Gov. Diri Expresses Sadness Over Boat Mishap

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, is deeply saddened by the fatal boat incident at Okoroma community along the Brass waterways in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Yet to be confirmed number of persons are said to be missing in Thursday’s mishap involving a local passenger boat.

The boat was said to be carrying scores of passengers and goods worth millions of Naira from Yenagoa to the Brass island and neighbouring communities when it suddenly went under reportedly due to overweight.

Governor Diri has directed the relevant government agencies, including security agencies, to collaborate in the search-and-rescue efforts and ensure the recovery of all missing persons.

The Bayelsa helmsman sympathised with injured victims and the families that lost persons in the sad incident.

He prayed that God will succour them over the unfortunate mishap.

However, he added that the government would review the cause of such incidents in order to take steps to ensure safety of lives and goods on the state’s waterways.

Senegal Harvests First Experimental Homegrown Wheat

 

Senegalese researchers have begun harvesting a crop of experimental homegrown wheat, the latest step in a years-long effort to reduce reliance on imports.

The second most consumed cereal after rice, wheat is an important staple in the bread-loving West African nation.

But Senegal, like many of its neighbours, depends entirely on foreign supplies. It imports 800,000 tonnes of the grain per year.

Its tropical climate is not naturally suited to wheat but domestic trials have been underway for years.

Supply chain problems, rising grain prices and inflation caused by the war in Ukraine have added urgency to the country’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency.Since late last week, researchers from the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA), a public research institute, have been harvesting four varieties of wheat on a demonstration plot in Sangalkam, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the capital Dakar.

Three of the varieties are Egyptian and the fourth was developed by the institute.

It operates five demonstration plots in total, two near Dakar and three in the Senegal River Valley and has tested hundreds of wheat varieties, Amadou Tidiane Sall, one of the researchers, told AFP.

Many have proved unsuitable. The Sangalkam crop, one of several successful experiments by the institute, was sown in early January and matured in three months during Senegal’s cold season.

Agriculture Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye visited the plot earlier this month.

He said he had requested Egyptian seeds on a visit to the North African country for the United Nations’ COP27 climate conference in November.

“We have significant potential,” the minister said during his visit, promising the government would work with the private sector to expand trial plots.

He acknowledged that a lack of adequate water for irrigation posed a significant challenge.

Not everyone is convinced that wheat can be grown at scale in Senegal.

Amadou Gaye the president of the National Federation of Bakers of Senegal, who represents some 2,500 bakeries across the country told AFP he would prefer to see resources dedicated to producing local cereals such as millet, maize and sorghum.

 

Global energy industry invited to Calgary in 2023 for next World Petroleum Congress

 

By Kolawole Yemisi Victoria

The city’s mayor, Jyoti Gondek, invited the world to the north to meet the innovators and exchange ideas with some of the brightest minds in the energy sector at the next World Petroleum Congress.

The City of Calgary officially became the host city of the 24th edition of the global event on Wednesday evening when Houston wrapped up the four-day event at a special closing ceremony. Calgary will host the prestigious event Sept. 17–21, 2023.

Gondek said Calgary has always been a world leader in the energy industry and is now poised to be a leader in the energy transition economy.

“It has been uplifting to observe energy industry stakeholders pulling in the same direction on a path to net zero, the theme of the 2023 WPC event,” she said in the closing ceremony. “I have tremendous optimism about our future, given all of the great minds that are producing innovative ideas that will ultimately produce energy in ways that we have not yet imagined to meet the needs of our future.”

The mayor was part of the Team Canada delegation at the four-day event, which drew 5,000 participants from 70 countries featuring more than 300 speakers. Panelists included Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage, Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre and Suncor Energy Inc.’s Mark Little, among others.

Gondek reflected on the messaging at the Houston event, which revolved around the themes of putting aside competition in the interest of collaboration, as well as the need to communicate clearly and effectively with citizens that the energy transition is a priority and one that will take time. It’s also important to ensure that incremental changes, adaptations, and transformation are well described to show progress as it occurs.

“They further spoke of the need for quick and intentional attraction of global capital — this imperative in funding and critical research and technology shifts necessary to achieve true energy transformations,” said Gondek. “In short, all of us agree that transition and transformation is our collective task. And that work starts right now.”

