Day: July 28, 2023

Russian President, Vladimir Putin says Russia is reorienting its transport and logistics flows to the Global South, including Africa.

Putin said this at the ongoing 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Summit in St Petersburg, Russia.

“The North-South transport corridor that we are building is designed to provide Russian products with access to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, with further connections via the shortest sea route to the African continent, among other regions.

“Naturally, this corridor can be used in reverse to deliver African goods to Russia,’’ he said.

Putin further said that connecting the North-South transport corridor with Africa, lunching regular freight lines and opening a Russian transport and logistics hub in a port on the eastern shore of Africa “could be a good start of our cooperation’’.

According to him, we consider it extremely important to expand the network of direct flights to Africa and to contribute to the development of the railway network in the continent.

“These are the most important goals of our time that we invite our African friends to tackle together,’’ he said.

The president also expressed Russia’s interest in strengthening ties with regional economic integration associations and structures in Africa.

“For example, we support establishing cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union – a major integration project and Russia is part of it – and the African Continental Free Trade Area within the African Union.

“We are also ready to share with our African partners our experience in promoting integration between Russian and Belarus within the Union State.

“ We want to show our African partners what we have to offer on the key aspects of integration such as removing barriers within a single market, the operation of free trade areas, coordinating agricultural, industrial policies and in other sectors too.

“I am convinced that this comprehensive cooperation, both in bilateral and multilateral settings, will enable us to expand our economic ties with Africa in terms of both quality and quantity.

“I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that bilateral intergovernmental commissions have proven their worth in promoting economic and humanitarian cooperation,” he said.

While saying that Russia has the commissions with only a third of African countries, Putin said there are 18 of them for 54 countries.

“In this context, we suggest that the interested African countries who have yet to join this format should think about working with us to establish these commissions.

“It goes without saying that we are ready to move in this direction and believe that this would be beneficial.

“We are also ready to expand the network of our trade missions in Africa and have more economic advisors, as well as attaches for agriculture, education, research and ICT,’’ the president said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit which started on July 27 will end on July 28.

NAN is one of the media partners of the Russia-Africa Summit 2023 and its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, is also attending the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The African Union (AU) has called for a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

The Chairperson of the AU and President of the Union of the Comoros Azali Assoumani made the call at the ongoing 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.

According to him, we must fight for achieving lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. This is the message of the African Union, and I fully endorse it personally.

“We travelled to Kiev to meet with President Zelensky and brought him the same message.

We have the same message for President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

“There is certainty among us that our call for peace will be heard because this is what humankind needs today.

“On behalf of the African Union, I once again call for peaceful coexistence between Russia and Ukraine, two brotherly nations and neighbours,” he said.

While restating AU’s position to promote peace and security in African, Assoumani condemned an “attempted coup d’etat’’ in Niger and called for the release of President Mohamed Bazoum.

According to him, we are doing everything possible to promote peace and security on our continent.

“However, we are witnessing all kinds of events these days. You know what happened in Niger just recently.

“We firmly condemn the way the events have been unfolding in Niger and demand that the President of the Republic of Niger and his family be freed immediately.

“Today, we are fighting for a multilateral, multipolar world. We, the people of Africa, understand well that the international system as it exists today must be reformed, which includes the UN system.

“Accordingly, Africa has every right to proactively contribute to the decision-making process, in particular as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit which started on July 27 will end on July 28.

NAN is one of the media partners of the Russia-Africa Summit 2023 and its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, is also attending the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Maurice Okoli, the President, Nigerian Community in Russia, has emphasised the need for Africa to leverage on Russia’s huge reservoir of goodwill to develop the continent.

Okoli said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Summit on Friday in St. Petersburg.

NAN is one of the media partners of the Summit and its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, is also attending the event.

The two-day summit was declared open on Thursday by the Russian President Vladimir Putin with many African leaders in attendance.

It aims at strengthening comprehensive and equal cooperation between Russia and African nations across all areas of society including politics, security, economic relations, science and technology, and the cultural and humanitarian spheres.

According to Okoli, the world is changing with a lot of things happening and definitely Russia is a huge country that plays important role in the world.

“When you talk of the energy sector Russia is almost the number one.

“Something like fertilizer, grain technology and atomic energy, so it cannot be ignored.

“On African side also there is need for continued corporation. Africa is open to all countries.

“Africa needs development, it needs partnership and new initiatives

“I can say there is a second scramble for African countries all the major powers are coming in for business, for influence. Definitely Africa is ready.

“I can say that the last frontier of business with about one billion population, with a lot of resources and young population definitely the eye of the world is in Africa.

“And I can tell you that Russia has a good reservoir of goodwill in Africa and that goodwill was created by Soviet Union,” he said.

While appreciating the role played by Russia in Africa’s liberation movement, Okoli said that the massive economic and political assistance remains relevant.

“When Africa was struggling for independence in the late 50s and early 60s Soviet Union created a very important role in providing massive economic and political assistance to the liberation movement across the African continent.

“So, by that single act Africa will never forget and has not forgotten,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will begin a supplementary polio immunisation campaign from July 29 to Aug. 11, to sustain the poliovirus-free status in the FCT and Nigeria.

Mr Malan Haruna, acting Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA made this known while addressing a news conference in Abuja.

The news conference was organised in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Haruna recalled that Nigeria has been certified free of the Wild Polio Virus since Aug. 25, 2020, by the WHO, adding, however, that a strain of the virus still exists.

According to him, the strain, if left unattended to, can risk the resurfacing of polio incidence in the country.

“This is why this supplemental exercise of polio immunisation is crucial to curb the virus from spreading.”

He said that immunisation officers would be going from house to house, marketplaces, worship centres, schools, and other public places to immunise all children from age zero to 59 months.

He urged parents to present their children to be immunised to strengthen their immunity against the virus.

On his part, Dr Isah Vatsa, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, said that a made in Nigeria Indomie noodles would be given to every child who received the vaccine.

This, according to him, will serve as an incentive to parents and caregivers to bring out their children to be immunised.

He said that a total of 26,939 cartons of 40 pieces each, amounting to 1.19 million pieces of the noodles have been procured.

“The strategy, we believe, will improve uptake of the vaccines and it will be strictly monitored to avoid abuse and misuse,” he said.

Vatsa said that a total of 1.3 million children ages zero to 59 months would be vaccinated with the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2).

He added that 1.2 million children, ages six weeks to 59 months would also be vaccinated with the Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (FIPV).

He said that despite the polio free status, the transmission of another strain, the Circulating Variant Poliovirus type2 (CVPV2) strain, had continued, with 168 reported cases in Nigeria in 2022 alone.

“For Nigeria to be completely free from Polio, we must interrupt the residual risk of all forms of poliovirus and boost routine immunization coverage in the country.

“We are on course, as we have recorded only 14 cases in Nigeria in 2023,” he said.

Vatsa said that although no case was recorded in the FCT, the risk was high considering that “the world is a global village”.

According to him, the danger of not interrupting the transmission of the VPV2 variant is that the weakened virus can revert to a form that causes illness and paralysis.

He added that the FCT Administration, through its PHCDB in collaboration with development partners, has deployed several strategies to ensure that every eligible child was reached.

The executive secretary further said that all the Primary Health Care facilities and government hospitals across the six Area Councils of the FCT would be used as vaccination posts.

He equally said that provisions were made for temporary vaccination posts situated in Churches, schools, markets, village squares and other designated points to ease stress on the parents and caregivers.

Dr Kumshida Balami, WHO Coordinator, Integrated Health Service Delivery in the FCT, noted that significant progress has been made to address the evolving risk of circulating vaccine-derived type 2 (cVDPV2) in Nigeria.

Balomi, however, said that despite the efforts, there were still challenges and gaps.

“We have issues regarding missed children in hard-to-reach communities, major risk associated with the transmission of the virus, low immunity to type 2 poliovirus, and insecurity among others.

“This is why we are here to inform residents about the immunisation campaign and the strategies employed to leave no child behind,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria is at a new dawn to chart and re-position its destiny for greatness, considering the measures adopted by the President Bola Tinubu administration to diversify the nation’s economy.

Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, in a statement said Shettima stated this while addressing political and business leaders at the second plenary session of the Russia-Africa Summit holding in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday.

He explained that government was taking decisive steps to fight crime, punish offenders, directly tackle insurgency, and do everything necessary to secure lives and investments in the country.

Shettima also said that the Tinubu administration had resolved and was firmly determined to consolidate on industrialising Nigeria and diversifying its economy into sectors that the country has a comparative advantage.

“The administration of President Tinubu recognizes the private sector as the engine of growth and a veritable partner in our economic agenda, and will therefore give the fullest possible support to foreign and domestic investors.”

“The administration has identified key growth drivers and sectors that are very important to the diversification of the Nigerian economy, including power, transportation, infrastructure, maritime, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles.

“The Nigerian government considers these sectors as key priority areas that will drive the country’s economic agenda,” the VP added.

Speaking further about investment opportunities in Nigeria, Shettima said “in view of the current geopolitical situation, we must begin to think of real time investment in addition to trading in commodities.”

He called on Russian companies to take advantage of the vast potentials in Nigeria, being the largest market in Africa, to invest in strategic areas and to derive maximum benefits.

On peace and security, Shettima noted that no meaningful development could take place without peace, adding that the Russia-Ukraine crisis was impacting on all nations in different ways.

“The ongoing situation between these two brotherly countries is unfortunate. Nigeria remains non-aligned in any conflict situation, but we are deeply concerned about the potential impact of the crisis on global peace and security.

“We call on parties to resolve the conflict through Diplomatic means as that is the best option for resolving conflicts and fostering international peace and security.”

Vice President Shettima commended President Putin and the Russian government for convening the Summit, noting that “it is very significant to Nigeria in many respects.”

“The second session of the Russia-Africa Summit is coming at a time when the administration of President Bola Tinubu is implementing a home-grown and private sector-driven Economic Agenda.

“The agenda is predicated on good governance, infrastructure and human capital development, as well as business climate reforms with the expected outcomes in job creation and poverty alleviation.

“The need, therefore, to invite private sector participation in the Nigerian economy cannot be over-emphasized. Moreover, the timing of the Summit is very appropriate, as it is a case of ‘Investments meeting Opportunities’.”

Earlier, the Russian President paid glowing tributes to the continent’s founding fathers, noting their contributions to the development of the current African States.

President Putin who spoke on a wide range of areas of cooperation between both countries, including security and defence, commerce, agriculture and climate agenda, reiterated his country’s commitment to the full economic transformation of the African continent.

“Russia is sincerely ready and willing to stand by African countries in their efforts to address challenges confronting them. We cherish our relationship with each African nation and will make efforts to sustain it.”

Seventeen African Heads of State, five Vice Presidents, 10 Heads of government, and some business leaders from Russia, Africa and beyond, are attending the Summit holding at St Petersburg’s ExpoForum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is one of the media partners of the Russia-Africa Summit 2023 and its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, is also attending the event.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has stressed the importance of effective intelligence gathering and sharing between security agencies and the general populace in driving successful military operations.

Lagbaje said this at the graduation of the participants of the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 5/2022 of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the civil populace had always made contribution to any war and crisis management effort.

The COAS added that the cooperation from the larger Nigerian society, especially those that lived in the frontline communities, where banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other violent crimes had taken place was required.

According to him, receiving this information from them will give the military the leverage to act and combat the violence.

“Intelligence is the driver of every military operation but the military has its own sources, and these sources are far-flung, sometimes even into the rural areas.

“So, we require the support of all to combat the security challenges confronting our country,” he said.

Lagbaja said the idea behind the course came from the Nigerian army’s desire to develop further, its human capacity, which was born out of the need to fill a noticeable gap in the echelon of senior officers of the service.

He added that the objectives of the course were designed to enhance participants knowledge, skills and competencies to enable them to better formulate, implement and evaluate policies and manage human and material resources in the army and any other organisation.

According to him, the quest to enhance human capacity of the Nigerian army’s top echelon and extend the same to our sister services and other like minded security agencies is in tandem with global trends.

He said that capacity development was crucial for any organisation with a vision for growth or aspiration to impact the ever dynamic contemporary environment positively.

“I am happy to note that even though the idea of this course was initiated some years before I became the Chief of Army Staff.

”It aligns perfectly with my command philosophy which is “To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-Trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities in a Joint Environment,” he said.

The COAS said the programme was designed to stimulate the minds of the participants to the realities of the ever highly dynamic contemporary environment.

He said the course would help reduce the gap between theoretical concepts and robust field experiences they had gained over the years.

“I want to believe you have been exposed to the current strategic management and policy formulations method that effectively harness and optimise available human and material resources to achieve organisational objectives efficiently.

“Simply put, this programme has given you the tool for adaptation and thinking out-of-the-box,” he added.

The former Chief of Army Staff and member of Board of Trustees of NARC, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambazau, said that interagency collaboration was extremely important in any operation.

Dambazau said there was need to look at security challenges and address them from multiple dimensions, adding that each expert must bring something to the table based on knowledge and experience.

He said the security sector was designed in such a way that no security agency could effectively and efficiently deal with security challenges without the collaboration of other members of the sector.

The Director-General, NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, commended the participating services and agencies for the successful completion of the 11 months course being the fifth edition.

Wahab said the programme was designed to at government policy and build the capacity to solve the nation’s problems as well as look at security from a non-kinetic angle, looking at issue of poverty and youth engagement.

He said participants undertook both local and world study tours to be able to make impact, engage people and reach those who are susceptible to violence.

According to him, one of the things the centre is emphasising is to have a changing perspective as to what they can do to make decision better and for them to be able to find solutions to the nation’s problem than waiting from people from outside.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the course had 31 participant in the rank of Brigadier General and above from the army and equivalent from other security agencies and MDAs.

The participants were awarded Master Degree in Strategic Studies from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Source: News Agency of Nigeria