The U.S. Armed Forces said on Thursday that they destroyed two drones and a missile launched by Iran-backed Houthi militants and targeting a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and destroyer USS Gravely on Wednesday morning successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM).

Two Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) were launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen towards USS Gravely in the Red Sea, the command said.

“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships,” it said in a statement.

CENTCOM forces also destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory after determining they presented a threat to U.S., coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region, the command added.

The Islamist militia has vowed to attack ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel.

However, many of the vessels that have come under fire have no connection with the country.

The Houthis say they wanted to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Because of the continuing Houthi attacks, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe and sailing around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead.

Several Western countries, including the U.S. and Britain, have launched operations to protect ships in the region in response to Houthi attacks.

The European Union has also launched a military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping routes for world trade. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

========
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Ijeoma Popoola

By Mark Longyen

The United States Government through its Agency for International Development (USAID) has agreed to collaborate with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), towards mitigating cases of lead poisoning in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy, Aisha Gambari, in Abuja.

Gambari said that USAID’s Nigeria Mission Director, Melissa Jones, made this known during a courtesy visit to SON’s  Director-General, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, in Abuja.

Gambari explained that the partnership included plans to enhance surveillance, regulation, and enforcement of standards related to consumer goods and paints in Nigeria.

“USAID is committed to leading the Government of Nigeria’s mitigation efforts to save Nigerian children from further risk of lead exposure.

“USAID will provide technical assistance to SON to raise awareness about the safe use of products that contain lead, support Nigeria in joining the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance).

“It will aid SON in enacting legislation to identify lead-containing products and its manufacturers, while SON will lead engagement with other federal agencies working on lead removal in high-risk communities,” the statement quoted Jones as saying.

She said Okeke explained that to limit lead in consumer goods and paints, SON had adopted global and regional standards prohibiting the production and importation of paint products with lead concentration beyond 90 parts per million.

He said that in April, 2024, SON would participate in a U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting, to contribute to technical discussions on policy framework, regulation, and sensitization on lead mitigation in Nigeria.

“A 2011 survey by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that unsafe mining and ore processing are the leading causes of lead poisoning in Nigeria.

“USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help nations progress beyond assistance.

“In Nigeria, USAID supports health systems strengthening, transparent and accountable governance, basic education, and a more market-led, trade-friendly economy,” she further said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lead can affect individuals of any age, but children are particularly vulnerable due to their behavioral patterns and susceptibility to toxicity at lower exposure levels.

Globally, an estimated one-third of children have blood lead concentrations that impair cognitive development and contribute to learning disabilities and attention deficits.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

========

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Dorcas Jonah
The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Germany has commended AFOS Foundation, a civil advocacy organisation, for its commitment to Agribusiness Projects in Nigeria.

The CEO and Country Representative of AFOS Nigeria, Oladipupo Akoni, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Akoni quoted a Senior Policy Officer of Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Dr. Manuel Neumann, as making the commendation at a one-day meeting held with top officers of the Foundation in Lagos.

He said that the meeting was convened to appraise the AFOS projects and interventions in Nigeria and Africa and discuss opportunities for further collaboration with the BMZ, as well as to explore ways to enhance AFOS’ existing projects.

According to him, Neumann specifically lauded the foundation’s effort in capacity building across Nigeria’s agribusiness and entrepreneurial value chains, for the successes recorded so far on its ongoing projects in Nigeria.

Commenting on the meeting, Managing Director of AFOS Foundation, Bernhard Vester, also explained that the completion of the Agricultural Training Centre building and the commencement of in-class TVET, Agrifinance and Management training, marked a major milestone in the Foundation’s mission to empower agripreneurs to thrive, while fostering inclusive and resilient economic growth in Nigeria.

“Our projects have demonstrated success thus far.

“With confidence in our capabilities, we remain committed to delivering outstanding results and eagerly anticipate the ongoing support from the BMZ to foster entrepreneurial growth and development across Africa,” Vester said.

Speaking on the importance of the projects for Nigeria Akoni said: “AFOS’ projects in Nigeria are helping to address the issues of food insecurity, extreme poverty, unemployment and massive migration of the young population, through capacity building of the agricultural sector.

“This is to promote digital agriculture, enhance the efficiency of local agricultural value chains and the agribusiness industry and improve the performance and outreach of the microfinance subsector by offering micro insurance policies mainly also to farmers.

“AFOS is supporting entrepreneurs to thrive by developing new dual vocational training systems in the agricultural sector, and by conducting training and providing technical support for accelerated lending for agricultural purposes.”

Similarly, International Long-term Expert at AFOS Nigeria-INGO, Dietmar Speckmaier, clarified: “Our mission to promote sustainable agricultural growth in Nigeria has led to the development of an Agricultural Training Centre (ATC)- a physical training Centre which offers best practice technical and management programs across the agribusiness value chains towards meeting agricultural production needs.

“The ATC was first initiated in 2019 as a roadmap for sustainable capacity development within the agriculture industry.

“After five years of dedicated project engagement, the Agricultural Training Center (ATC) has been successfully established with the contribution of our partners in the agriculture industry.

“We are pleased to announce that the ATC is on track to receive accreditation from the Auslandshandelskammer (AHK), marking a significant milestone in our journey towards fostering agricultural development and empowerment,” Speckmaier stressed.(NAN)

DE/IAA

======

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola 

By Mark Longyen

Severe humanitarian crisis across the ECOWAS subregion caused by conflicts, lack of basic services and climate change has pushed no fewer than 64.5 million victims into dire need of urgent help.

Mr Abel Enitan, Permanent Secretary, Nigeria’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (FMHAPA), disclosed this at the opening of a workshop organised by ECOWAS on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was held to address issues affecting Persons of Concern PoCs —Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees, stateless people, asylum seekers and their host communities.

Enitan said that there was a pressing need to address the unprecedented levels of humanitarian crisis which included food insecurity, displacement and the urgent response required from each member state.

He lauded the ECOWAS initiative of supporting its member states’ disaster management agencies, stressing that it underscored the importance of validating baseline data on the humanitarian needs of the victims and their host communities.

“This workshop aims to provide a platform for collaborative efforts in mitigating the immediate and medium-term effects on displaced populations across our region.

“In light of the prevailing challenges, characterised by violence, insecurity, armed conflicts, natural disasters and governance issues, it is evident that our region is facing deepening humanitarian crises.

“As we proceed with the needs analysis, we must prioritise humanitarian access as a critical lifeline for those ensnared in conflict zones, and emphasise the necessity of protection and assistance for all affected individuals.’’

Enitan said that the actions of ECOWAS member states must be informed by accurate data and a commitment to inclusivity, while acknowledging the persistent gaps despite the ongoing efforts in collaboration with partners.

According to him, the urgency of their collective responses is paramount to offer comprehensive support to all persons of concern and their host communities, leaving no one behind.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria underscores this commitment through its ratification of the Kampala Convention and the launch of the National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons in 2022.

“This policy provides a robust framework for addressing all facets of internal displacement and emphasises government’s duty to protect and promote the rights of IDPs, returnees, and host communities,” he said.

Enitan was represented by the Director, Humanitarian Affairs, Valentine Ezulu.

Prof. Fatou Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner, Human Development and Social Affairs, in her speech, called for more intense collaboration to curb the victims’ sufferings.

Sarr, who was represented by the Director Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, disclosed that the data collated from the region in 2024 showed that population displacement resulting from varied humanitarian events, especially conflicts, aggravated the crisis.

“Key figures shared by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on displacement as of December, 2023 show that 6, 919, 306 are forcibly displaced of which 6, 284, 384 are IDPs, 634, 922 are Refugees and Asylums seekers.

“UNHCR 2024 report has put the figures of stateless population in the region at over 931, 000.

“In response to the increasing humanitarian events in the region, the ECOWAS Commission has constantly developed and reviewed its strategies in collaboration with member states and relevant partners.

“The review is in line with its principal mandate of assisting them to reduce the suffering of populations affected by humanitarian emergencies and affected communities.

“In this regard, the Humanitarian and Social Affairs Directorate has developed an inclusive strategy where member states and relevant partners determine the humanitarian needs of our populations, as well as the affected communities.’’

“This gives ownership to the member states and affords ECOWAS the opportunity to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the assistance to the utmost benefit of the affected communities and populations.’’

The ECOWAS commissioner explained that the workshop aimed to focus on addressing the impact of displacement and related humanitarian events on refugees, IDPs, migrants, asylum seekers and stateless persons, as well as host communities in 2024.

She said that other factors, such as the food and nutrition crisis and the prospects in the coming months and expected mortality rate, among others had also formed the core reasons for ECOWAS’ decision to respond to the needs of the victims.

“The overall objective of this workshop is to come up with appropriate data and information on the needs of populations affected by the identified challenges to further close the response gaps.

“It is also to reduce humanitarian sufferings which, if sustained, will ultimately close the gap in Humanitarian Development Peace nexus,” she said.

She also urged the participants to commit to the nine humanitarian standards as they deliberated on how best to solve the humanitarian crisis in the subregion.

NAN reports that the workshop was aimed at adopting the humanitarian needs assessment for the assistance of PoCs, IDPs, refugees, returnees, stateless people, asylum seekers and their host communities in member states. (NAN)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Chinenye Offor

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have made commitments to strengthen collaboration on migration and the fight against all forms of criminality.

This is contained in a communique from the recent Annual Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs dialogue, which was held in London.

The communique was signed by Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Senior Communication Officer, British High Commission, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Akande-Alegbe said that the discussions reaffirmed the strong relationship between Nigeria and the UK, with commitments made across a range of priority areas of mutual interest.

According to her, the commendable collaboration between the two countries on migration and countering criminality in all its forms was acknowledged.

“In this spirit of collaboration, there was agreement to raise awareness of our respective internal systems and cultures within each country.

“Nigeria and the UK expressed mutual appreciation for ongoing efforts to prevent vulnerable young people from being engaged in criminality, intercepting and disrupting organised crime groups trafficking people and illicit commodities.

“They also agreed on new opportunities to work together to combat online fraud,” she said in the statement.

She added that both countries also recognised the need for improved engagement and information sharing between their respective governments and high commissions.

According to her, they expressed commitment to proactively engage with relevant authorities to resolve outstanding issues and promote their joint work to the public.

She also said that the significance of returning nationals with no right to remain in each other’s territories was mutually agreed upon, facilitated by the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on Migration Partnership.

“Both sides pledged to explore a deeper migration partnership and welcomed progress towards a criminal record data-sharing arrangement through technical working groups, the latest of which took place on March 20.

“This work will form the foundations for a deeper relationship on criminal records data sharing,” she said.

The communication officer also said that the collaborative efforts of Nigeria and the UK on these issues underscored shared commitment to tackling crime and destabilising factors directly, highlighting the depth of the relationship between the two countries.

She added that both countries were committed to further meetings to assess progress on the commitments made ahead of the next annual talks and ongoing regular engagement.

She said that the next annual Migration, Justice, and Home Affairs talks would take place in 2025, and would be hosted by Nigeria.

Akande-Alegbe revealed that the next talks would include contributions and participation from all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies from Nigeria and the UK.

Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, expressed satisfaction at the partnership between Nigeria and the UK.

According to Montgomery, I am pleased that the UK-Nigeria partnership continues to grow, including on important issues of migration and countering criminality in all its forms.

“Last week, we reaffirmed our commitment to working closely together to disrupt organised crime groups who facilitate illicit trafficking, tackle illegal migration, and ensure that those with legitimate travel continue to visit our respective countries

“We look forward to building our partnership further on areas of mutual interest and ultimately making our countries safer for citizens,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Mark Longyen

The United States government has called for urgent measures to end the war in Sudan.

It says that the humanitarian crisis which trails the conflict has assumed a monumental level.

U.S State Department Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, made this known during a digital news conference on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the humanitarian crisis was triggered by the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and its breakaway paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict erupted in April 2023 between former allies, who had jointly seized power in a 2021 coup.

According to Perriello, the scale of the crisis in Sudan has not attracted the required global and media attention.

He said the Sudanese people were now more unified and clearer about ending the war. 

“They want an end to this war now.  They want full humanitarian access.  And they want their future back. 

“And it is our job, all of us who care about the people of Sudan – around the world, around this neighbourhood and beyond – to be urgently seized with the project of ending this war, preventing the worst of this famine, and giving the Sudanese people a chance to determine their own future.  

“This is an urgent situation where we are seeing signs of famine already across the country of Sudan. 

“We have known about horrific atrocities, particularly against women and children, forced recruitment, even slavery in this conflict that must end,” the envoy said. 

Perriello said that the goal of the U.S mission in Sudan was urgent peace, which was the same with the goal of Sudanese civilians and governments around the region.

He said that the situation was getting worse as the rainy season approached with the humanitarian crisis at a breaking point.  

“So, the only true solution here is to silence the guns, and that is going to require not only General Burhan and General Hemedti to reach that deal but also for all of us across the region to be partners in peace. 

“And particularly for those who have been fuelling the conflict rather than fuelling the peace efforts, we need that alignment now. 

“And I think that’s the message first and foremost that we’ve been hearing from the Sudanese people and certainly something we’ve been hearing from our counterparts across the region,” Perriello said.

Speaking on how the U.S. planned to coordinate with global and regional partners to advance peace efforts in Sudan, the official said that the U.S. had seen several important efforts across the region. 

The U.S. envoy said the many initiatives reflected the growing concerns across the region and a new sense of urgency for peace. 

He expressed dismay about reports of “horrific” maltreatment of women in Sudan since the beginning of the conflict.

Perriello stressed that the Sudanese people were unified and clear in their desire to take their future back.

According to him, the desire of the Sudanese people is for the warring generals to meet and for the international and regional community to act as partners in peace.

He said that the U.S. believed that it was very important to engage with all forces involved and work with partners ready to participate in the peace process. (NAN)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Maharazu Ahmed

By Maureen Okon

Optiva Capital Partners Ltd., a wealth management company has called for collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to promote further inflow of diaspora investment to the country.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jane Kimemia made the call on Thursday when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to NiDCOM Headquarters in Abuja.

Kimemia said the company, specialises in investment immigration, could serve as a platform that would provide the bridge through which diaspora investments would flow to the country using the vast network of international partners it is working with.

The CEO said the company could provide divergent investment solutions across geographical locations and asset classes.

“Our clients are global citizens, which we see Nigeria with her population of over 200 million people who can key into it.

“Also Nigeria has a viable market in various sectors of the economy that can thrive and that is where we come in,’’ she said.

Responding, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, informed the delegation that the commission serves as a link between Nigerians living abroad and the country by way of opening them up to investment opportunities in the country.

Dabiri-Erewa assured the delegation of NiDCOM’s readiness to work closely with the wealth managers to ensure that more and more Nigerians living abroad invest in their home country.

She said the commission is passionate about encouraging the diaspora to invest back in the country as it will go a long way toward contributing to the Gross Domestic Product of the country by generating employment opportunities in many sectors of the economy.

“I am glad and proud that in the past couple of years, we have seen the investment that Nigerians in the diaspora have made back home.

“We have them investing in the healthcare, education, agri-business, real estate, and ICT sectors, among others.

“We also have the Diaspora Investment Summit which comes up every November.

“We have also created a forum for them to come together and see where they can invest in the country.

“We will continue to build that bridge between them and their home country and build trust which I think is very important, ‘’she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim