News Agency of Nigeria
Town planners call for sustainable devt. of Abuja satellites
General News

Town planners call for sustainable devt. of Abuja satellites

By Angela Atabo

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has called for renewed attention to the sustainable and inclusive development of Abuja’s satellite towns.

Chairperson of the NITP FCT Chapter, Queen Phillips, made the call at the 2025 edition of the FCT Town Planners Day, on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said the theme of the event, “Regional Development in the FCT: Rethinking Public Sector-led Development of Abuja Satellite Towns,” was timely and relevant.

“The Abuja Master Plan envisioned a balanced pattern of growth, with satellite towns playing a complementary role to the Federal Capital City by accommodating population growth, stimulating economic opportunities, and reducing pressure on the city centre.

“However, current realities reveal significant disparities.

“Many of the satellite towns still grapple with inadequate infrastructure, poor service delivery, and weak governance systems.”

She acknowledged that in recent years, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had introduced reforms to address those challenges through policy measures aimed at monitoring growth, enforcing planning standards, and promoting adherence to the Abuja Master Plan.

However, she stressed that while those efforts highlighted the importance of public sector leadership, they also raised concerns about inclusivity, governance, and long-term sustainability.

“Today’s deliberations aim to interrogate these critical questions. Town Planners Day has always served as a platform for reflection, dialogue, and policy advocacy.

“Let us go beyond identifying challenges to crafting actionable solutions that can transform Abuja’s satellite towns into vibrant, resilient, and inclusive urban centres,” she said.

The Chairman of the occasion, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Felix Obuah, commended the NITP FCT Chapter for selecting a theme that spoke directly to Abuja’s future.

Represented by the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, Obuah said Abuja was conceived to be more than just a capital, it was envisioned as a modern, inclusive, and well-planned city.

“But step into satellite towns like Kubwa, Karshi, Nyanya, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji, and you see another reality: poor infrastructure, housing shortages, long commutes, and limited opportunities.

“This imbalance is obvious. The city centre thrives while the periphery struggles, an outcome of neglect in implementing the city’s master and regional development plans,” he said.

Obuah noted that for decades, development in the FCT has been largely city-centered and government-driven, with bureaucracy, limited resources, and poor execution resulting in unfinished projects and overstretched services.

“Government leadership is essential, but it cannot do it alone. Partnerships with the private sector and local communities are vital. We have a world-class master plan, but a plan remains a plan until implemented,” he said.

He called on town planners to rise to the occasion, engage with communities, and ensure that development reaches the satellite towns, making them livable, sustainable, and prosperous.

Also speaking, the 26th President of the NITP, Dr Chime Ogbonna, represented by the Second National Vice President, Garba Jibrin, said the original strategy for the FCT was to develop Abuja city alongside the satellite towns.

He said the approach would ensure functional coherence and provide complementary services across the territory.

“However, inadequate funding, policy inconsistencies, and economic and political factors have led to disproportionate focus on the city centre, causing satellite towns to deteriorate into slums.”

Ogbonna said the 2025 theme was particularly relevant, as the FCT Administration was now prioritising infrastructure development in the satellite towns. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Stakeholders unveil report on climate, peacebuilding
Environment

Stakeholders unveil report on climate, peacebuilding

By Abigael Joshua

Stakeholders in the environment sector have stressed the need to integrate climate adaptation strategies into peacebuilding efforts to address Nigeria’s growing vulnerabilities.

They made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the inception workshop on Capacity Building Development for Conflict-Sensitive Adaptation.

The workshop also featured the unveiling of a report on integrating conflict-sensitivity and peacebuilding into Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.

Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, said conflict-sensitive approaches were crucial in adaptation planning.

Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Gyang, a Director in the ministry, noted that understanding local conflict dynamics linked to climate change was key to promoting peace.

“A key activity in the process was the conduct of a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment to identify communities’ vulnerabilities and suggest possible adaptation options,” he said.

Kambari added that climate-linked conflicts such as farmer-herder crises, cattle rustling and banditry continued to threaten security across the country.

He stressed that ignoring medium and long-term adaptation needs in conflict-prone contexts would be a mistake.

“While climate change and conflict are often compounding challenges, adapting to its impacts can be an effective way of breaking this cycle by improving social well-being and addressing root drivers of fragility,” he said.

Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of Climate Change, said extreme weather events and climate variability were already affecting key sectors and infrastructure in Nigeria.

Represented by Mr Jonah Barde, Deputy Director, Vulnerability and Adaptation, she said the ongoing formulation of the NAP was designed to provide a transparent framework for identifying long-term adaptation needs and solutions.

Ms Catherine Potvin, Deputy Director, Environment and Climate, Global Affairs Canada, said resilience and peacebuilding must go hand in hand.

“Nigeria’s efforts to maintain peace are very crucial,” she added.

Also speaking, Dr Okafor Gerald, Director, International Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said climate change continued to exacerbate global conflicts.

He added that the institute remained committed to supporting resolution mechanisms.

Similarly, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Disaster Management Unit, Force Headquarters, said security agencies often mediated farmer-herder clashes, which remain one of the deadliest conflicts linked to climate pressures. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon move to deepen trade ties
Economy/Business

Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon move to deepen trade ties

By Vivian Emoni

Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Cameroon have reaffirmed commitment to strengthen trading mechanisms and boost economic growth across their borders.

Amb. Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, stated this at a Technical Workshop on “Support to Trade Cooperation among Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Cameroon,’’ on Thursday in Abuja.

Rimi, represented by Mr Mohammed Abbas, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, said the three countries already enjoy close relationships and must build on that for regional prosperity.

He said Nigeria remained committed to scaling up intra-African trade, particularly through the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Trade among us presents a unique and strategic pathway to shared prosperity. With our partners in Benin Republic and Cameroon, we not only share borders, but cultures and people. Accordingly, with the African Development Bank (AfDB), we have convened this workshop to jointly reflect on opportunities to deepen and refine our trading mechanisms,’’ he said.

Rimi expressed optimism that the workshop would yield concrete initiatives capable of attracting investments and advancing regional trade.

Also speaking, Dr Abdul Kamara, Director-General of the Nigeria Country Department, AfDB, said the meeting aligned with continental priorities of trade integration, policy harmonisation and infrastructure development.

Kamara, represented by Mr Ometere Omoluabi-Davies, AfDB Regional Integration Coordinator, commended Nigeria and Benin for progress in trade negotiations and called on Benin to ratify the AfCFTA agreement to consolidate regional integration gains.

He noted Cameroon’s participation in the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative, describing it as a step toward unlocking cross-regional trade potential between West and Central Africa.

“To date, the Bank has invested more than 55 billion dollars in trade-enabling infrastructure. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that enhance women and youth participation in the African market,’’ Kamara said.

Dr Fousseni Mama, Director of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Republic of Benin, said the workshop was meant to translate AfCFTA commitments into practical benefits for citizens.

“We are expecting that the meeting will yield a tangible outcome that will boost trading mechanisms across the continent,’’ he said. (NAN)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu

NEPC graduates 7 officers on ginger sustainability project
Economy/Business

NEPC graduates 7 officers on ginger sustainability project

By Vivian Emoni

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has graduated seven of its staff trained under the Nigeria Ginger Sustainability Project (2021–2025).

It is aimed at strengthening resilience and competitiveness in the country’s ginger industry.

Dr Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration and graduation ceremony of Export Support Officers/Product Specialists (ESOs).

She said the programme was implemented by NEPC in collaboration with the Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CPI) from developing countries.

Ayeni explained that the project was launched in 2021 to establish a sustainable ginger industry capable of meeting international standards.

“This vision was driven by the understanding that Nigerian ginger is not just a commodity; it is a global product with unmatched flavour, pungency and medicinal properties, capable of competing in the most demanding markets.

“The project was structured to build the capacity of our ginger companies to consistently meet the requirements of the European Union and other international markets, and to strengthen the role of Export Support Officers as specialised advisers within the value chain,” she said.

She said 17 ginger companies and 10 ESOs were initially selected, out of which 14 companies and seven officers successfully completed the three-year programme.

According to her, the training combined theory and practice, delivered through lectures, workshops, assignments and field sessions.

Ayeni noted that the ESOs had become sectoral experts in ginger and would henceforth provide targeted technical, managerial and export-promotion guidance to ginger companies.

She added that the project facilitated international exposure for participants, including a Market Orientation Mission to the Netherlands and France in 2022, and preparations for the Food Ingredients Fair scheduled for Paris later in 2025.

“These initiatives not only opened new opportunities for exporters but also showcased Nigerian ginger as a premium product on the global stage,” she said.

The NEPC boss explained that the project also resulted in contract signings by Nigerian companies and would be sustained by the council going forward.

She said the curriculum used for ESOs would be adapted for other product sectors to drive export diversification under the Export 35 Redefined Initiative.

“This graduation is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new chapter.

“Our ESOs are now equipped to provide professional guidance that will help ginger exporters maintain quality, expand market share and secure long-term partnerships,” she added.

She commended CBI for its support and praised NEPC staff and the ESOs for their dedication to the project.

In his remarks, Mr Lawal Dalhat, Director, Policy and Strategy Department, NEPC, said the project was designed to build the capacity of Nigerian ginger companies to consistently meet international demand while strengthening institutional support systems for SMEs.

One of the graduands, Mr Adekunle Obatimehim, said the training underscored the importance of developing a holistic value chain from farm to export to achieve sustainable trade equity.

(NAN)

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka

FRSC reassures NANS of commitment to safety of students
Defence/Security

FRSC reassures NANS of commitment to safety of students

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reiterated its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Nigerian students and all road users.

The FRSC gave the assurance following a strategic meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

This is contained in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Ogungbemide said that the meeting was convened at the instance of the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed.

He said this was in response to recent concerns raised by NANS over the incessant crashes involving articulated vehicles, which had unfortunately claimed lives of one or two students in Edo.

According to him, the corps marshal expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased students, describing every life lost on Nigerian roads as “a wound to the conscience of the nation”.

The FRSC boss assured the students body that their voices have not only been heard, but were already shaping deliberate actions to end the menace of reckless driving by truck operators.

“Our students are the future of this country. Losing them to avoidable crashes is not just painful, it is highly unacceptable.

“This meeting is not about shifting blames, but about finding lasting solutions together. FRSC is prepared to work hand in hand with NANS to ensure that no family has to mourn a child because of a preventable crash,” he said.

Mohammed used the opportunity of the meeting to outline ongoing and intensified measures being deployed by the FRSC to address the menace of truck crashes across the country.

He listed this to include partnership with major fleet operators like the Dangote and BUA Groups.

He revealed that the FRSC had so far trained and certified thousands of heavy duty truck drivers across Ibese, Obajana, and other depots.

He said that more training were ongoing in Okpella and Gboko, with focus on defensive driving, fatigue management, and adherence to traffic regulations.

He added that recently, more than 2,700 trucks were subjected to rigorous checks in line with FRSC’s annual fleet operators’ certification to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles were on Nigerian highways.

”The corps is strengthening its patrol and surveillance systems with technology that tracks driver’s behaviour, while pushing for speed limiting devices and improved safety standards for heavy duty vehicles.

“Beyond enforcement, FRSC is engaging critical stakeholders, students, transport unions, fleet owners, and community leaders.

‘This is through town hall meetings across all formations to collectively drive behavioural change and instill safety consciousness on Nigerian roads.

“This engagement with NANS is not a one-off meeting but the beginning of a sustained partnership with Nigerian students,” the corps marshal said.

The FRSC boss assured the public that the corps would continue to prioritise safety through empathy, enforcement, and education.

He appealed to students and the general public to remain calm, assuring that decisive steps were being taken to end the needless tragedies on Nigerian roads.

He emphasised that no protest was more powerful than a united commitment to save lives, adding that the corps was ready to raise the bar of safety on Nigerian roads.

In his remarks, Lucky Omonefe, the immediate Past National President and serving Ex-Officio 1 of the association, said the corps invitation had demonstrated sincerity and respect for the Nigerian student community.

He noted that dialogue and not confrontation remained the strongest path to progress.

”We came with anger, but we are leaving with hope. What we have seen today is a leadership that listens. Dialogue is the tool we must all embrace to change drivers’ behaviours, stop recklessness, and reduce carnage on our roads,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Deborah Coker

Stakeholders advocate AI governance framework
Science & Tech

Stakeholders advocate AI governance framework

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Stakeholders on Wednesday called for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance framework to ensure that it was responsibly deployed.

The stakeholders made the call at the 17th annual conference of the Information System Audit and Control Association(ISACA) in Abuja.

The three-day conference has its theme as: “AI and Digital Trust: A Global Perspective on Opportunities, Threats and Future Strategies.”

Mr Emmanuel Omoke, President, ISACA, Abuja Chapter, said AI had should be utilised responsibly for the good everyone.

“ AI has come to stay, you cannot run away from it. The question is, how can we turn it into opportunity?

“We also have to look at how to make sure the bad aspect, the risks are turned into opportunities not just for individuals but for countries and the global community,” he said.

He added that some of the dangers associated with AI, such as its ability to alter genetics, made it necessary for stakeholders to work together on its responsible use.

Mr Tayo Koleosho, Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said the organisaton was engaging in an electronic pricing programme to improve tax compliance and reduce the burden of audits on businesses.

Koleosho said the initiative was designed to harness and aggregate data on transactions across the country.

According to him, the system will make it easier for companies to report their taxes, while also enabling FIRS to use AI and data analytics to improve efficiency with clean and clear data.

“One of the major things is the ability to make sure that the data this intelligence are depending on are clean and accurate.

“If you don’t feed AI with clear data, it generates what we call hallucinations and then it will give false insights.

“The responsible use of data also requires the need for data privacy because this data, very a lot of it are very personal, private to these companies,” he said.

Mr Hanniel Jafaru, Executive Director, Ham Tech Career (HTC) Academy, said that only 17 out of 54 African countries had adopted national AI strategies but none had developed governance frameworks to regulate the ethical use of AI.

According to him, frameworks are needed to define acceptable practices, manage risks such as digital propaganda and deep fakes and embed ethics into AI models.

“One major way we can solve this is to institute a framework, an AI governance framework, that helps in mitigating the risks.

“Countries globally are talking about AI framework, they have moved from having a strategy to having a framework and the framework helps in determining what comes forth from AI,” he said.

Mrs Sushila Nair, Chief Executive Officer, Cybernetic LLC, also called for stronger collaboration among cybersecurity professionals to safeguard critical infrastructure against global cyber threats.

Nair said that while technology powers businesses and economies worldwide, it had also exposed nations and companies to risks from criminals and non-state actors.

According to her, wars and conflicts are increasingly being fought with technology, including cyberattacks on power, telecommunications and other vital systems.

“Looking across the world you will see that wars are no longer fought with bombs and guns we are now using technology.

“We are using technology in ways to be able to bring down someone’s infrastructure, their telecommunications and their power.

“We can learn from all of the different security breaches that have occurred around the world because cyber criminals have gone global.
“We need to work together to be able to secure our infrastructure so that our people are safe,” Nair said.(NAN)

Edited by Uche Anunne

UNODC, WOTCLEF urge youth to champion safe, legal migration
Defence/Security

UNODC, WOTCLEF urge youth to champion safe, legal migration

By Ibironke Ariyo

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called on young Nigerians to take up the role of champions in promoting safe and legal migration within their communities.

Mrs Aisha Braimah, UNODC National Project Officer, made the call at a workshop in Abuja on Wednesday during the screening of an infomercial on migrant smuggling.

Braimah said the initiative was under the project “Strengthening Evidence-Based Response to Combat Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria (Phase II),”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was being implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), iLEAD Africa, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and WOTCLEF.

Braimah said that the purpose of the infomercial was to translate the findings of UNODC’s reports on smuggling of migrants, which revealed that young people were disproportionately vulnerable to exploitation by both smugglers and traffickers.

“It is very important that with every sensitisation that we do, we are making sure that we speak to the young people, being the most vulnerable groups.

Braimah explained that the documentary was developed to bridge the gap in knowledge, using real stories, data and visual storytelling to raise awareness on the risks, while also promoting safe and equal migration information.

According to her, the goal is not necessarily for you to leave or stay, but to ensure that if you do choose to leave, it is safe and legal.

She, however, emphasised that the day’s screening was not about awareness raising alone, but also about empowerment.

She said “through the video that will be screened for you and the responses to your questions on the phenomenon of smuggling of migrants and migration pathways, you will be positioned as champions within your own communities.

Braimah said that youth corps members who belong to the Community Development Service (CDS) group, and other participants were best positioned to step down sensitisation efforts within their communities.

She urged participants to reflect deeply on the video and subsequent presentations during the session, in order to play active roles in championing safe migration practices across Nigeria.

“By equipping you with knowledge, advocacy tools and civic responsibility, we aim to strengthen prevention efforts at both grassroots and national levels, and with your help, we hope you can spread the message more widely,”she said.

In her goodwill message, Executive Director of WOTCLEF, Mrs Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, stressed that empowering young people with prevention tools against migrant smuggling was key to tackling the menace.

Ladipo-Sanusi said that empowerment and prevention mechanisms, especially through the infomercial, would help young people to make informed decisions on migration.

She said that smuggling of migrants was closely tied to human trafficking, describing the phenomenon as “a benefit for the smugglers and a crime to the state.”

She, however, expressed confidence that the message from the infomercial would help participants to carry the sensitisation far and wide.

“We want the youth to run with this message. They are the speed rangers who will take it across communities. If you want to migrate or ‘japa’, you must do so through safe, orderly and regular pathways,” she said.

She thanked UNODC and partners for convening the session and urged participants to be ambassadors of safe migration in their respective communities.

Participants at the workshop and screening of the infomercial on Migrants smuggling were youth corps members, representatives from iLEAD Africa, UNODC, NIS, OHCHR among others.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Players’ union hails NPFL over fair hearing for goalkeeper Adeyinka
Sports

Players’ union hails NPFL over fair hearing for goalkeeper Adeyinka

By Victor Okoye

The President of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF), Sunday Abe, has commended the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for lifting the suspension on goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka.

Abe expressed appreciation to the NPFL for granting the Plateau United FC goalkeeper a fair hearing after his provisional suspension in July over allegations of involvement in betting.

 

The NPFL announced on Thursday that Adeyinka is now free to register with any club of his choice for the 2025/2026 season, pending further investigation into the allegations.

 

Abe, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the NPFL’s decision as a “progressive step” and praised the league’s willingness to engage with the players’ union.

 

“We are pleased that the NPFL granted our member, Adewale Adeyinka, the opportunity for a fair hearing and did not allow unproven allegations to truncate his professional career,” Abe said.

 

He lauded the NPFL for its professional conduct during the inquest and reiterated NANPF’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian footballers.

 

“As a union, we will continue to ensure due process is followed and that no player suffers unjustly. We thank the NPFL for listening to our position on this matter.”

 

Abe also urged players to remain disciplined and cooperative when engaging with regulatory bodies, while assuring members of NANPF’s readiness to provide legal and moral support when needed.

 

The NPFL, in a statement signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, said Adeyinka honoured its invitation and cooperated fully with investigators.

 

It added that while the goalkeeper had been cleared to resume his career, investigations into the broader matter are ongoing, and others would be invited in due course.

 

The NPFL stressed its commitment to upholding integrity in Nigerian football while ensuring that all disciplinary processes are carried out fairly and transparently. (NAN)

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

Stakeholders validate document to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Environment

Stakeholders validate document to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

By Abigael Joshua

Stakeholders on Wednesday validated Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 document aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening resilience against the impacts of climate change.

The validation workshop, which held in Abuja, had the theme “Driving Ambition, Strengthening Action and Aligning with the Paris Agreement and Global Stocktake”.

It brought together policymakers, development partners and stakeholders from across sectors to shape Nigeria’s climate action pathway.

Mrs Remi Majekodunmi, Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), said the NDC 3.0 is the cornerstone of Nigeria’s national efforts under the Paris Agreement.

According to her, the document is a collective commitment to reducing emissions while building resilience against the adverse impacts of climate change.

“The NDC 3.0 seeks to build on the gains of the previous versions, incorporate recent developments in climate science and policy, and align with our Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy and the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan among other frameworks.

“We recognise that climate action is not the responsibility of government alone. It demands the active participation of all stakeholders,” Majekodunmi said.

She explained that the final document must reflect national priorities, technological capacity, and financial realities, while ensuring that Nigeria’s transition is just and equitable.

Majekodunmi added that Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 outlines a major financing gap that must be addressed if the country is to meet its targets.

She emphasised that access to clean energy technologies such as solar, wind, hydro and hydrogen is critical, alongside energy efficiency measures across industries and households.

“This validation workshop is an opportunity to ensure that Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 is inclusive, realistic, ambitious and implementable.

“Our inputs must be guided by evidence, inspired by shared values, and united by a vision for a climate-resilient Nigeria,” she said.

Mrs Varsha Redkar-Palepu, Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, said the validation of NDC 3.0 reflects Nigeria’s commitment to climate action and its leadership in shaping a sustainable future for Africa and the world.

She said globally, NDCs are the cornerstone of the Paris Agreement and represent each country’s highest possible ambition in reducing emissions, updated every five years as part of global climate progress.

“In a time when multilateralism is under strain, the NDC process reminds us that climate change knows no borders. Only through cooperation can we overcome this existential threat.

“Africa, though contributing the least to global emissions, remains disproportionately vulnerable to climate shocks. Yet, it is also a continent of immense potential, rich in natural resources, youthful energy and innovative spirit.

“Nigeria, as the largest economy and most populous nation in Africa, carries a unique responsibility and opportunity to lead by example,” she said.

Redkar-Palepu added that NDC 3.0 prioritises renewable energy, agriculture, forestry and water while promoting climate-smart solutions that create jobs and protect vulnerable communities.

She called the document ‘a roadmap for green growth, climate justice and sustainable development’, noting that UNDP remains committed to supporting Nigeria with climate finance, institutional capacity and delivery of results.

Mr Ibrahim Shelleng, Special Adviser to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, said the NDC 3.0 represents Nigeria’s pathway to green growth, resilience and inclusive development.

“The version of the NDC is also designed to respond to the outcomes of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. It is not just a climate commitment but a developmental blueprint.

“It reflects our national priorities in energy transition, agriculture, waste management and resilient infrastructure,” Shelleng said.

He noted that the workshop was a step towards harmonising Nigeria’s environmental commitments with its national vision, adding that the document would shape the country’s journey to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.

Also speaking, Mr Duke Benjamin, Cluster Coordinator of GIZ Nigeria, pledged the support of Germany for Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 implementation, calling it vital for sustainable growth and strengthened collaboration between the two countries. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

SIP: 22,124 vulnerable persons benefited from 2024 till date – Ondo Govt.
General News

SIP: 22,124 vulnerable persons benefited from 2024 till date – Ondo Govt.

By Segun Giwa

Mr Felix Alonge, Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Social Investment Programme to Ondo State Governor, says 22,124 vulnerable persons benefited from the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programmes (SIP) from 2024 till date in the state.

Alonge stated this on Wednesday in Akure during a stakeholders engagement meeting organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction with National Social Investment Programme Agency.

Also involved in the programme was the National Cash Transfer Office, all in collaboration with Ondo State Cash Transfer Unit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders were drawn from ministries, agencies, development partners, civil society and traditional institutions.

The SSA said 8434 people benefitted in 2021, while the programme had embraced digital approach of payment as against raw cash disbursement.

Alonge said the Federal and State Governments desired to positively impact lives of the vulnerable citizens with various intervention programmes, which had evolved under President Bola Tinubu.

“It is against this backdrop that Ondo State cash transfer unit, under the National Social Safety-nets project, has brought together critical stakeholders and opinion moulders from relevant stakeholders, ” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Mrs Yemi Pirisola, said the Household Prosperity and Empowerment (HOPE) programme had supported about 15 million vulnerable households across the country.

Pirisola urged stakeholders to support government initiatives to protect those who were at risk, majorly; widows, chronically ill, unemployed, poor and vulnerable.

The State Programme Manager, Ondo State Cash Transfer Unit, Mr Opeyemi Adeloye, said the various government intervention programmes were to save lives, protect the poor and vulnerable people, and sustain business growth.

Also, the Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Gbenga Fasua, said so many vulnerable lives had been saved with the various SIP of the Federal and State governments.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Laolu Akindolire, appreciated the Federal Government for its support under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president.

Akindolire charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support.(NAN)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi

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