Category: General News

By Lawal Sale

The newly appointed Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, His Excellency, Amb. Andrey Leonidovich Podelyshev, has described the extant Russia-Nigeria relations as “strong ties bound by strong ties of friendship and cooperation”.

In a statement he personally signed, Podelyshev noted that diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on Nov. 25, 1960, adding that since then, the two countries had come a long way, strengthening mutual respect and the spirit of partnership among them.

He said: “In 2001, our countries signed the Declaration on the Principles of Friendly Relations and Partnership, which was an important milestone in the development of ties between Russia and Nigeria.”

Podelyshev stressed that the bilateral cooperation covered a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, culture, education and science, adding that “we cooperate to ensure regional and global security, peacekeeping, and sustainable development.“There are positive dynamics in the economic sphere.”

He noted that “according to various estimates, trade turnover has exceeded 1 billion U.S. dollars, which testifies to the growing interest of businesses in mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Besides, the envoy, in the statement, noted that a special attention had been paid to humanitarian ties, while Russian universities annually hosted hundreds of Nigerian students, giving them the opportunity to receive quality education in various fields.

He also said that Nigerian delegations regularly participated in youth and women’s forums, educational conferences, as well as fairs on Russian education.

Podelyshev emphasized that in addition to the traditionally constructive interactions at the United Nations (UN), Nigeria’s status as a partner country in BRICS had opened up new horizons.

“I am convinced that deepening cooperation in the international arena, including within the framework of these structures, will serve both the interests of our countries and the goals of enhancing the authority and role of developing countries and the global South,” he said.

The ambassador pledged that during his duty tour to Nigeria, he planned to build contacts, not only with Nigerian officials but also with representatives of business circles, the public and the academic community, as well as Russian compatriots and former graduates of Soviet and Russian tertiary institutions.

He solicited the support and active participation of all stakeholders in strengthening Russia-Nigeria relations.”Together, we can achieve significant success and contribute to the prosperity of our people,” he stated.

— Sale is an Abuja-based Global Affairs

 

By Flowerbudnews
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Obi-of-Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, have urged residents of South-East to embrace export business to grow Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and kick out poverty.

 

The Executive Director of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, made the call in a keynote address on Thursday at a four-day Export Business Roundtable South-East 2025 with the theme: “South-East Nigeria’s Export Future: Trends, Opportunities and Challenges” being held in Enugu.

Ayeni noted that the four-day forum would be exploring the pathways of unlocking South-East export potentials where participants would leverage on networking, connectivity, technology and digital marketing to bring best quality export commodities to the world.

 

She noted that the zone has abundant agricultural products grown in the best organic farming tradition, which is highly sought for internationally and “what is needed is to expand such commodities to commercial quantities.”

 

“South-East has great potential for export business as everything done here is done naturally and highly sought for internationally; and all we need to do is to educate our people on export business and mentor them to success.

“A lot of international cash crops, notwithstanding our natural minerals, are abundant here and even our vegetables in the South-East are in high demand globally.

 

“From available studies, the zone has the capacity to lead other zones in export business and turn the poverty around us to land of plenty for all and make the zone an export hub.

 

“Every single individual needs to go back to the farm and be serious with agriculture and do it in the best international practice for the agricultural produce to meet international specification,” she said.

 

Ayeni noted that the NEPC would provide technical and mentorship assistance to struggling and aspiring exporters in the South-East, international certification and any other assistance possible to ensure the zone grows in export business.

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Earlier, the Obi-of-Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, called on the people to embrace export business with “the usual industry and innovation the people of the zone is known for.”

 

Achebe noted that “as we (south-east people) are leading in commerce nationwide, it is good we also lead in export business by bringing out our spirit of enterprise and quick adaptation.”

 

He urged participants to be focused and take notes, as the message being passed would benefit their people in their various communities and everybody around them as more hands are required to meet ever-increasing international export demands.

 

“I commend the organisers of this roundtable and the NEPC for investing in bringing knowledge and pathways to a successful and gainful export business to our people,” he said.

 

Dr Queen Okpa, Chief Executive Officer of DGC Express, said that every resident of the South-East must look inward, and the forum would bring about networking and connectivity needed for exportable product aggregation for better teamwork and understanding.

 

Okpa noted that once the South-East gets export business right, Nigeria will get it right, adding that it was good to abide by best international practice of organic agriculture to attract gains of carbon credit to our farms as well.

 

The Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said that all levels of government, communities and individuals should key into the export business to ensure that all available land in South-East would be well utilised.

 

Asadu, represented by Igwe Uchenna Anikwe, the Traditional Ruler of Diogbe Community, noted that with massive cultivation of the land to meet local and export commodities demands; there would be no forest or space lying unoccupied in the zone.

 

He said, “When state and local governments convert available forests to agricultural sites, those committing heinous crimes and hiding in the forests will see nowhere to hide and they cannot easily commit the atrocities in towns where everybody lives.

 

“If, we take advantage of this event and what we have been exposed to; I sincerely believe that with or without Federal allocations, all states within the zone can strive and her people will be more productive to earn enviable living.”

 

The Export Business Roundtable, which is being organised by NEPC and Denca Global Courier Services Ltd, would feature export clinics for each of the five South-East states, namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

 

It would also feature Export Creative Day – which is a special showcase of exportable creative products and the role of the creative industry in export diversification.

 

By Flowerbudnews
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, says the Army is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring protection of fundamental human rights.

 

Olatoye, who is also the Force Commander of Joint Task-Force South-East, code-named “Operation UDO KA”, said this on Friday in Enugu in a message delivered at the South-East Stakeholders Summit on Peace and Security.

The GOC, who was represented by Commander 105 Division Equipment Support, Brig.-Gen.Sadisu Buhari, noted that security and human rights are not mutually exclusive, rather, they must co-exist to ensure justice, sustainable peace and development.

 

According to him, hence, we must strive to build an inclusive framework where security interventions align with democratic principles and respect for human dignity.

 

“May I also reiterate that the Nigerian Army and other Services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria maintain zero-tolerance for violations of fundamental human rights by their personnel.

“This is evident in the application of Rules of Engagement (ROE) as well as various Code of Conduct for personnel and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regulating conduct of troops deployed in internal security operations pursuant to Section 217 (2) (c) of the Constitution.

 

“The Nigerian Army further ensures that personnel are adequately trained in respect of human rights as enshrined in the Code of Conduct, ROEs, SOPs, National and International Laws,” he said.

 

The GOC further revealed that in a bid to further ensure the protections of these sacrosanct rights, the Nigerian Army established Civil Human Rights Desk across all Divisions, including in Headquarters 82 Division, Enugu.

He said that the 82 Division had a dedicated call line – 193 select option 2, which is manned 24 hours daily, for reception of complaints from the public.

 

The GOC noted that members of the general public should report any act of violation of human rights done, being or likely to be done by erring personnel to the Nigerian Army through the call line.

 

“I urge you to make use of this medium in reporting alleged cases of fundamental rights by members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

 

“The Human Rights Desk, being the watchdog against human rights violations by Nigerian Army personnel, is saddled with the responsibility of investigating allegations of human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by personnel of the Nigerian Army.

“The Desk also works to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s capacity to protect human rights and report annually on its progress.

 

“To further take the protection of human rights near to the grassroots, the Nigerian Army established Human Rights Desks in all its Brigades’ Headquarters,” he said.

 

Olatoye said that all the Brigades within 82 Division Area of Responsibility are manned by qualified legal practitioners functioning as Human Rights Desks Officers.

 

“I, therefore, employ members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to always channel complaints relating to human rights abuses to the Human Right Desk nearest to them for reliefs.

“It is also worthy of note that personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are governed by doctrine of compactness which makes them subject to both civil and military laws,” he added.

 

Speaking, the Director of Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr Sam Amadi, said that no one can drive away insecurity; without upholding protection of human rights and respect for the sanctity of life.

 

Amadi, who is the Chairman of the Summit, called on governors in the zone to synergise and operationalise previous security agreements, adding that security and human right issues should be looked at as regional concerns.

 

Declaring the summit open, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State noted that marginalisation fuels disagreement and insecurity, adding that security and peace are interrelated with justice and people feeling belonged.

 

Mbah, represented by his special adviser on legal matters, Mr Osinachi Nnajieze, said that the state government had invested heavily in electricity to power its provided hitech security surveillance cameras network mounted everywhere within Enugu.

 

The two days event is being organised by the NBA in partnership with South-East Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

 

By Flowerbudnews

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has assured that the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025, will proceed as planned, despite attempts for disruption by the opposition.

In a statement released today by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor assured residents that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has completed all necessary preparations to ensure a smooth, free, and fair election across the state.

Governor Adeleke emphasized that the state government remains committed to upholding democratic principles and ensuring grassroots representation through the electoral process. He urged all eligible voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their civic rights peacefully.

The announcement comes amid rising tensions between the Federal Government and the Osun State Government, with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, earlier calling for the suspension of the elections, citing ongoing legal and political disputes.

“Our people are prepared for elections tomorrow. They yearn to have their choices as chairmen and councillors,” Adeleke said while addressing a delegation of civil society groups monitoring the elections.

He also praised OSSIEC’s level of preparedness and emphasized that multiple political parties are participating in the process, ensuring a fair contest.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the elections, Governor Adeleke maintained that democracy is governed by the rule of law and warned against any attempts to undermine the process.

“My advice to all parties, including local and national stakeholders, is to abide by democratic norms. As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help,” he stated.

The governor urged Osun residents to remain peaceful and expressed optimism that the elections would accelerate development at the grassroots level.

“Osun is a truly peaceful state,” Adeleke concluded.

 

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Abuja:  (NAN)/Flowerbudnews:  A civil society organisation, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for promotion of ideological coherence and review of Electoral Act to address frequent carpet crossing by politicians.

Executive Director of CCLCA, Dr Gabriel Nwambu, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Nwambu attributed the recent gale of defections by some politicians and political office holders in the country to what he called stomach infrastructure.

He stressed the need for promoting political ideology among the political class, such that each political party would be noted for a defined value which members would strictly adhere to.

“In this country, there is the need for promoting ideological coherence among our leaders. Unlike in the West, what we have in Nigeria is more of a quest for stomach infrastructure.

“In the U.S., we have the Democrats, we have the Republicans. It is difficult for you to see someone defecting from Democrat to Republican. It’s very difficult, because the ideology (of each party) is stipulated.

“But here, it is more of stomach infrastructure. So ensuring that party policies and ideologies align with the interests of party members can reduce the temptation to cross-carpet,” he said.

According to him, the electoral act has specific provisions governing the conducts of political party members and the consequences of cross-carpeting.

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states very clearly that a member of a political party may only defect to another political party if there is a division within the original political party.

“In practice however, these laws have been both criticised and circumvented, resulting in instances of mass defection without adherence to legal stipulations.

“So reforming electoral laws to impose stricter penalties on cross-carpeting without just cause will help.

“Promoting the importance of respecting party loyalty can also deter deflections,” he said.

Nwambu listed some of the underlying issues leading to mass movement of party members and elected officials to include internal party conflicts, disenfranchisement of members, lack of internal democracy within political parties and leadership failure.

“When party members feel that their interests are not being represented, they may seek new affiliations which they believe better align with their political aspirations or provide better opportunities for advancement.

“Most political parties also don’t promote proper accountability, whereas promoting accountability within party leadership can build trust and ensure that leaders are responsible to the need of their constituents,” he said.

The executive director advised that apart from the measures put forward by political parties, they should also engage members on regular basis.

“There are political parties who don’t even engage their members with a view to getting feedback.

“The leadership of political parties should involve their members in decision-making processes to create a sense of ownership and belonging, thereby reducing the likelihood of deflection,” Nwambu said. (NAN)