Throughout the conference the delegates heard that Houston was the energy capital of the world.

Savage noted in her closing remarks that Calgary is the “the energy capital of Canada.” She said WPC 24 will showcase that the province is a leader in the energy sector — not only with oil and gas but the emerging sources of energy including hydrogen, petrochemicals, geothermal, and all of the sources of energy that are going to be entering the global energy mix as the world moves forward.

Michael Hampton, president of the WPC organizing committee, said bringing the event to Houston was a long time coming as the bidding on this event more than 10 years ago.

“We had to work through many difficult issues through COVID and everything that we’ve been facing over the past number of months and, frankly, years,” he said. “To have success like we’ve been able to do this week with 5,000 registered attendees from 70 countries and 300 speakers is truly an incredible achievement that we’re very proud of.”

 The mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, added the teams were able to show a successful and safe event can be done despite the ongoing pandemic. Turner also reflected on the discussions around the future course for the energy sector, innovation and energy solutions.

“We have acknowledged that the energy transition is here, and it is on us to lead,” said Turner. “And I heard this week from many of our energy executives, the industry needs to better tell their story about powering the world while being a critical and fundamental part of reducing the emissions to take on climate change. The story about leading the energy transition is very much real and again, simply, [I] want to echo the remarks by [others]. I sincerely hope that we can continue to mutually advance this conversation.”

David Woodward, executive director of the meetings and conventions team at Tourism Calgary, said they are excited to welcome the world and to celebrate the industry in 2023.

“With the many delegates that will join us in 2023, the Congress will bring tremendous economic impact to the City of Calgary and at a time where, following the pandemic, we are in a time of recovery,” he said. “We’re looking forward to hosting all the delegates and sharing our western hospitality with the World Petroleum Congress.”

Calgary police to bolster resources for World Petroleum Congress

 

By Olaborede Olugbenga Israel

A group of protesting dinosaurs confront a line of Calgary police officers in front of the PetroCanada offices in downtown Calgary. 

They were part of a day-long protest march that moved around downtown Calgary and ended up at Memorial Park.

Protesters give police an earful during the 2000 World Petroleum Congress in Calgary. Postmedia archive photo

The Calgary Police Service is set to bolster its resources for the World Petroleum Congress that’s slated to come to Calgary in September.

Presenting to the Calgary police commission on Wednesday, police said the global oil and gas industry event is expected to draw somewhere around 15,000 people to the city and has the potential to draw large protests and demonstrations. As such, CPS is planning to increase its presence throughout that week, as well as draw law enforcement supports from agencies across Western Canada.

“We have reviewed a number of previous similar events, and they have shown us that there are operational risks out there. So we’re aware of those risks and we are taking steps to address those risks,” said Jason Archibald, a business strategist with CPS. “We’re also working with other law enforcement agencies to assess the intelligence situation and to inform our operational response.”

IMF In Talks With Ivory Coast On $2.6 Billion Lending Aid

 

 

By Ebi Imisi

 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday that it expects to reach a $2.6 billion lending agreement to assist Ivory Coast face ongoing economic challenges "in the coming days."

 

The IMF announced in a statement following a visit to the country by senior officials that Indirect and direct subsidies to curb price pressures, higher security spending, and worsening terms-of-trade amid robust domestic demand, led to a widening of macroeconomic imbalances in Ivory Coast last year.

 

In response, the Fund said it expects to finalize a staff-level agreement worth more than $2.6 billion in the coming days.

 

Wednesday's announcement comes following a request for financial assistance by the Ivoirian government.

 

The Fund's proposals, which would require approval by the IMF Executive Board, are aimed at "preserving fiscal and debt sustainability," by making a number of structural reforms to the Ivoirian economy.

 

‘‘These would include strengthening social protection for vulnerable households, improving public financial management and investment efficiency, and promoting private-sector led and more inclusive growth by creating new employment opportunities," the Fund said.

Census Critical For Development - Gov. Diri

 Inaugurates Committees On 2023 Headcount 

By Our Correspondent

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday, inaugurated two  committees to synergise with the National Population Commission (NPC) on the forthcoming national population census exercise. 

They are the Publicity/Mobilisation Committee, which has the Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, as chairman and the Logistics/Security Committee with the Chief Security Co-ordinator of the State Community Safety Corps, Brig-Gen. Eric Angaye (rtd) as chairman. 

