Flowerbud News

Month: October 2023

  • Osinbajo inaugurates 7.1mw Solar Hybrid project in BUK

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated a 7.1 megawatts Solar Hybrid power plant in Bayero University Kano (BUK), to ensure sustainability in power supply.

    Osibanjo said that the project would benefit thousands of students and other members of the university community, as well as enhance teaching, research and learning.

    According to him, similar projects  are being implemented in 37 Federal Universities and seven University Teaching Hospitals across the country.

    The project in BUK will provide electricity for about 55,815 students and 3,077 staff of the university.

    Osinbajo explained that the project would also empower the girl child and provide job opportunities, which was one of the major focus of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration.

    In her speech, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Damilola Ogunbiyi said the Energising Education Programme, (EEP), a Federal Government initiative under REA was aimed at developing off grid capacity power solutions.

    She added that the EEP would provide street lighting for illumination and safety, as well as a world class renewable workshop and training centre for each of the EEP beneficiary universities.

    According to her, phase one of the EEP consists of nine Federal Universities and one teaching hospital across the six geo-political zones.

    Ogunbiyi further explained that the projects would also power 2,850 street lights that would result in the decommissioning of hundreds of generators.

    According to her, “the project was fully funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria and will train 180 female STEM students.

    “Within this phase, there are seven Solar hybrid projects currently benefiting from funding of the Green Bond issued by the Federal Government.

    “While subsequent phases are to be funded by the Nigerian Electrification Project which is also a Federal Government project administered by the REA in partnership with the World Bank and African Development Bank”.

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the BUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza-Bello commended the Federal Government for citing the largest solar power system in Africa at the institution.

    According to him, the immediate consequence will be improvement in power supply to the universities..

    “This in turn would improve our productivity and efficiency. Research and Technology laboratories could be operated virtually 24 hours a day as obtained in other climates”.

    Yahuza-Bello added that the station would enable the university to save about N4.5 million monthly electricity costs.

    The vice chancellor appealed to the federal government to support the institution with batteries to keep its one megawatt solar power station developed by the school at the old campus, working.

     

  • S/African women living in fear amid rising gender-based violence: president

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that South African women are living in fear as gender-based violence continues unabated.

    He made the statement against the backdrop of the murders of University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana and South African boxing champion Leighandre Jegels.

    Mrwetyana was murdered by her boy friend while Jegels was murdered by a stranger, both incidences happened in August as South Africans celebrated the Women’s Month dedicated to the protection of women.

    “This is a very dark period for South Africa, assaults, rapes and murders of women are a stain on our national conscience.

    “South Africa has been gripped by rising gender-based violence in recent time. Earlier, presidency signed Declaration on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide with various civil society formations and directed that urgent attention be given to its implementation.

    “Particularly on immediate measures around support to victims and access to shelters and places of safety,“ Ramaphosa said.

    Ramaphosa, however, promised to meet with the leadership of the police soon to be briefed on steps being undertaken to stem the tide of gender-based violence in the country.

    He commended enforcement authorities for their action which led to the arrests of two suspects linked to the brutal murders of Mrwetyana and Jegels.

    Mrwetyana’s alleged killer was arrested and charged with rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice. The man suspected of killing Jegels was also arrested and has since died in the hospital.

  • Xenophobic Attacks: Buhari dispatches Special Envoy to S/Africa

    President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched a Special Envoy to convey to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa his deep concerns over reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in South Africa since Aug. 29.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, who confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Envoy would also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation.

    Adesina revealed that the President had already instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria and get a brief on the situation.

    He said Onyeama was also to express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and assurance of the safety of their lives and property.

    “The Special Envoy is expected to arrive in Pretoria latest Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019,’’ he added.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that South Africans commenced fresh attacks, looting and burning of businesses and properties belonging to Nigerians and other nationals and in the process killed three people.

    The President of the Nigeria Union South Africa, Mr Adetola Olubajo, said on Monday that the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by an angry mob.

    “The mob also looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.

    “But the Police later dispersed the mob and made some arrest.

    “Late in the evening of Sunday, Sept. 1, a group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers besieged Jules Street in Malvern, Johannesburg looted and burned shops and businesses with Nigerians being the most victims.

    According to witnesses living on Jules Street, the Zulu hostel dwellers were very organised and well-coordinated in looting and burning of any shops/businesses suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.

    NAN further reports that over 50 shops/businesses were destroyed, looted and burnt over the night in Malvern area of Johanesburg.

  • 100 days in office: APC scores Gov. Sanwo-Olu high, PDP, NCP disappointed

    Ahead of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s 100 days in office, political parties in Lagos State on Tuesday expressed a potpourri of reactions over his achievements as the state chief executive officer.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s administration was sworn into office on May 29, 2019.

    The state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) says the government is on the path of progress, but the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conscience Party (NCP) expressed disappointment over his achievements so far.

    Assistant Publicity Secretary of the APC Lagos State Chapter, Mr Abiodun Salami, said in a statement that the governor had done much to put the state on the path of progress.

    Salami said the governor was fulfilling his electoral promises of a better Lagos, and residents were already feeling the impact of the Sanwo-Olu administration.

    According to him, days spent by the Sanwo-Olu administration in office has been very eventful, with the governor working hard to justify the mandate of the people.

    “He is working in line with the wishes of the people, fulfilling his electoral promises.

    “Lagos is getting better under Sanwo-Olu. Residents should expect more of these better days,’’ he said.

    Highlighting Sanwo-Olu’s achievements so far, Salami said the present administration had taken practical steps to improve infrastructure within the period.

    He said the government was fixing many bad roads across the state in order to ease movement of residents.

    “The Sanwo-Olu administration is fixing roads across the state in order to address the problem of gridlock and ease movement of residents in the state.

    “The Lagos-Badagry Expressway is getting attention, the Pen Cinema Bridge is getting attention; so many impactful projects are getting accelerated attention by the Sanwo-Olu administration,” the APC official said.

    He said the governor was working, and the APC and residents were proud of what he had done so far.

    Salami said that the present administration had made great interventions in the health, education, transportation and other sectors.

    He listed some of the interventions as the improvement of education infrastructure and improving access to healthcare services through medical missions.

    The APC official said the present administration had prioritised the welfare of workers as well as taken steps to improve the environment among other achievements.

    He described comments by the PDP that the 100 days of Sanwo-Olu was a waste, as an expression of crass ignorance.

    He said the PDP was known for failure and that it should not surprise anyone that they had failed to see the many achievements of Sanwo-Olu.

    Meanwhile, Mr Taofeek Gani, the Lagos PDP publicity secretary, described the governor’s days in office so far as “very bizarre and unfortunate record breaking and has taken Lagos 20 years backward’’.

    He told NAN that under Sanwo-Olu’s watch, Lagos was experiencing worse traffic and waste management in its history.

    “In a few days, our children will be resuming school. No rehabilitation has taken place in the schools, everything is in shambles.

    “The governor is not prepared for governance.

    “He is expending his energy on the probe of his predecessor, Ambode.

    “We are disappointed,’’ Gani said.

    Also, Mr Fatai Ibuowo, Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP), Lagos State, said “nothing has been seen in the governor’s 100 days in office.

    Ibuowo said that there was no effort by the present government to address the issue of unemployment and infrastructural development in the state.

    “We are expecting Sanwo-Olu to do more in the area of education. Lagos needs another University.

    “As a party, we can still give the governor more time to prove himself. We have sent him a blueprint on how we think Lagos should be governed.

  • Xenophobic Killings: Suspend relations with South Africa, seek special AU meeting, CSOs urge FG

    Coalation of Civil Society groups in Kaduna has called on Nigeria to suspend diplomatic relations with South Africa over unwarranted killings of Nigerians in that country.

    Yusuf Amoke, who addressed a press conference on behalf  of the coalition on Wednesday in Kaduna, said they want the Federal Government to seek for a special meeting of the AU to discuss the matter.

    “Nigeria and other African Governments should suspend all kind of relationship with the government of South Africa until a convincing assurance is given by the government of South Africa that such dastardly act would not repeat itself,” it said.

    The coalition also said that South Africa must be made to compensate families of the victims and those whose businesses were destroyed.

    “Nigerian Government should also request for an African Union (AU) Emergency Meeting to take a decisive position and sanction the South African Government for being unable to put an end to this reoccurring decimal in their country.”

    It added that the Nigerian Government should institute necessary logistical preparations to bring back all Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa.

    “Also Nigerian Government should sanction South African business environment in Nigeria by temporarily shutting them down until certain agreements are reached.”

    The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to directly engage the President of South Africa and decisively demand for answers on the killings.

    “We the people of Africa, particularly Nigeria, bitterly mourn the senseless killings of fellow Africans by South Africans, which is covertly supported by the Government of South Africa.

    “It is worthy to remind the South African people and its Government that the freedom they enjoy today was a result of collective efforts of other African Nations, most especially Nigeria.

    “We as a people refused to be violent against South Africans living, studying and doing businesses in Nigeria, not because we cannot be violent, but because we simply refused to be animals.

    “However, further of such action on a single Nigerian will leave us with no choice but to react in a more deadly manner that would be a shocker to not only the South African Government and People but also to the international community.”

  • 9th Assembly Will Strengthen Manufacturing, Promote Conducive Atmosphere – Lawan

    (FLOWERBUDNEWS) The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday assured manufacturers that the Ninth National Assembly would strengthen the sector with enabling laws to boost growth and job creation in the nation.

