Home Blog Page 1263

Nigeria Launches Crisis Management Doctrine

0

President Muhammadu Buhari has launched the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD), aimed at bridging the gap created by extensive deployment of security services through fostering collaboration amongst Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The NCMD, which was developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser in coordination with relevant MDAs, would ensure greater successes in tackling national crisis.

Speaking at the launch held at the presidential villa, Abuja on Friday, the President commended the efforts of the National Security Adviser, retired Major-General Babagana Monguno, his staff and members of the working group from various responder MDAs for the remarkable work in developing the doctrine.

He described the feat as a significant milestone in recognition of the need for collective efforts towards achieving coordinated, effective and efficient national crisis management.

President Buhari Assures Investors Of More Support

0

President Muhammadu Buhari says entrepreneurs and the business community, whose investments align with the priorities of the government in value and job creation, will continue to receive the full support of his administration.

The President, who received the Management of BUA Group at the State House led by the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the government’s focus on import substitution to encourage local production and export will stimulate growth and stability, as he urged investors to take advantage of the vision.

President Buhari commended the Chairman of BUA Group for concentrating investments in the country, and transiting from trade to manufacturing.

$418m Paris Club refund: Governors’ objections baseless – Malami

0

According to Malami, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum had given their mandate for the deductions to pay the consultants engaged by them.

He said that “All the noise is now being generated by the Governors’ Forum, is not only unjustified but indeed a clear case of absence of defence”

According to Malami, “the Governors’ Forum, comprising of all the governors sat down commonly and agreed on the engagement of a consultant to provide certain services for them relating to the recovery.

Labour Party names leader of Peter Obi’s campaign communication team

0

Pat Utomi, a renowned Economist, has announced Charles Odigbo as the leader of the communication team for the Labour Party campaign team.

Mr Utomi made the announcement at a special announcement session of the Media Team for the Peter Obi Campaign team, which held in Lagos on Thursday.

According to him, the team comprises media veterans who are professionals, passionate, and committed to the Nigerian people.

Mr Utomi also said that the “Big Tent Platform” for Peter Obi campaign team would begin a “Listening Clinic” from August 16.

He explained that the Big Tent Platform comprised several political parties working together to present the candidates that all of Nigeria would embrace.

Mr Utomi, who is also a management expert, said the listening clinic would highlight the fact and the way government of the people and for the people had to begin with the sharing of what the people thought and felt.

This, he added, was how to solve their problems, noting that it was the person who wore the shoes who knew where it pinched.

The clinic would be handled by a communication team who are professionals, passionate and committed to the people.

Mr Utomi also disclosed that a ceremony would hold on Friday in Owerri, Imo State, where members of the Rescue Nigeria Project (RNP) in all of the South East states would come together to declare for the Labour Party.

Rivers State Governor Wike denies suing Atiku, PDP

0

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has denied reports that he sued the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The governor said he did not go to court neither did he ask anyone to file a suit on his behalf.

He also said reports of the suit emanated from Atiku’s people.

He made the comments in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday during the official commissioning of some projects in the state.

He was reacting to reports that he sued Atiku, the PDP and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was a presidential aspirant at the party’s primary.

Mr Tambuwal had stepped down during the primary and urged delegates from his state to vote Atiku – an act which aided Atiku’s victory and stirred crisis in the party and a rift between Mr Wike and the presidential candidate.

National Gallery Of Ireland Appoints First Female Director In Its 158-Year History

0

The National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin has appointed Caroline Campbell as its new director. Campbell, who will take up the role in November 2022, will be the first female director in the museum’s 158-year history.

Campbell will join the Dublin attraction, which houses a collection of Irish and European art, after having served as the director of collections and research at the National Gallery, London since 2018. She will succeed the museum’s previous director, Sean Rainbird, who will depart from his role as the institution’s head after ten years in September.

A specialist in Italian Renaissance art, Campbell previously held curatorial positions at The Courtauld Gallery, London and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Born in the Northern Ireland city Belfast, she holds degrees from from the University of Oxford and the Courtauld Institute of Art.

In a statement, Mary Keane, chair of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland, said Campbell’s appointment as its first female head would be “groundbreaking,” for the national museum, which in 2018 reopened to the public after a five-year long renovation project. Since the unveiling of its refurbished building, the museum reported its attendance numbers had nearly doubled since 2017.

“Building on Sean Rainbird’s achievements, I look forward to working with the Board and the Gallery’s staff on this world-class collection, making its riches available to as wide an audience as possible both in Ireland and internationally,” said Campbell in a statement.

Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery, London, praised Campbell’s international reputation as a Renaissance art expert, calling her a “gifted art historian and a highly talented communicator,” Finadli added that the role shift will bring, “an even closer collaboration,” with the Ireland museum.

FG Hasn’t Informed Us of Cash Crunch– ASUU Replays Keyamo, Umahi

0

Striking Academic Staff Union of Universities has said the government has not at any time indicated that it does not have money to fund the union’s demands and university education.

