A leading Nigerian conglomerate with focus on manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture, BUA Group, has ventured into oil and gas sector and signed a deal with France’s largest hydrocarbons group, Axens, to refine 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil in Nigeria.
Located in Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria, the project is expected to see Axens license key refinery technologies to BUA Group. This was contained in a contract that was signed between both parties in France on Tuesday.
Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, signed on behalf of his company, while the Chief Executive Officer of Axens, Jean Sentenac, did same at a ceremony presided over by France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Franck Riester.
Speaking after signing the contract, Rabiu described the project as a very viable one given the economics of fuel importation in Nigeria.
“Nigeria imports 90 per cent of its petroleum products. We spend 35 per cent of our foreign exchange on importing petroleum products.
“President Emmanuel Macron has given special determination and support to this project,” Rabiu told The Africa Report.
BUA Group chairman expressed belief in the project’s sustainability, noting that the investment would pay off in the long run, as new fuel standards continue to evolve along with the climate crisis.
According to him, “It is in the DNA of BUA Group; look at our cement plants, the most sustainable in Nigeria, same with our sugar plants. This is the hard part, we cannot get this wrong. It is like in an aeroplane, you always look at who built the engine, it is the most important thing.”
Rabiu said there’s space for another project, despite the growing international glut of refinery projects, the tapering of transport fuel use globally and the strong local competition.
His projection was based on the high rate of fuel consumption in Nigeria, saying the country today consumes about 500,000 to 550,000 barrels a day of petrol and partly because of demand in the region.
He said: “We will have the marine infrastructure for easy export, and the external market for polypropylene (the other major product from the refinery) is very strong.”
Rabiu has been serving as the Chairman of the Macron-initiated Franco-Nigerian Investors’ Club.
Also speaking, Sentenac described the technologies that Axens would be licencing as a chance to breathe easier in Nigeria, with the plant having the ability to refine biofuels.
Sentenac said: “We are the world leader in the Euro 5 fuel standard; this has already reduced car pollution in Europe by a factor of 5 or 6, and it also allows Nigeria to start using the latest generation of fuel efficient engines, the first step towards fighting global warming.”
He added that his company, which makes systems to convert oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, would provide technology for the greenfield project designed to produce Euro-V fuels and polypropylene targeted at domestic and regional markets.
In his remarks, Riester said the deal would be “one of the things that will help build up the necessary intrapersonal relationships” between industrial players in the two countries, part of a wider French strategy of greater engagement in Anglophone Africa.”
The new refinery is expected to be operational in 2024. The refinery would be built using an undisclosed mix of debt and equity, with several development and commercial banks in negotiations with BUA Group.
The new project is expected to directly compete with Nigeria’s other large refinery project, piloted by Dangote Group, which would be operational by 2021.
Axens beat the US company, Honeywell UOP, which got through to the final round, according to sources close to the bid.
The bidding process was managed by energy consultants, KBR, which would also be handling subsequent rounds for the engineering and construction phase, currently underway.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, Tuesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari and seized the opportunity to intimate him on how his administration is working to better the lot of all Imolites.
The governor also informed the President of his administration’s readiness to ensure a free and fair election in Okigwe Senatorial zone bye-election coming up in October 2020.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after after a closed-door meeting with Buhari, Uzodinma said the emergence of presidential candidates for 2023 general elections should not be on a tribal basis.
He said: “We are practising partisan democracy, not tribal democracy. So, the emergence of presidential candidates will come on a party-by-party basis, not tribe-by-tribe basis.”
Uzodimma dismissed the emergence of presidential candidates along tribal or ethnic lines, but argued that leadership of each political party has the sole responsibility to determine that.
According to him, “If there are some other internal factors that will form part of the considerations for parties taking decisions, of course, that will be entirely the job of the leadership of those political parties and I think that is the right thing to do.”
NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber
African Energy Chamber’s Local Content Advisory Committee has held its first meeting, placing local content development at the core of its activities towards the continent’s economic recovery.
The meeting agreed that with several established markets like Nigeria or Angola and frontier energy markets such as Senegal or Uganda, the oil and gas sector has been supporting several of Africa’s economies.
“As a result, the African local content has become a key priority for government, regulators and industry stakeholders. Issues around the perceptions and understanding of local content dynamics were major topics of discussion.
“Key points put forward included the need for African governments and companies to develop better implementation of local content policies and come up with new approaches putting entrepreneurship and capacity building as priorities.
“From financing African starts ups, SMEs and companies to promoting an enabling business environment, it was agreed that African governments and regulators need to rise up to the task and provide for better conditions and environments for African entrepreneurs to thrive,” the committee stated.
The committee members include: the Chief Executive Officer, Shoreline Energy International, Kola Karim; Managing Director, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Walter Peviani; and Managing Director, Jagal Energy, Jorg Kohnert.
Others are: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ocean Deep Drilling ESV Nigeria Limited (ODENL), Chijioke Akwukwuma; President, Kearney Africa, Jude Kearney; President, Royal Triangle Energy Solutions, Eric Williams; CEO, Equatorial Resources, Pablo Memba; Country Manager, SpringRock Group, Ogutu Okudo; and Operations Director and President of the Executive Board, IFP Training, Rémi Mouchel.
The chamber’s advisory committee added that established African energy markets such as Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea or Gabon are still missing a pool of strong local companies across the value-chain, and especially in upstream.
“Despite producing oil and gas for decades, their environment has remained until now unfavourable to the nurturing of entrepreneurs in oil and gas, especially because of a lack of domestic financing.
“The regionalisation of the African content was identified as a key trend for the short and medium-term.
“With the roll out of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTFA) and upcoming first oil and gas in many African markets, the potential to have local content move away from a pure international-local perspective is real.
“This is especially an opportunity for local companies within established markets, be it Nigerian companies regionalising the oil and gas content or South African and Kenyan companies regionalising content within the renewable energy space.
“African companies have the means and opportunities to create regional ventures and partnerships taking the African content development to a new level, and must be seizing them.
“Finally, inclusion in the workforce is set to become a major focus for the chamber and its committee, especially when it comes to promoting youth and women inclusion in the extractive industries.
“A sustainable African energy industry will only be as strong as it is inclusive, and better mechanisms and policies need to be put in place to ensure African women and youth can build successful careers in the sector.
“In that regard, upcoming producers such as Senegal, Mozambique or Uganda have a unique opportunity to truly innovate as they develop their own approach to capacity building and local content development.
“As the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic further increases the need for localising value chains in Africa, local content development is set to become even more important for all industry stakeholders.
“Its success will ultimately depend on the nurturing of capable and patient African entrepreneurs able to raise capital and engage regionally with the right partners to build successful ventures. In such a journey, cooperation with international companies, but especially amongst African entities, will be crucial,” the committee noted.
The re-elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has assured African leaders and stakeholders that Africa will be stronger and more resilient in his second term at the continent’s biggest lender.
Adesina, who gave the assurance in a speech during his swearing-in ceremony and oath-taking, which took place on Tuesday and broadcast virtually said:
“We’ve achieved impressive results. The Bank’s High5 programmes have impacted 335 million people. That’s what the African Development Bank – your Bank – is all about…‘people impact.’
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything globally. It has thrown Africa’s growth back. The continent has lost gains and economic growth that were achieved over the last decade. Africa’s recovery will therefore be long and challenging.
“Now, we must help Africa build back boldly, but smartly, paying greater attention to quality growth: especially in the areas of health, climate and the environment.
“As we look to the future, working with the Board of Directors, the bank will pay increased attention to supporting Africa with quality health care infrastructure, and building on its comparative advantage in infrastructure.
“The bank’s infrastructure work will focus on economic infrastructure, quality physical infrastructure and quality health infrastructure.
“More than ever before, we will expand partnerships – financial partnerships, knowledge partnerships, and investment partnerships. Stronger inclusive partnerships with civil society, academia and knowledge centers of excellence.
“So, our focus will be on ‘Institution,’ ‘People,’ ‘Delivery,’ and ‘Sustainability.’ Each of these are encapsulated in the following five areas which combine with the programmatic High 5s to transform the development landscape of Africa.
“We will reach out and tilt more global capital towards Africa — joining investment hands across the globe to support the needs of the continent.
“We will build on the great successes we have had in agriculture, by scaling up technologies to reach tens of millions of farmers and supporting Africa to build competitive agricultural value chains. We will add value to what we produce in Africa, and provide creative and high-tech opportunities for massive youth engagement in agriculture and agribusiness.
