News Agency of Nigeria
Tinubu departs Japan for Brazil state visit
Foreign

Tinubu departs Japan for Brazil state visit

By Muhyideen Jimoh
‎
‎President Bola Tinubu departed Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday night for Brazil, where he will begin a state visit on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that the President would make a stopover in Los Angeles before proceeding to Brasília, the Brazilian capital.

The trip to Brazil marks the second leg of Tinubu’s two-nation tour, which began with his departure from Abuja on Aug. 15.

On his way to Japan, the President had a brief stop in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before arriving in Yokohama on the morning of Aug. 18.

While in Japan, Tinubu participated in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where he attended both the opening and plenary sessions on Aug. 20.

He also held a series of bilateral meetings with Japanese government officials, business leaders and development partners, aimed at strengthening ties between Nigeria and Japan.

The President further used the visit to highlight Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and to seek greater Japanese investment in infrastructure, technology, and renewable energy.

In addition to official engagements, Tinubu concluded his stay with an interactive session with Nigerians in the diaspora on Thursday night in Yokohama.

At the forum, he commended their contributions to national development and urged them to remain good ambassadors of Nigeria while exploring opportunities to invest back home.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu is expected to focus on trade, security, and cultural exchange during his Brazilian visit, reinforcing Nigeria’s bilateral relations with Latin America’s largest economy.

According to the Presidency, the visit will also feature discussions on cooperation in agriculture, energy transition, and regional security, areas of shared interest to both countries.

The President’s engagements in Brazil will include meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other senior government officials.

He is also expected to meet with the Nigerian community in Brazil to brief them on government policies and encourage stronger diaspora participation in national growth.

The presidency confirmed that Tinubu is due to return to Nigeria after completing his official engagements in Brazil. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

TICAD9: Nigeria focused on strategic engagements, not trade expo —- Presidency
Foreign

TICAD9: Nigeria focused on strategic engagements, not trade expo —- Presidency

‎By Muhyideen Jimoh

‎The Presidency has said Nigeria’s delegation to the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) is focused on strategic engagements, not a trade exhibition.

In a statement on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said President Bola Tinubu’s delegation is pursuing results in key sectors such as power, industry, and agriculture.

The clarification follows social media reports showing an empty booth labelled “Nigeria” at the TICAD9 venue in Yokohama, Japan.

Onanuga described the viral narrative as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s mission at the triennial conference, stressing that the country is not participating as a trade exhibitor.

He noted that while the reports may reflect patriotic concern, they reveal ignorance about Nigeria’s actual objectives at TICAD9.

According to him, Nigeria’s participation is centred on forging bilateral and multilateral partnerships that will support economic growth and development.

Onanuga revealed that the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) will host a targeted investment forum at the conference on Thursday.

He added that ministers are holding bilateral meetings, while President Tinubu will meet executives from Toyota, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is leading talks on several projects backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), including power transmission improvements in Lagos and Ogun states.

Other projects include a partnership between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA on vocational training, and a $190 million renewable energy access initiative.

Adelabu is also scheduled to meet with leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as TOSHIBA and HITACHI, on possible collaborations in the power sector.

Onanuga further disclosed that the Bank of Industry, led by Dr Supo Olusi, is engaged in high-level talks with JICA and other multilateral financial institutions.

He affirmed that Nigeria is well represented at TICAD9 and actively involved in all critical diplomatic and investment negotiations. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

Turkish envoy seeks collaboration with NiDCOM on diaspora engagement
Foreign

Turkish envoy seeks collaboration with NiDCOM on diaspora engagement

By Maureen Okon

Mr Mehmet Poroy, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, on Monday sought partnership with the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to strengthen bilateral relations on diaspora engagement between the two countries.

The envoy said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Chairman/CEO, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja.

He said that both Nigeria and Turkey shared similarities as Nigeria has 17million citizens abroad while Turkey has 7.5million diasporans.

According to him, 6.5million of them are living in Europe, while the rest are scattered in America and other parts of the world.

The envoy, who said Nigerians currently living in Turkey were 5,000, expressed his embassy’s readiness to work and learn from NiDCOM ways to better his country’s diaspora engagement.

Responding, Dabiri-Erewa appreciated the ambassador’s visit, adding that the commission was ready to partner with the Turkish government to learn and grow together.

She acknowledged that both countries have similarities in various ways, adding that the more reason for the collaboration to happen was to deepen the relationship of Nigeria and Turkey.

“Nigeria has over 17million diasporans living around the world and Nigerian diaspora are described as the most intelligent in the US and UK.

“Turkey has been friendly to Nigerian students studying in the country and I promise to return the visit.

“I promise to work and partner to share information and to collaborate with the Turkish diaspora commission,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

‎TICAD9: Tinubu arrives in Japan, seeks to bolster Asia-Nigeria investment
Foreign

‎TICAD9: Tinubu arrives in Japan, seeks to bolster Asia-Nigeria investment

‎‎By Muhyideen Jimoh

‎President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Tokyo, Japan, to attend the ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
‎
‎Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga said President Tinubu touched down in Tokyo early Tuesday (local time) for the high-level summit.
‎
‎The President will join other African leaders, development partners, and stakeholders at the influential international forum.
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‎The event which will be held from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22 at the Pacifico Yokohama, will serve as a strategic platform for the President to strengthen and attract Asian investors to Nigeria.
‎
‎President Tinubu was received at the Presidential Wing of the Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, by Amb. Hideo Matsubara, the Ambassador in charge of Haneda Airport for TICAD.
‎
‎Also present were Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the Nigerian Embassy after the plane touched down at 00:50 am local time.
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‎Initiated by the Japanese government, TICAD is co-hosted by the UN, UNDP, African Union Commission, and the World Bank.
‎
‎The triennial summit alternates between Japan and Africa, with Tunisia hosting the last edition.
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‎TICAD9 is themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,” focusing on economic transformation through innovation and private investment.
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‎It also aims to foster a resilient and sustainable African society rooted in peace, stability, and human security.
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‎During the conference, President Tinubu will hold bilateral meetings and participate in high-profile meetings with the chief executive officers of some Japanese companies with investments in Nigeria.
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‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu’s participation in TICAD9 marks his first official visit to Japan since assuming office in May 2023, a milestone in his foreign diplomacy.
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‎His participation signals Nigeria’s commitment to deeper ties with Japan, leveraging innovation and strategic collaboration at TICAD9.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
‎
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Researchers detect pathogens, antibiotic resistant genes in aircraft toilets’ wastewater
Foreign

Researchers detect pathogens, antibiotic resistant genes in aircraft toilets’ wastewater

Toilets
Australian-led research suggests that wastewater from aircraft toilet could serve as an early warning system for the global spread of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) superbugs.

A statement released Monday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, said the researchers analysed wastewater from 44 international flights to Australia from nine countries.

It added that the researchers detected nine high-priority pathogens and multiple antibiotic resistance genes.

Using advanced molecular techniques, the international team led by CSIRO, found a gene for resistance to last-resort antibiotics on 17 flights.

But it was absent from Australia’s urban wastewater, indicating likely introduction via international travel.

The study found five of the pathogens in all flight samples, with geographic variation in resistance levels.

Flights from Asia carried higher concentrations of resistance genes compared with those from Europe, it said.

“Aircraft wastewater captures microbial signatures from passengers across different continents, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective way to monitor threats like AMR,” said senior author Warish Ahmed, a principal research scientist from CSIRO.

The researchers confirmed that genetic material remained stable in aircraft toilet disinfectants for up to 24 hours, underlining the reliability of the method for surveillance.

AMR is expected to cause more than 39 million deaths globally by 2050, surpassing cancer, the authors said.

The author added that the study suggested aircraft wastewater monitoring could offer early warnings of superbug threats, similar to COVID-19 wastewater testing.

The research, detailed in Microbiology Spectrum published by the American Society for Microbiology, was conducted in partnership with Xiamen University in China.

The University of South Australia and Michigan Technological University in the United States also took part. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Cecilia Odey/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

ECOWAS Chairman solicits support to combat terrorism, enhance democracy
Foreign

ECOWAS Chairman solicits support to combat terrorism, enhance democracy

By Mark Longyen

Chairman ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Bio, has solicited deeper collaboration with fellow leaders to combat terrorism, enhance democratic governance, and invigorate intra-regional trade.

He also urged member states’ leaders to forge a stronger partnership between ECOWAS and Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who recently exited ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

A statement from the State House, Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Saturday said Bio made the appeal in the course of his high-level visits to Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Cape Verde and Senegal.

He was speaking during audience with presidents Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau; Adama Barrow of The Gambia; Bassirou Faye of Senegal; and Cape Verde Prime Minister José Neves.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visits by Bio, who was recently elected as ECOWAS Chairman, aimed at strengthening subregional collaboration toward addressing the bloc’s critical challenges.

“He stressed the necessity of collective action to overcome challenges that impeded economic integration and undermine peace and security in the subregion.

“The President also highlighted the urgency of bolstering cooperation with all ECOWAS members states, including those in political transition.

“These high-level engagements demonstrate the significance of cohesive leadership in overcoming the challenges facing the ECOWAS community,” the statement said.

Throughout the visits, Bio is said to have expressed his gratitude for the honour done him by his West African counterparts to serve as Chairman during the bloc’s most critical moment.

Bio’s hosts were said to have acknowledged the robust bilateral ties existing between their countries and Sierra Leone, and congratulated him on his election as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority.

The statement further quoted them as reaffirming their commitment to working with Bio to enable him to successfully accomplish his mandate.

It further said that Bio was poised to draw on the experience and insights of previous chairpersons of the ECOWAS Authority to drive meaningful progress.

NAN also reports that the ECOWAS Chairman’s trip follows similar high-level visits to Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Tuggar urges deeper Nigeria–Germany cultural relations
Foreign

Tuggar urges deeper Nigeria–Germany cultural relations

By Fortune Abang

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has underscored the need for investors to leverage Nigeria-Germany cultural ties to drive the country’s growth.

Tuggar gave the advice while receiving the Salute Nigeria Initiative, organisers of the Nigeria-German Investment and Cultural Expo (NGICE), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister, who had served as Ambassador of Nigeria to Germany for six years, commended the NGICE concept, saying it could further strengthen Nigeria-Germany diplomatic relations.

According to him, when it comes to the issue of culture, Germany always has a listening voice, because in Germany the word culture goes beyond just culture.

Tuggar said, “Germany is a country with rich cultural heritage.

“There is a lot within that cultural space that requires investment and collaboration, because we are going through renaissance of Nigerian culture.

“If you look at this generation of Nigerians, they listen almost exclusively to Nigerian music, especially Afrobeat.

“Meanwhile, Nigerian food and fashion are gaining global recognition.

“There is much in our culture that resonates with today’s world, particularly as people pay more attention to what they consume, especially in terms of food.

“When you talk about superfoods, lots of the things that we take for granted here are in high demand globally.

“If it is not Moringa, it is bamboo and we have some of the best ginger in the world as well. There is so much to take advantage of culturally.”

The minister advised that the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, as well as Industry, Trade and Investment should be equally contacted to bolster partnership in the NGICE.

“Our mission in Berlin will be informed, so that they can provide necessary support, in terms of facilitating visas; such shouldn’t be a problem for us to support.

“Also, ensure you have the German Embassy here in Nigeria fully involved in the NGICE, because it would help to bring about good success,” he added.

R-L: Dr Mike Okiro, former Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police Force and Amb. Chielo Ojirika, Director-General of the Salute Nigeria Initiative. (NAN photo)

Speaking at the event, Dr Mike Okiro, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Salute Nigeria Initiative, said Berlin was chosen for the NGICE because of Germany’s position as Europe’s cultural hub.

Okiro, former Inspector-General of Police, said Tuggar’s experience as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany would, in his role as Foreign Affairs Minister, attract more investors through NGICE and help Nigeria benefit from his time in Germany.

According to Okiro, Nigeria has a lot of resources beyond crude oil and gas.

“We have so many things, which we can sell to the outside world, particularly culture.

“Nigeria is going to benefit from this investment from the outside world, the more reason we are going to Germany, not only for culture, but also for attracting investment into the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Amb. Chielo Ojirika, Director-General of the Salute Nigeria Initiative, said the aim of the event was to project Nigeria’s image and culture, as well as attract foreign investments.

Ojirika, Coordinator of the NGICE, said the event was scheduled for Oct. 20 to 23,  in Berlin.

He said it would showcase Nigeria’s rich investment and cultural potential to attract foreign direct investment and boost business partnerships with Germany and other European countries.

“The aim is to bring the world through Berlin to Nigeria, as an investors’ paradise and to strengthen the existing bilateral and economic relations between Nigeria and Germany,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

ECOWAS: EBC’ll boost private sector potential for regional economic growth
Foreign

ECOWAS: EBC’ll boost private sector potential for regional economic growth

By Mark Longyen

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the ECOWAS Business Council (EBC), scheduled to be officially unveiled in September, will unlock regional private sector potential and deepen economic growth.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandjé Toure-Litse, stated this at a steering committee preparatory meeting of the EBC on Thursday in Abuja ahead of its official unveiling in September.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EBC is projected to become the subregion’s private sector’s apex decision-making body, mandated to drive economic integration, stimulate investment, and reposition ECOWAS as a global investment destination.

The steering committee meeting was held to avail stakeholders the opportunity to thoroughly review all preparatory documents and evaluate the region’s readiness for the official milestone unveiling of the EBC.

Represented by the ECOWAS Director of Private Sector, Dr Tony Elumelu, the Commissioner described the meeting as an important milestone in the journey toward the full realisation of the EBC.

Elumelu urged members of the committee to critically evaluate the documents developed by the ECOWAS Commission and contribute constructively toward ensuring a robust and successful EBC inauguration.

“The Council, as established by Regulation C/REG.9/6/21 of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, is designed to serve as the private sector’s voice and strategic partner in our regional integration agenda,” Elumelu said.

Also speaking, Mr Gerard Amangou, Chairman, Technical Working Group (TWG), lauded ECOWAS for its responsiveness and commitment to the recommendations, which were earlier made at a meeting held on August 5.

He underscored the necessity of confirming the timeline for the unveiling of the EBC with the management of ECOWAS to solidify its planning and logistics.

Dr Mansur Ahmed of the Dangote Group, a key voice in West Africa’s industrial ecosystem, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to supporting ECOWAS and the Steering Committee.

He noted that timely implementation was critical to demonstrating seriousness and fostering investor confidence.

When inaugurated, EBC will become the primary platform for private sector engagement, providing strategic input into policy formulation, drive regional trade promotion, and foster sustainable economic development through cross-border investments.

It will also be a catalyst for public-private collaboration, enabling business leaders to play a more central role in shaping economic policies and driving regional competitiveness on the global stage.

NAN also reports that the preparatory meeting was attended by members of the TWG, high-level representatives from the Dangote Group, and ECOWAS Permanent Mission to Nigeria, among others.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Gaza: UN chief urges probe into killing of journalists
Foreign

Gaza: UN chief urges probe into killing of journalists

Journalists

By Cecilia Ologunagba

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned the killing of six Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

The reporters – five of whom worked for the Al Jazeera media network – were killed in a targeted Israeli strike in Gaza City on Sunday.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, said this at a news briefing on Monday in New York

“These latest killings highlight the extreme risks journalists continue to face when covering the ongoing war.

“The Secretary-General calls for an independent and impartial investigation into these latest killings.”

Dujarric pointed out that at least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began nearly three years ago.

“The Secretary-General underscores that journalists and media workers must be respected; they must be protected and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment,” he said.

 Meanwhile, the number of children in Gaza who have died from malnutrition since October 2023 has surpassed 100, according to the Gazan health authorities, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said in an update.

More than a third of the population is not eating for days at a time, according to the UN World Food Population (WFP).  Furthermore, acute malnutrition is spiking, with over 300,000 children at severe risk.

This comes amidst a recent warning by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that a mere 1.5 per cent of cropland in the enclave remains both accessible and undamaged, “signaling a near-total collapse of the local production of food.”

On the aid front, the UN and its partners collected food and hygiene kits from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem border crossing on Wednesday.

“However, supplies were offloaded directly from these trucks before reaching their destination, given the extreme desperation pervasive in Gaza today,” OCHA said.

The agency stressed that people there “need a predictable lifeline – not a trickle of aid – so they do not feel they need to take desperate measures to survive.”

WFP said that just to cover basic humanitarian food assistance needs, more than 62,000 metric tonnes are required to enter Gaza every month, and so far, humanitarians have not been permitted to bring in enough supplies to support the population.

Humanitarians also collected fuel from the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday.

Israel is allowing, on average, the entry of about 150,000 litres of fuel daily, which is still far below the minimum required. As a result, life-saving operations continue to be at risk.

The Palestine Civil Defence organisation has warned that more than half of their ambulances have stopped operating across Gaza due to the shortage of both fuel and spare parts.

“Israeli authorities must allow aid to enter through all crossings and via all available corridors so that humanitarians can deliver – at scale, in a safe and dignified manner – to reach the most vulnerable, including women, children and older people,” OCHA said.  (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Germany urges Israel to explain journalist deaths
Foreign

Germany urges Israel to explain journalist deaths

Explanation

Germany has called on Israel to provide a clear and transparent explanation following the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

The demand came after the Qatar-based broadcaster announced that the journalists were killed when an Israeli airstrike struck a tent used by media workers.

“The killing of media personnel is absolutely inadmissible under international humanitarian law,” a spokesman for the German Foreign Office said on Monday.

“When such a killing occurs, as it has now, the party responsible must clearly and transparently explain why it was deemed necessary.”

The spokesman emphasised that Israel had yet to provide such an explanation.

If the Israeli military claims the strike targeted a specific individual, he added, it must also account for why five people were killed.

The Israeli military had confirmed the death of al-Sharif, alleging he was leading a Hamas “terrorist cell” while posing as a journalist.

The German Foreign Office reiterated that journalists must be protected under international law and that any removal of that protection must be thoroughly justified.

“Israel is now expected, from our perspective, to explain itself in the most transparent and comprehensible manner possible,” the spokesman said.

He also stressed the need for reporters in Gaza to be able to carry out their work “freely and safely.” (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Cecilia Odey/Abiemwense Moru

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