News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The GreenWorks for Africa Forum has sought the integration of blended finance, green bonds, Extended Producer Responsibility ,EPR, funds, carbon finance, biodiversity credits, Village Savings and Loan Associations ,VSLAs, and tax incentives to unlock Africa's sustainable job markets.  Blended finance is the use of public or philanthropic funds to increase investment in sustainable development projects.  This was highlighted in a report titled:  'African Green Jobs and Skills Toolkit', conducted by GreenWorks for Africa Forum, an initiative of Jacobs Ladder Africa, with active participation of  FSD-Africa, AGRA, GIZ-Kenya and Center for Global Development ,CGD. Jacob’s Ladder Africa, JLA, is a Pan-African catalytic integrator, which supports the development and scaling of green enterprises that create employment, deliver climate solutions, and strengthen economic resilience.  In partnership with the governments, investors, and lo...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, has mapped out plans to increase investment in the North, focusing on renewable energy during the second phase of the National Integrated Power Project ,NIPP. Managing Director of NDPHC, Ms Jennifer Adighije disclosed this when the House of Representatives Committee on Power visited the company’s headquarters in Abuja.  The Phase 2 of NIPP is expected to diversify Nigeria's generation mix by harnessing the renewable energy potential in the North, particularly solar and other renewable resources. Adighije stated that the company is considering off-grid solutions, mini-hydropower projects and other solar interventions as part of its strategy to address power supply gaps across the country. She said: "We are currently in NIPP Phase 1, which is power generation from fossil fuels and gas. NIPP Phase 2, in line with the Energy Transition Plan, is where we are diversifying our generation mix and preparing...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its presence in Nigeria with increased flight and the introduction of the Port Harcourt route, reinforcing its long-term commitment to African markets. Under the expansion, Ethiopian Airlines increased its Lagos operation to 21 weekly flights, offering up to three daily services, while also increasing frequencies to Kano by four, bringing the total to 11 flights a week. The airline will additionally commence four weekly flights to Port Harcourt, complementing its existing services to Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu. With the PH flight, ET would be operating 53 weekly flights to Nigeria. General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, Firiehiwot Mekonnen stated that Nigeria remains an important market for Ethiopian Airlines, adding that by increasing the frequencies and adding Port Harcourt, ET provides passengers with flexible options, greater seat availability, better connectivity, and access to more attractive and compe...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L-R;  Managing Director/Chief Executive of FMBN, Shehu Usman Osidi and Director-General of National Health Insurance Authority ,NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri when the management of  NHIA visited the headquarters of FMBN in Abuja recently.  The National Health Insurance Authority ,NHIA, has aligned with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria ,FMBN, to address the housing needs of its staff contributing to the National Housing Fund ,NHF, scheme.  At a courtesy visit by the management of NHIA, led by its Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, to FMBN management in Abuja over the weekend, both institutions brainstormed on outstanding housing allocations, future housing projects and NHF refunds for retired staff. The NHIA Director-General appreciated the FMBN for its contribution to staff welfare and homeownership, saying that several NHIA staff had benefited from the Bank's housing interventions. He expressed its readiness to strengthen collaborat...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria requires the services of highly-trained professionals to end environmental pollution, poor sanitation, unsafe food, climate change, inadequate waste management and outbreaks of environmentally related diseases, underscoring the need for professionals to apply scientific knowledge, modern technology and practical skills to protect the health of Nigerians. Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal stated this in an interview with News Rider on the sidelines of the launching of 14 new curricula for Environmental Health and Public Health Programmes in Nigerian Polytechnics and Monotechnics over the weekend in Abuja. Lawal, who was represented by the Conservator-General of National Park Service, NPS, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni stated that environmental health remains one of the essential foundations of public health, adding that: "The quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink,...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, has advanced the implementation of B’Odogwu digital modernisation platform, highlighting the strategic role of communication in advancing institutional reforms, trade facilitation, revenue generation and stakeholder engagement. National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada hinted this on Friday while representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the 13th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria ,ACSPN, in Abuja Maiwada informed that communication is indispensable to the effective implementation of the Service’s mandate, adding that technological and institutional reforms could only achieve their intended objectives when properly communicated to stakeholders.   He stated that the NCS had continued to deploy technology and innovative approaches to improve its operations, citing B’Odogwu a...