The union was reacting to recent comments by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, who said it was unreasonable for the Federal Government to borrow over N1 trillion to meet ASUU’s demands.

As earlier reported, ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, after submitting its demands, which were being renegotiated by the Prof. Nimi Briggs committee set up by the Federal Government.

The strike enters its 180th day on Friday (today).

ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with The PUNCH, described those saying the government had no money as interlopers who had no business in the affairs of ASUU and the government.

Osodeke said, “Do you believe the FG has no money? Is Umahi the FG? Has the Minister of Education said so? Has the Minister of Finance said so? If the person directed to resolve a matter has not said so when interlopers are saying things, who will you believe?

“When did Umahi become the spokesperson for the FG? They can borrow money for Trader Moni, they can borrow money to feed schoolchildren in schools, they can borrow to buy vehicles for Niger Republic, but they cannot borrow to fund education. We are tired too. If they want to close down all the universities formally, they should.”

When asked if ASUU would bend its demands so that the students could return to school, Osodeke insisted that the issue had to do with the government’s coming to the renegotiation table with ASUU.

“It is not about ASUU bending its demands; our demands are with the government. They should come to us with what they want. We don’t have to beg them. We agreed on something and let them send it to us. We have reached a negotiation. Let them come and tell us what they can do,” he said.

180TH DAY

ASUU strike enters its 180th day on Friday (today), making it one of the longest in the history of the country.

Osodeke said the plan was not to “suspend the strike but to end it permanently. We want to end strikes permanently in our universities, and that is our demand. That is our desire.”

The Programme Director, Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, said, “It is a shame that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to set terrible records for itself, especially in the area of education. 2020 is still fresh in our memories when our schools were closed for close to one year.

“We have the same situation coming up in 2022. This should not be allowed to continue. We reject the plot to turn our undergraduates into out-of-school children.”

Germany Suspends Military Operations In Mali

0

The German defence ministry said Friday it had suspended most of its operations in Mali after the local military-led government denied flyover rights to a UN peacekeeping mission.

“The Malian government has once again refused to give flyover rights to a flight planned today” for the rotation of personnel on the ground, a ministry spokesman said at a regular press conference.

In response, Germany had decided to “suspend until further notice the operations of our reconnaissance forces and CH-53 (helicopter) transport flights”.

“It is no longer possible to support the MINUSMA reconnaissance missions on an operational basis,” the spokesman said.

Without the new troops, who were set to “replace French forces” in the process of withdrawing, “security on site is not assured” as the “remaining forces must be kept ready for security operations”.

The flyover rights were refused despite assurances to the contrary from the Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara in a call with his German counterpart Christine Lambrecht Thursday, the spokesman said.

“Camara’s actions tell a different story than his words,” Lambrecht said in a statement posted by her ministry on Twitter.

The German move comes as Mali’s junta turned away from France and toward Russia in its fight against jihadism.

The long-running insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.

The relationship between Bamako and Paris, its former colonial power and traditional ally, has deteriorated in recent months.

The arrival of Russian paramilitaries in the country on the invitation of the government was a key factor in France’s decision to pull its military forces out.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Transfer: Premier League Club Agrees 20m Deal To Sign Nigerian Forward, Emmanuel Dennis

0

Super Eagles forward Emmanuel Dennis is on his way back to the Premier League.

Premier League newcomers, Nottingham Forest have agreed a £20million deal for the Watford striker.

The Athletic reports that Nottingham Forest had an opening bid for the Nigerian rejected last month.

The Premier League newcomers have now agreed a deal in principle with personal terms already struck with just final negotiations ongoing.

Dennis’ former club, Club Bruges, will receive a five percent sell-on fee for the forward, who has also been linked with West Ham after he scored 10 goals for Watford in the Premier League last term.

Muhammad Ali’s Rumble In The Jungle Belt Auctioned For $6.18 Million

0

Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ Belt Auctioned For $6.18 Million. Credit: Early Report

The heavyweight title belt from the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” fight that Muhammad Ali won in 1974 has been sold at an auction  for $6.18 million.

Jim Irsay, the owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, a professional American football team, won the competitive battle for the belt, according to Dallas’ Heritage Auctions.

rsay acknowledged in a tweet on Sunday that he bought the belt for his collection of rock music, American history, and pop culture artifacts

The belt was on display at an exhibition on August 2 at Chicago’s Navy Pier and on September 9 in Indianapolis.

“After several hours of watching two bidders go back and forth over this belt,” Chris Ivy, the Heritage Director of Sports Auctions,  said in a press release, calling the bidding “a battle worthy of the Rumble itself.”

Jim Irsay already owned a number of other highly sought-after items from Muhammad Ali’s career, such as the 1965 walkout robe on which the name Muhammad Ali first appeared and the boxer’s sneakers from the epic 1975 “Thrilla in Manila” fight against Joe Frazier.

On August 2 in Chicago and on September 9 in Indianapolis, Irsay will present the public with a full exhibition of this collection, including the “Rumble in the Jungle” belt, its newest acquisition