News Rider

'Desertification Threatens 40m Nigerians, 95% Livestock In 15 Northern States' BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja         About 40 million people are currently under the siege of desertification in the 15 Northern States of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and among others that provide over 95 percent of livestock in Nigeria.  This formed the crux of the deliberation in Abuja yesterday at the 2021 World Desertification and Drought Day (WDDD), organised by the ministry of Environment with the theme, "Restoration, Land, Recovery; We Build Back Better With Healthy Land". The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) had designated 17th June annually to commemorate WDDD, meant to raise awareness on the challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought.  In his keynote address, the minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar lamented the over-bearing impact of desertification on livelihoods that

L-R : Godson Elekwachi (FRCN); Mrs Jeanne Clark (US Embassy); Chika Okeke (Bennyokeke.blogspot.com ) and Mrs Susan Dauda shortly after the review of Virtual Reporting Tour (VRT) organised by Washington Foreign Press Centre (FPC), an arm of the U.S. Department of State in Abuja recently. 

Bill On Forensic Institute 'II Combat Illicit Financial Flows- SFAFP BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja                                                      Emefiele  The Society for Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention (SFAFP) has disclosed that the Bill for the establishment of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners currently before the House of Representatives would combat Illicit financial flows when passed into law. President/chairman of SFAFP, Mr liyasu Gashinbaki, who disclosed this in Abuja recently, noted that the bill would reduce fraud, embezzlement, economic and crimes, and corruption in both public and private sectors of the economy. The proposed chartered institute is made up of multi-disciplinary professionals with diverse expertise in the use of various forensics tool kits for intelligence gathering and investigation of wide-ranging cases.   Gashibaki listed other benefits of the bill to include: “Creation of jobs in the 774 local gove

Democracy Day: FG Declares Monday Public Holiday  BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja    Aregbesola The federal government has declared Monday, June 14 as public holiday in commemoration of the 2021 democracy day celebration.  Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola who disclosed this in Abuja today, encouraged Nigerians to support the present administration's efforts in uniting the country. President Muhammadu Buhari had set aside June 12 annually as democracy day to honour the presumed winner of 1993 presidential election, Late Moshood Abiola, whose election was annulled by former President Ibrahim Babangida. A statement signed by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Shuaib Belgore and made available to newsmen revealed that, "Any form of agitation that threatens the unity of the country should be shunned for the good of all.” While congratulating Nigerians on the occasion, the minister noted that the space called Nigeria would be a haven of peace, unity and progress if all

Providing Windows Of Opportunities For Adamawa Communities  Uplifting the standard of education and empowerment of Nigerians at the grassroots' level are part of the cardinal principles of the APC-led administration. CHIKA OKEKE writes that these clearly manifested in Adamawa State during the commissioning of people-oriented projects by the federal government. L-R: Galadima of Adamawa, HRH Mustapha Aminu; permanent secretary of Ecological Fund Office (EFO) Dr Habiba Lawal; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and Adamawa State commissioner for works and energy development, Alhaji Adamu Atiku Abubakar at the commissioning and handing over of 4.4km road and storm water drainage in Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, Adamawa State recently.  The people of Adamawa State are famous in agriculture, though some notable sons and daughters of the State are making waves in the field of politics and other enterprising white-collar jobs.  The commu

Empowering Kogi Community With Livelihood Project  One of the strategic agenda's of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is the empowerment of Nigerians especially at the grassroots. CHIKA OKEKE writes that this was clearly manifested in Kogi State recently.  L-R: Director of administration and secretarial services, FCT, Mr Bello Lateef; Eje of Dekina, Alhaji Usman Obaje and director II, soil erosion and flood control department of Ecological Fund Office (EFO) Mr Mathias Eluma at the commissioning and handing over of erosion control works at Dekina town in Kogi State recently.  The Dekina community in Dekina local government area of Kogi State is mainly populated by farmers, though with some civil servants that are making waves in their respective careers.  Given its soil texture and agro-climatic condition of the state, the farmers cultivate both food and cash crops such as rice, yam, cassava, maize, cashew, mango, melon, groundnut and among others. Notwithsta

MRA, IPC Threaten To Petition FG Over Twitter Ban  BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  The  Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and International Press Centre (IPC) have threatened to petition the federal government at African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) over the clampdown on microblogging platform, Twitter. This is even as the organisations described the actions as unjustifiable violation of the rights of all Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, while also contravening the relevant instruments of both bodies. The organisations also hinted that the federal government's action amounted to a violation of international norms and standards, citing the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights’ Resolution 362 on the Right to Freedom of Information and Expression on the internet in Africa, adopted on November 4, 2016 at its 59th Ordinary Session. A statement made available to newsmen yesterday and signed by MRA’s executive director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo; and the exec

Climate Change: FG Canvasses For Nature-based Solution  BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The federal government has harped on the need for stakeholders to embrace nature-based solutions in addressing climate change issues, which is expected to bolster the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target especially on security, water, disaster risk reduction and livelihood improvement.    Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar stated this in Osun State over the weekend during the 2021 World Environment Day (WED) celebration with the theme, "Ecosystem Restoration: Resetting Our Relation With Nature".  The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had proclaimed 5th June annually as WED, meant to raise awareness on the importance of the environment to human survival and general wellbeing of the planet.  Abubakar disclosed that the federal government had commenced the implementation of nature-based programmes and projects in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss

Founder Of SCOAN, Prophet TB Joshua Dies At 57 BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja         T.B Joshua The founder of Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Temitope Balogun Joshua, fondly called Prophet T.B Joshua is dead.  The popular televangelist died yesterday, barely seven days to his 58th birthday.  Born on June 12, 1963, his last appearance was on 5th June, 2021 during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting with the theme, “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.” A statement by the church revealed that God took his servant, Joshua home by divine will, adding that his last moments were spent in the service of God. Below is the statement: PROPHET TB JOSHUA – JUNE 12th 1963 to JUNE 5th 2021 “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” – Amos 3:7 On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for p

PMB Approves Revised National Climate Change Policy  BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja           Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the Revised National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and the national climate change programmes for Nigeria.  The President endorsed the policy yesterday during the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. NCCP contains a strategic response to climate change, with the aim to reduce carbon emissions, boost economic growth and build a climate-resilient society through the attainment of set targets as encapsulated in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  Reacting, the minister of Environment, Dr Muhammad Mohammed Abubakar explained that the new policy document captured updates on emerging issues in the sectors that were not reflected in the previous policy.  He listed the issues as the inclusion of the Paris Agreement signed by Mr. President in 2015 and gender mainstreaming, which he said were relevant to national response

Paris Agreement: Nigeria Submits NDCs Interim Report To UNFCCC BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  In line with its commitment towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the federal government has submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) interim report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  The minister of Environment, Dr Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, who submitted the report on behalf of the federal government over the weekend, said that Nigeria is making steady progress towards meeting its NDCs.  He said, "This action underscores our determination to achieve the commitment we signed in 2015 to reduce Nigeria’s carbon emissions unconditionally by 20 percent and 45 percent conditionally with international support by 2030". Abubakar stated that the submission made by Nigeria was to fulfill the requirements for competing in the 2021 Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) call for proposal.  The NAMA