National News
UK, Italy promise support for ecological transition of developing countries
UK, Italy promise support for ecological transition of developing countries
The United Kingdom and Italian Governments have promised to support the ecological transition of developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Ambassadors of the two countries who are co-hosting the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) holding in Glasgow between 31 October-12 November 2021, said both their countries are committed to support the funding of efforts at combating the threats of climate change in developing countries.
Speaking at the press briefing in Abuja, the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Stefano Pontesilli said: “The Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR in Italian) launched by the Italian government to boost the economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has at its heart the goal of allowing the green development of our Country. Therefore a large part of the funds allocated through the ‘Next Generation EU Program’ will be invested in redeveloping our economy and our industrial system in a way that will help us, among other things, to achieve all targets set within the COP26 agenda.
“Indeed, what used to be our Ministry of Environment has been reinforced and renamed the Ministry for Ecological Transition, to highlight its accrued role in supporting the transition of our entire economy towards sustainable growth that can reduce the impact on climate.
“It is with this ambitious internal climate change agenda that Italy goes to Glasgow next week, ready to share its experience and learn from others. It brings to the table also a strong commitment to support the ecological transition of developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
He added that: “Nigeria, with its experience in the field of hydrocarbons and with a population that is due to be the fourth largest on the planet in 2050, has a significant role to play in COP26. Challenges and opportunities lay ahead, but what is clear is that the transition to green and circular economies will be at the heart of both national agendas and multilateral collaboration in the coming years and that it presents the classic ‘win-win’ scenario where Countries with mature and developing economies can collaborate successfully. Italy and its green industries are ready to collaborate with Nigerian partners, starting with the private sector, to identify and develop the opportunities that arise from the economic transition towards sustainable development.”
On her part United Kingdom’s High Commissioner Catriona Laing who was represented by the Deputy High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones at the briefing, said her government has four clear goals at COP26 which they would like all world leaders and their delegations to support.
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According to her, the goals are to secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach; to adapt behaviour to protect communities and natural habitats; to mobilise finance – developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100 billion in climate finance per year; and to work together to deliver – finalise the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational), and accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
She noted that the UK would want the outcomes of the negotiations at COP26 to protect and restore nature, follow the best available science, and empower inclusive action.
She said: “We look forward to seeing Nigeria engaging actively at the World Leaders Summit and the theme days and playing a constructive role in the COP26 negotiations. We also look forward to seeing Nigeria showcasing progressive climate-related policies and actions. We hope Nigeria can help other countries to raise their levels of ambition, and commit to action.
She noted that: “The UK has committed – through its UKAID programmes considerable support to assist Nigeria as it transitions to a low carbon energy economy, and to help raise the finance needed to make this transition.”
She said: “We (UK) have secured £6 billion in green investment since the launch of the UK Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan last November, securing 56,000 high quality green jobs.
“We have committed £11.6 billion in international climate finance over the next five years.
“We were the first major economy in the world to set Net Zero in law – and we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
“We have grown our economy by over 75% in 30 years while cutting emissions by 44%
“We have decarbonised our economy faster than any other G20 nation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions faster than any other G7 nation since 2010.
• Increasing the amount of renewables connected to the grid by 500% since 2009.
“We are committed to hosting COP26 as a physical in person event, and have put robust covid-19 compliance measures in place which all delegates are being asked to adhere to. We have supported a significant number of delegates to be vaccinated ahead of travelling to Glasgow. We are confident that COP26 is best run as a physical in person event.”
UK, Italy promise support for ecological transition of developing countries
NAN, AWALCO Partners to Promote ECOWAS Parliament
By: Michael Mike
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has pledged to partner the Association of West African Legislative Correspondents (AWALCO) to publicise the activities of the ECOWAS Parliament, particularly its 25th anniversary celebrations.
The Managing Director of the agency, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali,, made the pledge when the leadership of the association paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Thursday.
Ali while expressing appreciation to the association’s officials for deeming it worthy to pay him a courtesy visit, said as Africa’s biggest news content provider, NAN was home to all.
He said: “For deeming it worthy to come and pay us this courtesy call, the agency is appreciative.
“We hope that it will help the Parliament achieve its goals, and raise awareness, like you said, about its activities.
“On our part, the News Agency of Nigeria, like you know, is Africa’s biggest news content provider.”
He noted that the agency is the most authentic and biggest news hub in Africa, with a domineering influence and reach within the West African subregion.
Ali said: “So, with an association like this, certainly in the News Agency of Nigeria, you find a soulmate, a fellow traveler. You are welcome. We look forward to partnering and doing more, and the News Agency of Nigeria is your home.”
Speaking earlier, AWALCO President, Mr Innocent Odoh, explained that the purpose of the visit was to seek the collaboration and support of NAN, as the indisputable leader in terms of news credibility reportage, and viability.
He said that ECOWAS Parliament would be marking its 25th anniversary on November 16 and a series of activities had been lined up for it.
Odoh said that AWALCO, being the association of the parliament’s press corps, was fully involved in it by way of planning to give the occasion a media and publicity glitz.
He said this would help to propagate the ideals of ECOWAS in general, and ECOWAS Parliament in particular, and make the objectives of ECOWAS Commission and Parliament known globally, starting from the subregion.