Governor Diri, who inaugurated the committees in Government House, Yenagoa, described population census as a critical ingredient for development hence the need for the government to plan towards a hitch-free exercise in the state.

The governor said while a new date is expected from the NPC for the conduct of the exercise, the government would leave no stone unturned to get the exact population of the state.

His words: “It is important that we know exactly who we are and how many we are. In modern times, accurate population figures is a critical ingredient for development. Even in our homes, it would be shameful for a father not to know the number of children he has. Therefore, population census is one activity that will continue as long as there is life. 

“We are gathered to inaugurate two committees in respect of the forthcoming population census in our country, which was initially slated for March 29. We need to put our house in order while we await the federal government and its agency, the NPC, to come up with a new date.

“These committees are to work hand in gloves with the National Population Commission and all those who will be here to implement the federal government population policy across the country and in particular our state.”

Other members of the Publicity/Mobilization Committee are the Commissioners for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Youth and Sports, Information, Orientation and Strategy, and their Women, Children and Social Development counterpart.

Also in the committee are the Commissioners for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs,  Special Duties for the three senatorial districts as well as the chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council and the Chief Historian and Archivist.

The committee on Logistics/Security also has the Commissioners for Transport, Special Duties (East, West and Central senatorial districts), and the Special Advisers on Security Matters.

Also in the committee are the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Commander, 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and the Commander, Nigeria Naval Ship (NNS) Soroh.

Others are the State Director, Department of State Services, all Police Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and all Heads of Local Government.

Responding on behalf of the committees, the Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Ekeuwei, pledged their support, commitment and cooperation in ensuring that the census exercise in the stated was properly conducted.

Humanitarian ministry has supported the rehabilitation, reintegration of repentant insurgents in the northeast - Farouq

 

 

By Ebi Imisi

 

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed that the Ministry has contributed immensely to the non-kinetic strategy of managing surrendered insurgents for their rehabilitation and reintegration process in the North East.

 

The Minister made this known at the opening ceremony of the 3-Day Seminar on Rehabilitation of Repentant Insurgents in the North East, organised by the Ministry and Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with the Nigeria Army Resource Centre, in Abuja.

 

According to her, Food and non-food items, including starter packs, have been contributed for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the ex-combatants directly by the Ministry and some of its Agencies, NEDC, NEMA, NCFRMI.

 

Speaking through her representative, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Nasir Sani- Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, she said the Ministry recently conducted a survey on victims of terrorism with the view to identifying and providing the needed psychosocial support to the affected persons. 

 

‘‘In search of sustainable humanitarian response, the Ministry has adopted the United Nations principle of Tripple Nexus approach which provides linkages to humanitarian response that leads to development as well as peace building’’

 

Also, Farouq explained that the ministry leading other relevant MDAs and organization have developed a home-grown National Humanitarian Development Peace framework which provides a holistic response while applying area-based approach.

 

‘‘This is expected to guide all humanitarian response in Nigeria and we hope the outcome of your deliberation will align with the framework". She said.

 

The Minister stated that the insurgency in the NE has brought about untold hardship, destruction and loss of lives to the people of the North East and the 3-Day seminar is aimed among other things to examine modalities for the management of surrendered terrorist in the North East.

 

"For the Ministry, this seminar is very apt because it provides a veritable platform to share lessons learnt from various activities we have implemented in the past, identify gaps and come up with roadmap for future interventions. It all showcases a good practices of civil security relationship in providing sustainable humanitarian intervention".

 

She urged participants to take the seminar serious and give it the best attention it deserves.

 

Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, in a keynote address gave an overview of the management and reintegration of surrendered Boko Haram and Islamic West Africa Province terrorists in the North East.

 

Represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Sabi Ishaq, (RTD), the governor discussed the operations and activities of the insurgents and reasons for their mass surrender and how they were encouraged to drop their guns and embrace peace.

 

He stated the need for more support from the Federal government and Donor agencies towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant insurgents.

 

Earlier, the Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maj. Gen. G.A Wahab (RTD), said the seminar was on handling and management of repentant insurgents in the North East.

 

Wahab stressed the need on how to manage the huge number of repentant insurgents before their reintegration into the society.