“The future beckons the bank to be more agile and more selective; to scale up what’s working already and reinforce its own institutional and human capacity.
“Our bank must ensure its own long-term financial sustainability to drive Africa’s growth further, deeper and faster in the years to come. We must realise the dreams of a more prosperous Africa. A healthier Africa. A more resilient Africa. And, a more developed Africa.”
With these words, Akinwumi Adesina assumed office as the newly re-elected eighth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a second term.
The event was attended by Heads of States, governors, Nigeria’s former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and over 200 external stakeholders who joined physically and virtually.
The new AfDB Chairperson, Board of Governors and Ghana’s Finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Attah, administered the oath of office.
In their various tributes, African leaders took turns to commend Adesina and charged him to prepare for future tasks.
President George Weah of Liberia told Adesina: “Your reelection signifies Africa and the world’s confidence in your leadership. Liberia looks forward to continued partnership under your leadership. All the best my brother, and congratulations.”
To President Umaro Sissoco Embaló Guinea Bissau, “Having an election with 100 per cent of votes is something that could serve as a roadmap for you to forge ahead in your mission. I wish you congratulate you and your family and the African Development Bank team.”
Also, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said: “You have our full support as you continue to lead the African Development Bank through this COVID-19 period, marked by turmoil, but also the prospect of new opportunity for our continent.
“Dr. Adesina has led the bank with integrity and purpose over the past five years. The next five years promise to be even more noteworthy. Know that you have our full support…”
Adesina, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, was re-elected on August 27 to serve a second five-year term, after a unanimous vote of all governors, regional and non-regional members of the bank.
The election was announced by the immediate past Chairperson of the bank’s Board of Governors, Niale Kaba, who is also Minister of National Planning of Côte d’Ivoire.
The reelection, which took place on the last day of the 2020 55th Annual Meetings of bank, was described by Adesina as historic.
Read the full text of the speech by Akinwumi Adesina here:
Being the Text of Inauguration Speech by Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina for the Second Term in Office on September 1, 2020
Protocols,
Your Excellency, President Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Your Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Governments
Excellencies former Heads of State and Governments
Chairperson of the African Union Commission
The Former Commonwealth Secretary General
Honourable Niale Kaba, the outgoing Chairperson of the Bureau of Governors of the African Development Bank Group and Minister of National Planning of Côte d’Ivoire— Madam “Quiet Force” or “Force tranquille”
The new Chairperson of the Bureau of the Board of Governors, Honourable Ken Ofori Ata, Minister of Finance of Ghana
Governors of the African Development Bank, from 81 capitals around the world
Members of the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank
Honourable Ministers, Heads of Regional Economic Communities
Excellencies, Executive Governors of States from Nigeria
Heads of diplomatic institutions
Members of staff of the African Development Bank
My friends and family members
My darling wife, Grace — my rock, my helper, my counselor, my sweetheart and my children, Rotimi and Segun, Alex, Emily, and our granddaughters, Noemi, and Audra…who was born just two days ago!
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
I thank God Almighty for making me able to stand before you today. I give God all the glory for all He has done and continues to do in my life – a life which I have dedicated to Him for selfless service to humanity. And above all, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Africa passionately, to the very best of my God-given ability.
I stand before you today to speak, but I speak for two people: myself and my darling wife, Grace. For without Grace (Yemisi) I will not be here today. I love you honey — thank you for always standing with me, with prayers, and encouragement. I love you!
I would definitely not be here without the extraordinary support of my country, Nigeria, and my President H.E. Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. President, you nominated me, you stood by me, you supported me. Thank you very much Sir.
I am grateful to the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the entire Government and people of Nigeria who supported me.
I would not be here without the strong support of the African Union.
I would not be here without the strong support of all African Heads of State and governments, starting with my host President – H.E. President Alassane Ouattara.
I would not be here without the strong support of Africa’s retired heads of state and government, led by H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo.
I would not be here without the youth of Africa, the elders of Africa, the women of Africa and the prayers of Africa.
I would not be here without the incredible decision of all my governors, shareholders of the Bank, from 81 countries around the world, for getting me here. I stand on their collective pedestal.
I stand tall today because of you all … your support, prayers, and good wishes inspired us.
We are grateful to you all. Thank you all very much!