He said: “In terms of viability, if we talk about the repository of news in all ramifications, in all dimensions, I think the News Agency of Nigeria comes first before any other one.
“So, what we are doing is in line with the media advocacy that we are projecting for the ECOWAS Parliament at 25.
“We can see that if the collaboration with NAN takes off as we planned it, I think it will go a long way in expanding the vision of the association.”
The AWALCO president further said that the partnership would determine how the regional bloc is run, especially at a time that so many things about ECOWAS needed to be interrogated.
“That is why we’re here, to seek that collaboration, to seek that support, how we can deepen that collaboration to ensure that the citizens of the Parliament understand what is happening around them.
“ECOWAS has a vision of 2050 but many people may not be aware of it, but collaborations like this can open up an opportunity for people to understand the vision of ECOWAS,” he added
on her part, Chief Communication Officer, ECOWAS Parliament, Mrs Uche Duru,, who was part of the delegation, in a remark, extended greetings from ECOWAS Parliament Speaker and Secretary-General to Ali and NAN’s management.
The spokesperson for the parliament said the association was beyond Nigeria, as its membership encompassed the entire West Africa, including even from member states that were threatening to exit or had already exited.
NAN, AWALCO Partners to Promote ECOWAS Parliament
National News
Nigeria, China May Head for Diplomatic Row Over Shooting of Immigration Officer at Chinese Firm
Nigeria, China May Head for Diplomatic Row Over Shooting of Immigration Officer at Chinese Firm
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria is not taking lightly the shooting of an immigration officer at a Chinese firm in Jos, Plateau State.
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who narrated the story,
The federal government has threatened a serious diplomatic row with the Republic of China over maltreatment of a Nigerian Immigration Service officer shot by a Chinese company in Nigeria for asking for the company’s expatriate list.
Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who narrated the story on Thursday in Abuja at a stakeholders sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Nigeria Visa policy 2025, said Nigeria is not handling the matter with kid gloves as it would be taken up as a diplomatic issue.
Tunji-Ojo lamented that the development alone is an attack on Nigeria. It will never be condoned.
He said the Immigration officer, who was on official duty, had visited the Chinese company in Jos, Plateau state, to check the list of the company’s expatriates, but the owner of the company ordered a security officer in the premises to shoot the government official.
Tunji-Ojo said: “I won’t go to China as a Nigerian, open a company and tell my security to shoot a government official in uniform. It’s never done anywhere in the world.
“These officers put their lives on the line. These officers serve this country with their all. And you will not come from anywhere and ask them to shoot them in their fatherland.
“It will no longer happen. We will take it up with you. Because that company, we (Nigerian government) have the power to withdraw their business permit Nigeria and declare them illegal.”
He wondered how it had become an offence for an Immigration officer to visit a foreign company and demand to see their expatriate list.
He said: “It will not happen again. So we’re going to be very hard. We will not stop your business. We will not overburden your business. But don’t make us inferior in our own land. No, please.
“And we’re going to be very tough on this. Because talking to you, I’m not just talking with passion on this topic, I’m talking with a lot of anger, because that guy that was shot is a Nigeria that we all swore to protect by virtue of the laws of Nigeria, by the constitution. That Immigration guy was not shot by a terrorist, is a father, he is a son to somebody. He is a husband to somebody. That cannot happen anywhere in the world.
“We will not tolerate it. Please, no agent, no company is above the law,” the Minister declared
Nigeria, China May Head for Diplomatic Row Over Shooting of Immigration Officer at Chinese Firm
Nigeria Explores CNG Technology to Power Defence, Industrial Vehicle Fleets
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar has led a high-level delegation on a tour of UROVESA—a renowned Spanish manufacturer of military and industrial vehicles.
The visit focused on exploring potential collaboration in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technology for powering Nigeria’s defence and industrial vehicle fleets.
The minister was accompanied on the visit by key figures including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo; Presidential CNG Initiative representative, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi; Engr. Henry Oki; and the Special Assistant for Gas Business and Investment to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), where they all engaged in detailed discussions with UROVESA executives.
During the visit, Tuggar emphasized the longstanding trade ties between Nigeria and Spain, noting that Spain remains one of Nigeria’s top trading partners, with Nigerian crude oil exports reaching $3.64 billion in 2023.
He lauded UROVESA’s innovative approach to producing all-terrain, armoured, tactical, and logistical vehicles, and expressed Nigeria’s growing interest in and implementation of CNG-powered solutions.
Tuggar also highlighted Nigeria’s business-friendly economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which have positioned the country as a prime destination for investment in clean energy technologies. The discussions provided a valuable platform for further exploration of future collaborations between UROVESA and Nigeria’s Ministry of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) in CNG-powered vehicle production and supply.
According to a statement by the foreign affairs minister spokesman, Alkasim AbdulKadir, the engagement not only reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to a green energy future but also laid the groundwork for modernizing the nation’s defence and industrial fleets with environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy solutions.
He said the promising outcome of the discussions sets the stage for a strategic partnership that is expected to foster sustainable innovation and drive economic growth for both Nigeria and UROVESA.
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