    Lawan, who was represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Sen. Bayo Osinowo, gave the assurance at the ongoing 47th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), on Tuesday in Lagos.

    According to Lawan, the manufacturers are the solution for job creation in Nigeria and will thrive better if they have an enabling environment.

    Lawan said: “The Ninth Assembly is ready to ensure that there are laws which will strengthen manufacturing, as well as bridge the gap between the manufacturers and the government.

    “We will not only promote adequate and effective communication between MAN and government but will also create conducive atmosphere for the voice of the manufacturers to be heard.

    “The Next Level agenda of the government will continue to support the growth of industry and also protect relevant manufacturers from being saddled with unnecessary importation of goods that can be produced by Nigerians.”

    He urged the Association to continue to provide good platforms for the manufacturing industry, so they can rival the dominance of the oil industry in Nigeria.

    Lawan added that the reason nations such as: China, Germany and the USA developed was because they produce about 85 per cent of goods they use and invariably produced more jobs for their citizens.

    He urged the manufacturers to aspire to attain the level of developed nations, and work harder to surpass the agricultural sector in the aspect of job creation.

    Earlier, the President of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah said that Nigeria’s future can be built on the enterprise of MAN.

    Oramah, who’s also the Chairman of the Board of the Bank, noted that in spite of the progress made by the present administration to sustain growth, the manufacturing sector continues to face daunting challenges.

    He said the challenges include; poor condition of highways and waterways, and absence of credible road network.

    Oramah expressed his delight at the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which he said will create an opportunity to brighten the future of Nigerian manufacturers.

    Oramah explained that China was able to develop because they recognised early that their greatest resource was their humans.. (NAN)

  • AFAN decries unwholesome activities of fake agro-chemicals dealers

    The Niger chapter, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has decried the unwholesome activities of fake Agro-Chemical dealers in the country.

    Alhaji Shehu Galadima, AFAN chairman in Niger, said in an interview on Friday that such dealers were distributing fake and adulterated agro-chemicals to unsuspecting farmers.

    Galadima urged the federal government to take drastic measures towards tackling the activities of fake agro-chemical dealers to mitigate their negative effects on farming.

    He said that fake and adulterated agro-chemicals were harmful to crops and hampered productivity.

    The AFAN chairman urged the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to beam their searchlights on the activities of fake agro-chemical dealers.

    “There are a lot of fake and adulterated agro-chemicals and improved seeds in circulation around the country.

    “These chemicals and seeds affect the farmers negatively, the end result is poor productivity and output from the farms,” he said.

    NAN reports that recently, Mr Aniko Ibrahim, NAFDAC Coordinator in Niger, announced the arrest of two persons suspected to be involved in fake agro-chemical circulation in the state.

  • Breaking: Nigeria recalls Ambassador to South Africa

    Nigeria has recalled it Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Kabiru Bala and also pulled out of World Economic Summit holding in Cape Town on Wednesday.

    A source closed to the presidency told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigeria also demanded for full compensation for the loss of life and property of Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attack.

    More details…

  • Niger Delta Youths Condemn Condemn Against NDDC Board

    (FLOWERBUD NEWS) The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) have condemned protests against the newly appointed Board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the NDYC National Coordinator, Mr Jator Abido and the Rivers Coordinator, Mr Chinedu Livinus said the NDDC Board members were people of proven integrity that would take the region out the dungeon.The group particularly urged the National Youth Council Of Nigeria (NYCN) and the Western Ijaw Consultative Assembly (WICA) not to surrender their credible organisations to the whims and caprices of those who have held the region captive for many years.Abido said the NDYC would expose those sponsoring series of protests against the newly constituted Board of the NDDC.“The NDDC was established to address development issues in the region; successive leaderships of the Commission derailed from the essence of its establishment.“However, we are optimistic and confident in the ability of the new Board; The Niger Delta is all we have and must all put aside sentiments and support what is right in the interest of development of our area.“We repeatedly called for probe of leaderships of the Commission right from its inception,” Abido said.He said the NDYC would no longer take it lightly with persons and groups that are bent on keeping the region underdeveloped adding that time has come for the region to take its rightful place in terms of development.“We will no longer fold our arms and allow treacherous persons to continue to take advantage of the youths they have kept perpetually poor and ill-educated to cause mayhem in our region and the nation in general.“Therefore, this should serve as friendly warning to those sponsoring protests against the NDDC Board. We shall henceforth, mobilise our members to put a stop to this cheap blackmail.“Enough is enough; the Niger Delta region is bigger and more important than any individual or group interest”, Abido stressed.He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard those that want the country to return to old order adding that it is laughable that the cabal would claim the appointment was illegally done. (NAN)