Your Excellencies,
Four days ago, on August 27, 2020, I was re-elected as President of the African Development Bank Group. I wish to thank you all for your incredible support and for the mark of confidence you all collectively placed in me. You elected me with 100% of all the votes of regional and non-regional shareholders of the Bank — without any exception. This is unparalleled in the Bank’s 56-year history. And for this, I am exceedingly grateful.
What honor. What confidence. And what affirmation!
You our shareholders have showcased the African Development Bank’s exceptionally high standards and its commitment to transparency and good corporate governance. I am deeply grateful for your collective trust, confidence and support. Above all, I am greatly honored — and humbled.
Your Excellencies,
Today, a rainbow stretches from the 81 member countries of the African Development Bank across the deep blue skies of Africa, with one message — the rain is gone. Gone are the dark clouds that held us down.
I stand today, with all humility, as the President elected by all.
I will be the President for all.
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Over the past five years, since you first elected me as President, we have collectively charted a new way forward for Africa; one that has given stronger hope for the continent’s development.
The High5s of the Bank (Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life of the people of Africa) which were developed to accelerate the delivery of the Ten-Year Strategy, have been implemented with deliberateness, speed and rigor.
The High5s have taken hold on the continent and become the keys for accelerating Africa’s development. The UNDP has shown that achieving the High5s would lead to achievement of 90% of the SDGs and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Your Excellencies,
Over the past five years, the Bank has delivered impressive results on these High 5s:
18 million people with access to electricity
141 million people had access to improved agricultural technologies for food security
15 million people with access to finance from private investments
101 million people with access to improved transport from infrastructure
60 million people with access to water and sanitation
We’ve achieved impressive results. The Bank’s High5 programmes have impacted 335 million people. That’s what the African Development Bank – your Bank – is all about … ‘people impact’.
Our non-sovereign operations for the private sector increased 40% from $1.5 billion in 2015 to $ 2.1 billion in 2019, with the highest level of $ 2.5 billion achieved in 2016.
We have been accountable for the climate since COP 21 in Paris. The Bank’s climate financing expanded from 9% when you elected me in 2015 to 36 % by 2019 – an increase of 400%. We’ve now targeted to reach $25 billion in climate finance by 2021.
Through the innovative and groundbreaking Africa Investment Forum in 2018 and 2019, we were able to attract a combined $78.8 billion worth of investment interests into Africa.
In every country, the Bank’s impacts are felt. We expanded our presence to 44 countries, including across fragile states. Our staff risk their lives to deliver.
And we are delivering more for women with the implementation of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women (AFAWA), to leverage $3 billion for women and women businesses.
We have launched a Gender Equality Trust Fund, the first ever in the Bank, and are advancing on gender markers for all projects of the Bank. We must continue to strongly support women. When women win, Africa wins!
Your Excellencies, Governors,
Winning for Africa’s development is what you set us up to do!
You the shareholders supported the historic General Capital Increase of the Bank, raising the capital of the Bank from $93 billion to $208 billion. This represents an increase of $115 billion, the highest in the history of the Bank.
As shareholders, you strongly supported a 32% increase in resources for the African Development Fund (ADF) 15th replenishment, to support low income countries and fragile states. Today, the ADF countries receive 700% larger resources than they did in 2015.
Your Excellencies,
We’ve delivering value for money for our shareholders. The Bank has the lowest cost among all multilateral development banks.
The African Development Fund has also been rated as the 2nd best managed concessional financing institution globally.
Over the past five years we have maintained our AAA rating by all three major rating agencies — thanks to your continued extraordinary support as shareholders.
The Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network, otherwise known as MOPAN, ranked the African Development Bank as number one along with the World Bank.
Publish What You Fund ranked the Bank as the fourth most transparent globally.
In terms of organizations that people wish to work for in Africa, the Bank’s position as an employer of choice increased from number 82 out of 100 top companies in 2015, to number 4 in 2018 and number 3 in 2019.
Your Excellencies,
We are also a very responsive Bank.
As COVID-19 shocks began, the Bank’s Board of Directors approved a $10 billion COVID-19 response facility to address immediate and project investments for countries, especially to contain fiscal meltdowns.
We launched a $3 billion social bond on the global market – the largest US dollar denominated social bond ever in world history.
These actions reflect our ambitions, our unshaken commitment and unyielding responsibility to support, stabilize and strengthen African economies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything globally. It has thrown Africa’s growth back. The continent has lost gains and economic growth that were achieved over the last decade. Africa’s recovery will therefore be long and challenging.
Now, we must help Africa build back boldly, but smartly, paying greater attention to quality growth: especially in the areas of health, climate and the environment.
As we look to the future, working with the Board of Directors, the Bank will pay increased attention to supporting Africa with quality health care infrastructure, and building on its comparative advantage in infrastructure.
The Bank’s infrastructure work will focus on economic infrastructure, quality physical infrastructure and quality health infrastructure.
COVID-19 opens up new opportunities and a greater sense of urgency to build up Africa’s manufacturing capacity, industrial development, and critically needed industrial value chains, that must be supported by enabling infrastructure and policies.
Special attention will be given to regional industrial value chains and the strengthening of financial markets in order to expand intra-regional trade and competitiveness, and boost the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Your Excellencies, let there be no doubt, the challenges ahead are still many — including poverty, inequality, fragility, high youth unemployment, significant infrastructure financing gaps, and sustainable debt management.
As we look to the future, let me assure you that the Bank will play a greater role in policy dialogues with countries. We will support sustainable debt management, boost green growth and accelerate the promotion of jobs for youth on the continent.
More than ever before, we will expand partnerships – financial partnerships, knowledge partnerships, and investment partnerships. Stronger inclusive partnerships with civil society, academia and knowledge centers of excellence.
We will reach out and tilt more global capital towards Africa — joining investment hands across the globe to support the needs of the continent.
The Bank will leverage its brand, its knowledge and resources to help do more and better for Africa. We will deepen the Africa Investment Forum and make it a critical driver for this bold investment partnership to help move Africa forward.
Your Excellencies,
We will ensure that Africa’s youth potential is fully unleashed. In this regard, the Bank will support the establishment of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks. Banks that will help to mobilize and deploy capital to drive the entrepreneurship of the youth of Africa — in ways that are systemic, scalable and sustainable.
The shadows of youth unemployment and migration out of Africa must give way to a glowing light of successful youth-driven businesses across Africa. Africa’s youth must stay in Africa, develop Africa, and project Africa’s future.
We will build on the great successes we have had in agriculture, by scaling up technologies to reach tens of millions of farmers and supporting Africa to build competitive agricultural value chains. We will add value to what we produce in Africa, and provide creative and high-tech opportunities for massive youth engagement in agriculture and agribusiness.
The future beckons the Bank to be more agile and more selective; to scale up what’s working already and reinforce its own institutional and human capacity.
Our Bank must ensure its own long-term financial sustainability to drive Africa’s growth further, deeper and faster in the years to come. We must realise the dreams of a more prosperous Africa. A healthier Africa. A more resilient Africa. And, a more developed Africa.
Your Excellencies, Governors, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
When you first elected me five years ago, I had a vision. Five years later, I have yet a vision to build on our collective achievements over the next five years. A vision to build a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank Group with the leadership and capacity to deliver greater quality impacts for the people of Africa, while remaining financially strong and sustainable.
So, our focus will be on ‘Institution’, ‘People’, ‘Delivery, and ‘Sustainability.’ Each of these are encapsulated in the following five areas which combine with the programmatic High 5s to transform the development landscape of Africa.
Build a stronger institution
Strengthen human capacity
Enhance effectiveness
Deepen quality and impact
Maintain financial sustainability
Stronger institution
Strengthen institutional capacity
Improve Human Resources
Build a top-notch IT capacity to enhance effectiveness and productivity in an increasingly digital age
Strengthen accountability, oversight and compliance systems
Promote a stronger performance culture
Strengthening human capacity
Preferred employer in Africa
Hire and retain top talent
Improve staff experiences and value propositions
Enhance career development and mobility
Enhanced Effectiveness
Improving responsiveness to clients
Decentralized decision making
More efficient systems and processes
Cost effectiveness and value for money
Accelerated Quality and Impacts
Quality operations
Enhance policy dialogues, knowledge, and debt management
Strengthen environmental and social safeguards
Accelerate development impacts
Financial Sustainability
Stabilize prudential ratios
Drive a culture of cost effectiveness
Balance development objectives and financial sustainability
Optimize the Bank’s balance sheet
Leverage global private capital to complement Bank resources
Ensure the Bank attains its own intrinsic stand-alone ‘AAA’ rating for long term sustainability
With the strong support of the African Heads of State and Governments, Governors of the Bank, Ministers of Finance, the Board of Directors and staff, we will be ready from today, yet again, to roll up our sleeves and continue our collective work to deliver even greater results on our High5s to: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life of the People of Africa.
The future beckons us for a more developed Africa and a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank.
In our time, Africa must shine like the brightness of the sun.
Together … united, we will achieve this.
So, today, yet again, let us move forward, driven by the power of our mission, inspired by the primacy of our vision and emboldened by the strength of our togetherness.
Together — we are stronger
Together — we achieve more
Together — we become resilient
Together — we build a better Bank
Together — we win for Africa!
Doctors at the Federal Mediacal Centre (FMC) Yola perform surgical procedure on co-joined twins.
Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yola, Adamawa State has successfully operated and separated another co-joined twins, thereby increasing the tally to three the number of co-joined twins victoriously separated in the hospital.
The Prof. Auwal Abubakar-led medical team at FMC Yola said the latest successful separation surgery was as a result of collective efforts of medical professionals as well as support received from various quarters, including the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Abubakar, a Professor of Paediatric Surgery, recounted that the twins, Mercy and Grace Aiyebemi, were delivered on December 12, 2019, through a cesarean section in Bayelsa State and were taken to FMC in Yenagoa after they were identified to be conjoined and were stabilised.
He said the co-joined twins were discovered to be joined at the abdomen, had many separate organs but shared only one liver, explaining that the team of surgeons have to go around this challenge, which culminated in the successful surgery of August 20, 2020.
With supports from governments and well meaning Nigerians, FMC in Yola took care of the co-joined twins free of charge and also carried out the surgery free of charge.
The co-joined twins, who were airlifted on January 2, 2020 from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to Yola via NAF aircraft, were separately brought back to Yenagoa onboard a NAF Beechcraft KingAir 350i aircraft on August 29, 2020.
It was a moment of joy, jubilation and triumphant entry as the twins along with their parents, Raphael Aiyebemi and Godsgift Ibiyyefa, returned to Yenagoa after a successful separation surgery at FMC in Yola.
They were received on arrival by Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as well as other members of Bayelsa State Executive Council and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC Yenagoa, Dennis Allagoa, who all expressed their appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, and the entire NAF family for the humanitarian airlift as well as the support provided throughout the process.
It would be recalled that FMC in Yola had successfully carried out similar surgeries in 2013 and 2018.
A photo collage of appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Adejuwon Odumboni and vehicles of the agency.
One year after Muyiwa Gbadegesin assumed office as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Adejuwon Odumboni as the new boss for the agency.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on Monday by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said the appointment, which took immediate effect, was consequent upon the resignation of Gbadegesin on August 19, 2020, for personal reasons.
Gbadegesin had assumed office at a handing over ceremony held at LAWMA office on August 8, 2019. He took over from former occupier of the position, Ola Oresanya.
Announcing the new appointment on Monday, the statement said Odumboni’s appointment showed Mr. Governor’s confidence in his capabilities and demonstrated the administration’s commitment to quality service delivery, considering particularly the new managing director’s contributions to the growth of LAWMA as part of its management in his previous position.
Odumboni was the Executive Director (Business Development) in LAWMA, in which capacity he had been deeply involved in the rebirth of the Waste Management Conglomerate.
While noting that the immediate past managing director had built a strong and highly motivated team in LAWMA and laid an enduring foundation for reforms in the organisation, Muri-Okunola thanked Gbadegesin for his visionary leadership during his tenure of office.
The Head of Service congratulated the new managing director and urged him to focus on improving service quality, adding that waste management and environmental sustainability are critical to all other aspects of the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda – Sanwo-Olu’s six development pillars.
The statement added that a lot is expected from the new LAWMA managing director.
Nigeria's Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire during a Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 media briefing in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has urged state governments not to relent in their efforts at combatting coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Minister gave this charge Monday during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 media briefing in Abuja.
“We urge all state organs not to relent in strengthening surveillance and scaling up sample collection in all the wards of the hotspot Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“The logistics for sample retrieval & testing must be assured as Nigerian Governors Forum makes provision for at least 1 lab in every state”, Ehanire said.
Commenting on plans by the Federal Government to reopen Lagos & Abuja for commercial & international flights, he emphasised the need to guard against new cases coming into the country.
“It is our collective interest to guard against new cases entering the country. We must review our protocols to ensure early detection, isolation & treatment of positive cases.”
The Minister disclosed that the case fatality rate of COVID-19 in Nigeria has slightly dropped to 1.88% .
“The gradual fall is possibly an indication of improvement in response & treatment strategies to contain COVID19.
“Part of the strategy is to focus on setting up community support centres particularly in remote areas of the country where those who test positive may be kept if they live in high density areas.
“Collaboration with states & FCT health sector structure is crucial”, he emphasised.
Ehanire also noted that to further strengthen government’s capacity, he will commission a study group of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee to begin processes that will examine all developments & bring new knowledge that can guide response & government decision making.
Two persons have been confirmed dead, four rescued and one person missing after Lagos State recorded another boat accident on Monday.
This time, the accident involved a passenger boat which capsized in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Investigation revealed that the passengers and the operator had Monday left Makoko for Offin in Ikorodu where they were expected to attend a burial ceremony of their relative.
The passengers, who were all related, left Makoko in Lagos Mainland for Ikorodu with a fishing boat.
The boat, however, by 7pm could not withstand the water current usually recorded around the scene of the mishap.
Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) said the boat overturned in Offin, Ibeshe axis of Ikorodu, adding that five adults including the boat captain and two toddlers were among the passengers on board.
LASWA General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, while confirming the incident, said the fishing boat was clearly operating outside its fishing capability.
He noted that further investigation revealed that the boat was not equipped with necessary safety gadgets including lifejackets, for a passenger ferry operation.
Emmanuel said the first responder to the incident scene was a passenger ferry that witness the incident before the arrival of LASWA rescue team and narrated what transpired before the boat overturned.
According to him, “Upon further investigations, it was revealed that all seven passengers on board were not wearing a lifejacket. Four passengers were rescued alive, two fatalities were recorded, while one passenger is missing.
“The men of LASEMA and Marine Police have been contacted to support the ongoing search operation for the remaining victim while further investigation is ongoing.”
Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Lagos has appointed the General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers, Gbenga Adefaye, as Acting Provost of the institution.
Chairman, NIJ Governing Council, Olusegun Osoba, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Osoba, a former Ogun State governor, said Adefaye would serve as Provost of the institution with effect from September 1, pending the appointment of a new Provost.
He succeeds the former Provost, Gbemiga Ogunleye, who has served out his term meritoriously.
Adefaye was a former two-term president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
NIJ is a diploma-awarding monotechnic established in 1963 by the International Press Institute.
President Buhari presides over the Inauguration of Executive/Legislative/Party Consultative Committee in State House on 31st Aug 2020
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday inaugurated a Tripartite Consultative Committee of the executive, legislature and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja.
The President said enhanced consultation within the ruling political party would strengthen its internal democracy, and improve chances of winning elections.
He added that amicable resolution of conflicts in the party through regular consultations would create more understanding.
“Let me welcome all of you to this first Consultative Committee of the APC, our members of the National Assembly and the Executive.
“Our party commands a clear majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Vice President, the distinguished Senate President, the Right Honourable Speaker and I all belong to APC and the working relationships between the executive and the legislative have been excellent so far. Our joint responsibility is to keep things that way and see where we can improve our communication and coordination.
“But we must admit to ourselves that our party has been too often embroiled in bitter and on occasions, totally unnecessary squabbles costing us seats in legislative and gubernatorial elections. These never should have happened. We are here to make sure such occurrences do not happen again. We must now ensure regular consultations between the party and the governments,” Buhari said.
The President urged members of the committee to further align objectives of the party and be alive to electoral promises, reminding party members of the need to always move the country forward.
“I am a firm believer in the doctrine of the separation of powers, which is fundamental to our constitutional democracy. But our practice should be harmonious checks and balances devoid of bitterness and petty rivalry,’’ he noted.
Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said he had great faith in the consultative committee to help improve governance and achievements of the party, assuring them of his support.
Members of the consultative committee are: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Chairman; Senate President, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawal; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase; Yobe State Governor/Chairman, APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni; Senate Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi; and House Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa.
Others include: Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; and Secretary, APC Caretaker Committee, Akpan Udoedehe.
President Buhari presides over the Inauguration of Executive/Legislative/Party Consultative Committee in State House on 31st Aug 2020
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