturday at the Nau-Aib informal area.

It is alleged that the deceased was coming from a bar and as she approached her mother’s house in Oshetu no. 3, she was attacked by unknown suspects who stabbed her in the upper left chest with an unknown sharp object, said Mbeha.

“Frederick screamed out loud and her mother came outside and found her daughter lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

Upon hearing Frederick’s mother coming out of the house, the suspects ran away and this made it impossible for her to establish how many suspects had attacked her daughter,” said Mbeha.

The deceased was transported to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said on Friday that President Bola Tinubu has approved the construction of 1,000 houses in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue States.

Mr Olusola Abiola, Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, in a statement, said Shettima stated this at the commissioning of projects executed by Borno State Government in the last 100 days.

The Vice President explained that the housing projects were part of a broad plan by the Federal Government to address conflicts in the north.

Shettima also revealed that Tinubu approved N50 billion to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to kick-start the Pulaku initiative which was a non-kinetic solution to the crisis confronting the people of the northwest.

“President Tinubu has approved the construction of 1,000 houses in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Benue States with all the ancillary facilities of schools, clinics, veterinary clinics and ranches for the Fulani community in Kaduna and Benue states

“President Tinubu insisted that all the victims must be carried along,” he said.

The Vice President assured that all parts of the country would benefit from the developmental strides of President Tinubu.

Shettima also stated that the Federal Government was planning to re-ignite wheat production in the country.

He noted that President Tinubu was aware of challenges confronting Nigerians and would make efforts to address them.

“The issues confronting Nigerians will be addressed. We will use all available vehicles to fix things. President Tinubu means well for this country and he is determined to change the fortunes of the nation for the better.

“Tinubu is a person filled with a lot of empathy for the less privileged in the society. Some of the painful decisions taken by the government were products of the circumstances we have found ourselves in.

“Be rest assured that in the coming weeks and months, this government will unveil a lot of projects and programmes that will touch the lives of many,” Shettima said.

He commended the vision and leadership of Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, particularly in his capacity to address the welfare of the people.

“We are extremely lucky in having him as our leader, Governor and brother at this time. Gov. Zulum and I have the best of relationships.

“We have become the reference point in relationship management between a successor and predecessor in modern day Nigeria.

“I want to thank him for all the empathy and support and most importantly for putting Borno first,” he stressed.

Out of 77 new projects completed in 100 days of Zulum’s administration, the VP commissioned the Shuwari ll Community School and Healthcare Centre.

Shettima also commissioned the Alikaramti Community School and the Gamboru Liberty Day Seconday School, all within Maiduguri metropolis.

He was cheered by a jubilant crowd, particularly school children during the commissioning of projects executed by the State government within 100 days

Earlier on arrival in Maiduguri, Shettima visited the Shehu of Borno’s Palace to pay homage.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and some legislators from National and State Assemblies.

Also in the Vice President’s entourage at the palace were the Deputy Governors of Borno, Gombe and Taraba States.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) on Friday, held a one-day awareness workshop on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) at Opuwo in the Kunene Region.

The workshop aimed to offer an overview of the Biosafety regulatory framework, Procedures and Guidelines to stakeholders of the NCRST, was also designed to look at the advantages of GMOs, the importance of environmental safety, food safety, and economic factors relevant to GMOs and GMO products.

Kunene regional governor Maruis Sheya in a speech read on his behalf at the workshop, noted that the advent of contemporary science and technology gives significant prospects for enhancing the well-being of people and the environment.

“I’ve been told that biotechnology is one of these advanced sciences in which living systems and organisms are used to create products that benefit human society. Although this is true, there are always risks associated with any new technology or invention,” he said.

Sheya further mentioned that the creation of GMOs has been one of the most contested and discussed aspects of biotechnology and therefore care must be taken to ensure that all levels of society are informed of the benefits, potential impacts, and processes associated with these technologies or innovations.

NCRST Senior biosafety inspector Hilde Amputu in her remarks, emphasized that, despite the fact that Namibians consume GMO products, there are no GMO producers in the nation, despite the presence of GMO seeds.

Amputu also said despite the fact that the introduction of GMOs in Namibia has been riddled with controversy, each new genetically modified crop, food, and feed product is subjected to rigorous testing to determine whether the new gene has the potential to cause harm.

“While there is no technology available to provide evidence of long-term effects on human health, animals, or the environment, every activity involved in the production of GMOs undergoes a scientific risk assessment,” she noted.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Miss Omolara Omojola, the 2023 Queen of Peace Nigeria and nine other Queens of Peace on the platform of the Messengers of Peace Foundation on Friday unveiled pet projects aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence.

They said this at the Unveiling Ceremony of Pet Projects, organised by the Foundation in Abuja.

Omojola said the 10 Queens of Peace were ready to embark on the ‘Peace Campaign’ through their respective pet projects.

She explained that in line with the mandate of the Messengers of Peace Foundation, they were set to champion advocacy for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

“Today, we are here to unveil project of the 2023/2024 Queen of Peace Nigeria/International and other queens representing the six geo-political zones of the country.

“There is need for deep and vast sensitisation of our youths as leaders of tomorrow on peaceful co-existence and national unity which will foster economic growth and development.

“ In line with that vision, my project is tagged ‘Youth Sensitisation on Peaceful Co-existence and Quality Sustainability(YOSPEQS).”

According to her, this project aims to unite Nigerian youths without gender, tribal and religious discriminations which hinder youths from maximisiing their potentials.

“I beckon on government at all levels, corporate bodies and Nigerians of goodwill to support through funding the numerous projects being unveiled today which are centered on peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.”

Also, Miss Mary Ukor, Queen of Peace North-West, unveiled plans to provide skills acquisition programme for under-privileged youths in the region.

Miss Favour Chukwu, Queen of Peace South-East said she was set to campaign for access to primary healthcare by women and children in the region.

Others were Miss Regina Ochuole, Queen of Peace South-South, who launched campaign on conflict resolution.

Miss Ella Eze, Queen of Peace International said she was set to lead a campaign against women trafficking ,

Miss Hope, Face of Messengers of Peace Foundation unveiled a programme to empower internally Displaced Persons(IDPs).

Also, Miss Esther Asuquo, the reigning Queen of Peace Teen planed to get out of school indigent students back to school to complete their education through support from Nigerians.

Earlier in his address, the National President, Messengers of Peace, Dr Suleiman Adejoh said the unveiling of pet projects was a flagship initiative of the foundation through its core objectives were achieved.

He said that the queens were made to pass through mentoring on peace and how to promote peaceful coexistence within and beyond Nigeria.

“The main objective is to work for the promotion of peace across the country irrespective of tribe, gender and religion,”he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Omojola had in August emerged the overall winner of the Queen of Peace Nigeria, while nine others were crowned Queens of Peace for North Central, North-West, North-East and that of the South-East respectively.

Others were crowned as Queen of Peace International, Face of Messengers of Peace Foundation and Queen of Peace Teen.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate on Friday said the region is working hard to ensure that there are no more cases of malnutrition reported, with only one such case reported in August.

Nganate made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs, led by its Chairperson Godhard Kasuto.

He said the problem of malnutrition in the region is under control, noting that it is contributed by unemployment and hunger among the communities.

“The issue of malnutrition was also attributed to cold. They said children are dying for two reasons one is hunger and the other one is cold. Even our hospital does not have heaters or enough blankets for children”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Omaheke malnutrition technical working committee chairperson Reree Kaune who was part of the delegation that visited the governor’s office, said the committee has achieved a lot and is working hard to completely change the situation, although they too are challenged by other factors.

“We have a very well-coordinated functional multi-sectoral committee. This committee looks at previous meeting resolutions as they come in and if there are new cases reported, to respond as soon as possible. Another achievement is that the communication and referral system is strengthened,” she alluded.

Kaune further said the number of soup kitchens aimed to address the problem has increased from three to ten, and most of these are in informal settlements to cater for the majority of people.

The Omaheke malnutrition technical working committee consist of more than 30 experts from different line ministries, private organizations and individuals to deal with any malnutrition issues in the region.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has lauded the interventions of the UN Population Fund in Nigeria (UNFPA Nigeria) and other organisations for their support to vulnerable persons in Borno.

Edu made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Thursday.

The minister spoke to NAN after an interaction with some displaced women and survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at the UNFPA One Stop Centre at Muna camp, Maiduguri.

She also inspected items being made by the survivors and other vulnerable women after they were provided with entrepreneurship training and other reproductive health support at the centre.

According to Edu, UNFPA and other UN agencies are doing a lot in complementing government’s effort.

“UNFPA and other agencies are doing a great work to support government and we will be working to increase these response at all levels.”

She said that she was in Borno as part of her first engagement outside Abuja to assess what was going on and how Federal Government could support the state, particularly in humanitarian response and poverty alleviation.

She said that eight million people were affected by insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

” We want to provide a more resilient system so we don’t have people that are permanently displaced or depend on handout for life.

” We want to to move them through livelihood, durable solution from being Internally Displaced Persons to believing in self reliance.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria