By Sani Idris

An NGO,  Victims Support Fund (VSF), has distributed food items to 3,000 households who are victims of banditry and terrorism in some identified  local government areas in Kaduna.

The benefiting LGAs are Chikun, Giwa and Zangon Kataf local council areas where 1,000 beneficiaries in each of the LGAs, mainly Internally Displaced Persons, were provided with the food items.

The items included bags of rice, beans, vegetable oil, salt, seasoning and sugar.

During the flag-off of the distribution of the commodities in Chikun on Wednesday, Mr Sunday Oyibe, an official of VSF, said the foundation was set up to provide succour to victims of banditry, terrorism and other related problems.

He said the foundation focused on four areas, including livelihood, to enable victims of banditry and terrorism to recover and get reintegrated into the  society.

He, however,  said that food was very critical to the victims, especially considering their condition, stressing it was out of humanitarian consideration that they provided the food items.

“This is the first phase of the distribution as we would sustain the gesture for the next  two  years as directed by our Chairman, retired Lt-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma,” he said.

Earlier, the Team Lead of the group  in charge of Kaduna and Adamawa states, Mr David Garnvwa, said the foundation was presently working in nine states of the federation.

He said the food items were palliatives, noting that VSF focused on the immediate, medium and long term measures of alleviating sufferings of the IDPs.

He symphatised with the beneficiaries for the condition they found themselves in, while urging them to be patient, saying  that no condition was  permanent.

Mr Silas Ideva, the Programme Manager of Carelink Resource Foundation (CRF), a partner in the programme, said the group also  engaged  in such humanitarian services .

He added that its aim was to ensure that vulnerable households, benefitted from such interventions, to  improve  their well being and enhance their livelihood.

He  explained that the VSF identified organisations that offered humanitarian support, where the CRF was selected among others.

“The VSF is providing complementary services to the Federal Government’s effort in providing relief services to the internally displaced persons,” he said.

“This initiative encompasses not only the provision of essential food aid but also extends to entrepreneurial training, equipping beneficiaries with starter packs and machinery for self-reliance,” he added.

Ideva noted that the benefiting  LGAs  had suffered  banditry and terrorist attacks which resulted  in the large number of the  IDPs .

According to him, the group has, in each of the affected LGAs, conducted a  painstaking profiling and verification process of the identified 1,000 vulnerable families and households.

“The goal of the VSF project is to facilitate the recovery of individuals affected by the scourge of terrorism and banditry and empower them economically and socially. ”

Earlier, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), Usman Mazadu, thanked the group  for the  gesture which he said was desirous and timely.

Mazadu, represented by the agency’s  Director incharge of Relief and Disaster Management, Mr Ya’u Mahmud, assured  of their regular commitment towards  providing succour to the people of the  State.

Also, Mrs Rahab Auta, the National Vice Chairperson of the State  Social Work Chapter, thanked VSF for the gesture, while describing it as a true service to humanity.

One of the  beneficiaries, Mrs Eunice Chukwu , said the food items were so much a relief for the struggle and hardship to start a new life in another community.

“As I am talking to you, I don’t even have what I and my children will eat today until this palliative comes our way, it will surely go a long way in easing my difficulties,”she said.

Also, Mr Amos Ishaya said the food was much of a relief to their everyday struggle to feed .

He thanked the foundation, while calling on other Philanthropists to also engage in humanitarian activities in their areas.(NAN)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Idris Abdulrahman

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Daikin Middle East and Africa company has announced the launch of its first Proshop in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in partnership with Integrated Home Concepts Limited (IHCL), to showcase advanced air conditioners.

Daikin is a leading global innovator and provider of advanced, high-quality air conditioning, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) products for residential, commercial, and industrial use.

In a statement, Sami Monastiriotis-Gkouneim, Africa’s Sales Manager at Daikin, MEA, said Africa represented a key market in which Nigeria particularly stood out as a growth area.

Monastiriotis-Gkouneim said with the inauguration of the Port Harcourt Proshop, Daikin is taking its commitment to delivering industry-leading innovation and unmatched expertise to its customers in Nigeria

“Our objective is also to address the evolving needs of the Nigerian market by offering advanced air quality solutions that balance comfort with energy efficiency.

“Studies have revealed that certain air conditioning units might not be suited for Nigeria’s unique weather conditions, leading to potential health risks and mishaps from outdated systems and lack of technical know-how.

“Having rigorously assessed Nigeria’s market and its air quality challenges, we are now bringing our specialized expertise to bear to deliver top-tier air-conditioning solutions in this market.

“Our collaboration with IHCL follows Daikin’s approach of aligning with strategic local partners to ensure customer service excellence,” he said.

According to him, the newly launched Proshop is opened to costumers from September 13.

He disclosed that the Proshop would serve as a sales and service hub for Daikin’s extensive range of air conditioning technologies.

In the statement, Sanjay Mishra, the Managing Director of IHCL said that IHCL was partnering with Daikin to open its first Proshop showroom in Port Harcourt to offer quality and comfortable experience for both existing and prospective customers.

Mishra said “the partnership will provide sales and technical services at one place, ensuring a seamless customer experience and a great Daikin brand experience.

“Daikin’s goal is to foster a step-change in indoor air quality in the region by developing new sales and service channel partnerships that can bring our air quality and energy efficiency-enhancing systems to a wider audience.”

According to him, Daikin is committed to nurturing sustainability, promoting healthy living and introducing innovative products that ensure superior performance, lower operational costs and minimized environmental impact. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Justina Auta

Actionaid Nigeria, a social justice organisation, has reviewed its strategy and engaged the media in alleviating at least five million Nigerians out of poverty.

Its Country Director, Mr Andrew Mamedu, said this at a media engagement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mamedu noted the high poverty rates in the country, adding that the deployment of new strategies through collaboration with the media, communities and government would eradicate poverty and redistribution of wealth in the country.

“For us, the media is not just a tool, but partners in progress to achieve the five million people we want to contribute to take out of poverty.

“We will take five million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years. That is one of the mandates we are doing now.

“We are in the process of reviewing our current strategy and we are looking at plans, strategies and processes on how to achieve that.

“Is it achievable? Yes, China, India, in one swift way got about a hundred and three hundred million persons out of poverty in one year.

” They did that by investing in education, infrastructure, and small-scale businesses,” he said.

Mamedu reiterated their commitment in promoting social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication through partnership with the government and other stakeholders to make an impact in the lives of citizens.

“The contribution of actionaid in ensuring transparency and holding the government accountable and ensuring that our resources are adequate and well utilised to benefit the people.

“Our bias is towards those living in poverty and the marginalised,” he said.

According to him, even though the organisation has specific programmes for women, men and boys were also not left out in some of its programmes.

“For us to achieve these lofty ideas that we have put in place, we have specific targets for women, children or young persons on unemployment, economy, humanitarian and others,” Mamedu said.

He, therefore, urged the media and other stakeholders to support the organisation to achieve its mandates.

“We will be providing some training, support for your organisation, proposals specifically targeting media organisations on what we can do towards poverty eradication in Nigeria,” he said.

Also, Mr Shagari Sumner, a senior media practitioner representing Arise TV, urged the organisation to factor some challenges affecting media operations, while relating with them.

Sumner also encouraged Actionaid to sustain its relationship with the media towards achieving its aim for the overall benefits of the citizens.

NAN reports that various media organisations from the print, television, radio, online and others were represented to strengthen partnership towards eradicating poverty, ensuring social justice and gender equality. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Bashir Rabe

By Oluwatope Lawanson/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government said on Wednesday that it would end food wastage in the state by 2024.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State made this known in Ikeja, during the swearing-in of the new cabinet members of 37 commissioners and special advisers.

Sanwo-Olu said that ending food wastage and ensuring food security for the residents of the state was one of the focus agenda of his second term administration.

He said that the government would establish the Lagos Food Security and Central Logistics Park in Ketu-Ereyun, near Epe, by 2024.

“Food security for our people is another critical focus area for us this term. As we all know, Lagos ”imports” most of the food that we consume.

“Due to the lack of appropriate storage facilities, up to 40 per cent of the agriculture products either cultivated in Lagos or imported from other states end up wasted.

“We are poised to end this monumental waste when the Lagos Food Security and Central Logistics Park is completed in Ketu-Ereyun, near Epe, by 2024.

“This will cut down, if not eliminate scarcity of perishable food, improve access for processing and packaging, and ensure the application of quality standards.

“Above all, it will facilitate higher revenue for our teeming farming population,” the governor said.

He said that over the past 100 Days since the administration began its second term, a lot more had happened, as the government announced the renaming of its Governance Agenda to T.H.E.M.E.S+.

According to him, the renaming of T.H.E.M.E.S to T.H.E.M.E.S+, is in recognition of the necessity of incorporating Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth Development into all government’s programmes.

Sanwo-Olu said that the government would focus on building a better and more equitable society, as no one and no sector would be left behind in the journey to building a Greater Lagos.

He said that beyond the broad T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, the second term would focus on building and completing enduring legacy projects in transportation, health and agriculture that would open up more economic and developmental opportunities for residents of the state.

The governor said that already, in just the first 100 days, the state had witnessed the commencement of operations of the Blue Line Rail Service.

“What a joy it has been for me and I am sure for millions of our people, to watch as Lagos finally joined the list of cities around the world with a modern and functional metro rail system.

“The journey to make this happen was long and tough but we proved ourselves to be more durable and tougher.

“The smiles on the faces of commuters already using the Blue Line will soon be replicated along the Agbado to Marina corridor, where we are putting finishing touches to the completion of the Red Line Rail Service.

“This route will encompass 13 Stations in iconic parts of Lagos like Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Ebute Meta and Ebute Ero.

“Still on Rail, we shall commence the extension of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. This will expand coverage of the service to millions more of our people,” he said.

According to him, when completed and fully operational, the extended Blue Line and the Red Line will jointly serve over one and half million commuters daily.

He said that as many experts had stated, the benefits of this to the economy would be massive and more importantly, the improvement in the quality of life of the people would be palpable.

Sanwo-Olu said that the giant strides being made with the rail would be complemented by the efforts on road infrastructure, as the government would focus on completing Phase 1 of the 4th Mainland Bridge.

He said that the 4th Mainland Bridge, which would link Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki axes of the state, would further open up the Eastern corridor of Lagos and catalyse economic growth and development for the millions of residents living and working in that area.

“Alongside the 4th Mainland Bridge is the Omu Creek Project. This will link the Lekki-Epe Expressway (the redevelopment of which is almost completed) to the Ito Omu area of Lagos.

“When completed, expect the rise of new towns that will help to decongest our metropolis, create massive job opportunities for the indigenous people of the area and facilitate private investments in multiple sectors.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, a Greater Lagos is coming to Ito Omu,” Sanwo-Olu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi