By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government has is set to revamp the nation’s steel sector to enhance the economy as well as create employment opportunities.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuabi Audu, said this in Abuja when he met with heads of agencies and departments in the ministry.

Audu said that Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources hold the key to reshaping the nation’s economic landscape and extending the benefits of democracy to every Nigeria.

“By tapping into the latent potential of the steel sector and channeling it into lucrative ventures, we can ensure that the dividends of democracy reach every citizen.

“The steel sector stands as a pivotal pillar of Nigeria’s industrial growth, carrying the potential to provide substantial job opportunities for the youth.

“To realise this vision, the government is fully dedicated to implementing an extensive array of measures designed to attract reputable international investors,” he said.

Audu said that every Nigerian deserves to partake in the benefits that democracy brings, adding that a core tenet of democracy was its ability to uplift individual needs and aspirations.

According to him, the government is steadfastly focused on cultivating an environment conducive to ensuring these advantages.

“In the pursuit of attracting investments, the Federal Government remains resolute in its mission to boost economic growth and empower its citizens through the potential of the steel sector.

“This is by fostering strategic alliances, facilitating investment inflow and cultivating a business-friendly atmosphere, the government envisions a future marked by prosperity, progress, and collective advancement,” he said.

The minister said that Nigeria was ready to take a leading role in the global steel market, adding that the transformative journey was poised to reshaping the nation’s economic trajectory.

“This is to ensure that the benefits of democracy are tangible and accessible to all.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Deborah Coker

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government was focused on investing in the modernisation of military equipment to guarantee the safety of citizens and foreigners.

Badaru said this in a statement issued by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, in his goodwill message at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference 2023.

The conference had as its theme: “Crafting a Strategic Blueprint for Security and Prosperity”.

He said while investing in the modernisation of military equipment, the government would also pay attention to the blue economy, the unmanned spaces and climate change.

Badaru who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Kana, said that the Nigerian Government through the ministry had invested a lot in providing equipment and platforms to address piracy.

He added that the International Maritime Bureau had declared that Nigeria had recorded less than two to five cases in the gulf of guinea.

According to him, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria are responsible for maintaining peace and stability, not just within the black water and the brown water, but deep down into the blue water.

“Indeed the government is redoubling its efforts by providing more platforms like ‘Falcon Eye’ as well as the deep blue project.

“Government has invested huge resources on these projects to address insecurity in not just the Niger Delta but the entire coastal areas of Nigeria,” he said.

Badaru also said that the Nigerian Navy had been active in fighting piracy which had affected the economy of the country, particularly in the maritime area.

He further said that unmanned spaces had significant impact on both the security and economy of the country.

He added that the country would invest in the unmaned spaces through agriculture in order to reduce insecurity in the country.

On Defence and innovation, the minister said that the focus of the National Defence Policy was on modernisation of the Armed Forces.

He noted that the country was developing her local Military Industrial Complex which would ensure innovation and employment as well as fight insecurity.

“With the deployment of modernised military equipment, we will begin to say goodbye to insecurity in Nigeria”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Admiral M.K Onubebe were in attendance.

Others in attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, represented by Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor who is the Chief of Administration, Army and the Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba.

His Royal Highness Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawan Gummi; Chief Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) were also among other dignitaries present at the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has facilitated the return of  $26,000 to Christine Brown, a British national and a victim of internet fraud.

The EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja, added that the Benin Zonal Command handed over the money to the victim on Monday.

According to him, Brown expressed gratitude to the Commission for its efforts which she said, has brought some succour to her after losing her life’s savings to the fraudsters.

He said that the 70-year-old had petitioned the Commission after being defrauded by an internet fraudster through a romance scam.

“Narrating her ordeal, Brown said she became a victim after she met a purported John Barrowman, an entertainer and citizen of America online.

“Unknown to her, he was a fraudster.  Brown said they became romantically involved, and the fraudster began to demand money which she sent to him through wire transfers,  Bitcoin and  gift cards,” Uwajaren said.

“Kanu Idagu, the Zonal Commander, while handing over the recovered fund,  said the Commission will continue to discharge its mandate to the betterment of the society.

“We are doing a whole lot in ensuring that victims of fraud are restituted where possible, and we will continue to do more,” he said.

He admonished the public to be circumspect in whatever they do online as fraudsters prowl the internet seeking to defraud unsuspecting victims.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) have signed Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) to further strengthen counter terrorism efforts in the country.

The Head, Strategic Communications, ONSA, Mr Zakari Mijinyawa, in a statement, said the MoUs were signed on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Mijinyawa, the documents are in furtherance of Nigeria’s joint efforts with the international community in combating the global menace of terrorism which still remains one of the most complex challenges to the peace, security, and stability of nations around the world.

He said the parties also pledged continued collaboration to identify, collect, and disseminate good practices and lessons learned as well as explore new opportunities by promoting dialogue and partnership through the development of capacity building activities.

The statement quoted the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as saying that the two MoUs signalled a momentous milestone in cementing Nigeria’s partnership with UNOCT towards enhanced collective counter-terrorism efforts.

Ribadu was represented by the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), retired Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa.

It also quoted Mr Vladimir Voronkov, UN Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism, as saying that the MoUs envisaged further cooperation in various areas including countering terrorist travel, financing of terrorism, border and maritime security, and delivery of counter terrorism training in Nigeria.

Heads of key implementing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) also attended the signing ceremony. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has adopted measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, which have significantly exacerbated the various security challenges in the country.

Abubakar said this on Tuesday, while delivering a lecture, via zoom, to participants of the Senior Executive Course 45 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in Abuja.

The title of the lecture is, “Industrialisation, Energy, Security and Climate Change: The Role of the Nigerian Air Force”.

The CAS said that even though climate change was not directly responsible for conflicts, it had substantially compounded existing causal agents of conflicts.

He said that the conflicts had subsequently reduce people’s ability to cope thereby creating further conflicts.

“For instance, irregular and extreme weather at Lake Chad is destroying the profitability of traditional fishing and farming, thus reducing the economic prospects of young men in the area thereby making them more susceptible to recruitment by violent extremists.

“The consequence is its negative impact on national security leading to humanitarian crises, terrorism and insurgency,” he said.

Abubakar said that NAF’s kinetic and disaster relief operations as well as green practices and technologies were adopted to mitigate the effects of climate change on national security.

He said that the NAF had continued to create favourable ground situations for surface forces to operate and recover lost territories from terrorists and insurgents through its kinetic operations.

According to him, kinetic efforts have also contributed to degrading the fighting will and capabilities of terrorists, insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and oil thieves thereby creating a safer and more secure environment for economic and industrial activities to thrive.

The air chief said that the NAF had also made deliberate efforts to integrate climate change considerations into its operations and planning.

These, he said, led to NAF participation in the 2021 Global Air Forces on Climate Change organized by the Royal Air Force, United Kingdom.

Abubakar added that the NAF was exploring converting existing vehicle fleets to using zero or low-carbon emission fuels such as compressed natural gas and liquid petroleum gas.

He said that the air force had implemented some projects to improve its environmental performance and reduce its carbon footprint such as installation of solar panels and recycling of wastes as well as enforcement of tree planting in all its units across the country.

“The NAF has established solar panel-based micro grids in the Headquarters and remote bases and installations to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

“The implementation of the innovative paperless system at NAF Headquarters in May 2023, which has conserved about 300 cartons of paper since initiation, is also worthy of note,” the CAS said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army absolved self from allegation of confiscation of community land for a proposed civil-military intervention project in Orolu Community in Osun.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig -Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said that one Chief Babatunde Oyetunji, Eesa of Ifon, had in a statement alleged that the Nigerian Army had decided to forcefully acquire land for a proposed project in Orolu Community.

He said the allegations were entirely false, malicious and an effort by some vested interests to tarnish the good reputation of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and drag the name of the institution in the mud.

“The fact of the matter is that one of the lines of operations of the Nigerian army in tackling  security challenges in the country is the Non-kinetic line of operations.

“It is a soft approach, aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the public through the instrumentality of Civil-Military Cooperation activities or programmes of the Nigerian Army.

“This effort, is fundamentally geared towards fostering cooperation and galvanising support of the civil populace for army’s diverse operations  to mitigate security challenges across the country.

Hence, the Nigerian army usually executes special community intervention projects, such as hospitals, boreholes,  electrification amongst others based on needs assessment, after consultations with the leadership of such communities, at the behest of senior officers, who hail from the benefiting community,” he said.

In this particular case, Nwachukwu said that a retired senior officer conceptualised an intervention project; a medical centre in the state.

He said the proposal had not even been formally forwarded to the Chief of Army staff for approval, adding that the Department of Civil-Military Affairs at the Army Headquarters was yet to receive requisite information to enable it initiate a comprehensive proposal for the project.

He explained that the army would not have in any way known which land belongs to who, since it was not yet involved in the process.

According to him, it is only when and if the request of the retired senior officer is forwarded to the Chief of Army Staff and is approved, that the Army can send a team to carry out due diligence on the project site and carry along all stakeholders in the process.

“Surprisingly, if the said project for which the COAS  and the Nigerian army are being maligned sails through and is approved, it is a project that will benefit the civil populace and serve humanity, irrespective of  community affiliation.

“The Nigerian Army hereby absolves itself of any involvement in an attempt to confiscate any community land.

“The Nigerian Army is a professional and law abiding institution that has always followed due process in all her intervention projects, so far undertaken.

“Therefore, members of the public are enjoined to discountenance the allegations and continue to support the Nigerian Army and its Kinetic and None kinetic operations across the country,” Nwachukwu said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Ibironke Ariyo

Young Leaders from 18 countries representing all sectors of society have been selected to participate in the 2023 Youth for Road Safety and the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety (YOURS) Leadership Retreat in Spain.

The Executive Director of YOURS, Raquel Barrios said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Barrios said the 23 young leaders were selected from 18 countries including Argentina, Cameroon, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India and Indonesia.

He said that the countries also includedJordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Spain, Tajikistan, Uganda, the United States, and Zimbabwe.

According to Barrios, all young leaders are active community leaders leading road safety actions, interventions and advocacy.

He said that most have significant experience in presenting road safety in national and international arenas.

Barrios said the retreat was the first of its kind and was an excellent occasion for the youth to enhance their skills, build networks.

He said that ot would also help in charting ways to contribute meaningfully to the decision-making process of road management.

According to him, the 23 exceptional leaders have been selected to participate in the retreat to build their qualities and increase their ability to Influence their local community on road safety.

“We are excited to bring together 23 talented young leaders dedicated to changing the road safety reality they have inherited and that is affecting their lives.

“At YOURS, we assert that meaningful youth participation is essential and we want to address the global road safety crisis and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); therefore, we are investing in young leaders.

“So they can continue acquiring new skills, expanding their networks, and creating stronger connections that will enable them to lead with renewed vigour and passion.

“The retreat not only aims to be a transformative experience for the participants but will also be a key contribution to their understanding, dedication, and passion for creating safer roads and sustainable communities globally.

“The legacy of this retreat will be seen through the initiatives, projects, and innovations that these young leaders will lead long after the retreat is over,” he said.

Barrios said that the training which is focused on building new skills in tackling the biggest killer of young people globally was scheduled to hold for four days in Madrid in Spain beginning from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

He said that the retreat was supported by Spain’s Fundacion MAPFRE, which would host the training at its Madrid headquarters, with the support of TotalEnergies Foundation and MICHELIN Corporate Foundation.

The group’s executive director also said that the 4-day intensive training experience would help the youth maximise their leadership and practical advocacy skills to demand and deliver road safety and sustainable mobility globally and locally.

“The Global Youth Coalition, which consists over 1,700 young leaders from around the world, was set up in 2020 by YOURS to unify a global youth movement for road safety.

“It takes a unique approach to place young leaders at the centre of organisational decision-making.

“Via various youth leadership structures they will undergo a specially-curated learning curriculum using the multi-award-winning YOURS Capacity Development approach,” he said.

On his part, Mr Patrick Obi, the Youth Leader and Leadership Board member for the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety lauded the initiative to train the youth across board on toad safety.

He expressed delight to have been selected as one of the representatives from the Africa region to participate in this global leadership training facilitated by YOURS.

“I am hopeful that this training will re-energise and empower me to further advance the cause of youth road safety and sustainable mobility.

“I believe that the leadership training holds the promise of not only equipping me with valuable skills and knowledge, but its positive influence will also permeate our broader road safety endeavors at GreenLight Initiative in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

YOURS’ mission is to amplify the collective voice of young people to lead and deliver road safety and meaningful participation.

The retreat is supported by esteemed stakeholders such as TotalEnergies Foundation, Michelin Corporate Foundation, the World Health Organisation, MAPFRE Foundation, and other notable global and local organisations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola