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Press Freedom Day: President Urges Media To Be Mindful Of Sponsored Political News

By
Angel Gimalo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with the Nigerian media on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, observed every year on May 3.

In a message, the President recognized their role in strengthening democracy in the country.

“I salute the courage and determination of those who daily go the extra time, sometimes at great personal risks, to keep the society well informed.”

In fostering the pursuit of journalism in the country, President Buhari reiterated the Nigerian government’s commitment to freedom of the press, pledging to continue ensuring the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the lawful performance of their professional duties.

He charged the Nigerian Press to use the World Press Freedom Day to reflect on the need to embrace the best professional standards and practices, especially in the build-up to the forthcoming general elections.

He noted that the free performance of media roles and responsibilities during the electoral process is as important as the sanctity and will of Nigerians, expressed through the ballot box.

With the elections in sight, the President urged the media to be mindful of sponsored political news or publications capable of inciting hatred, division, violence, and chaos in the country.

He also called on the electoral umpire and other stakeholders to play their roles in delivering free, fair, credible and transparent elections to Nigerians.

‘‘We must stay united in supporting media professionals who work hard to de-escalate violent conflict and promote peaceful societies without compromising the responsibility to report,’’ he said, urging government information managers to ensure that the press and the general public have access to facts and figures of government information, without tears.

In line with the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ”Journalism under digital siege,” President Buhari assured citizens that that government agencies under his watch would always stand against actions that are capable of limiting the preservation of the freedom of the Press guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him, the Federal Government is working hard to support media organizations in Nigeria through the provision of better internet access to underserved communities and to achieve 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030.

On behalf of Nigerians, President Buhari thanks members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm whose diligent work helped in guaranteeing peace, stability, and progress in the country.

FIFA Imposes One-Match Stadium Bans On Senegal, Nigeria

By
Koko Lawrence
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FIFA has ordered African champions Senegal and Nigeria to play one match behind closed doors after crowd disorder during last month’s 2022 World Cup play-offs.

Fans shone laser pointers at Egypt star Mohamed Salah as he missed in the penalty shootout, won by Senegal, in the second leg in Dakar.

Senegal were fined 175,000 Swiss francs ($180,000) over several incidents, including a pitch invasion, an offensive banner and for failing “to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium”.

FIFA issued a raft of sanctions worldwide after studying dozens of cases from World Cup qualifying games played since the start of the year.

Nigeria were hit with a one-game stadium closure and fined 150,000 Swiss francs after fans invaded the pitch in Abuja following their play-off defeat by Ghana.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Lebanon received similar punishments following disturbances at games against Morocco and Syria respectively.

World’s First NFT Museum In Seattle Aims To ‘Pull Back The Curtain’ On Blockchain Art

By
Koko Lawrence
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Visitors gather for ’The Climate Conversation’ exhibition at Seattle NFT Museum, the first permanent blockchain-based digital art museum in the world, in Seattle, Washington, U.S., April 16, 2022. REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight

The world’s first permanent NFT art museum has opened in Seattle, aiming to “pull back the curtain” on blockchain-based digital art.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a type of digital asset that has exploded in popularity recently, with NFT artworks selling for millions of dollars. NFTs exist on a blockchain, a record of transactions kept on networked computers.

The museum opened its doors on Jan. 14, and has been providing an outlet for artists, creators, and collectors to display their NFTs in a physical setting, while aiming to educate the public about this fairly new market for digital art.

“We really realized the impact of being able to look at this type of art in a way where you actually slow down, you see all the details,” said Jennifer Wong, a co-founder and curator at Seattle NFT Museum.

Local digital artist Maksim Surguy attended the opening of the museum’s ‘Climate Conversation’ exhibition on April 16, which features his designs that are sold as NFTs online, but can also be printed in physical form.

“Previously, if you make a digital artwork or physical artwork, there were a lot of limitations about who can see the artwork or how they can own it,” said Surguy, who works in Seattle’s tech industry and ventured into crypto-based art a year and a half ago.

According to a March report from Ireland-based Research and Markets firm, the global NFT market is expected to grow to over $21 billion in 2022.

“An NFT is really just a contract that signifies the ownership of an asset of some kind,” said Peter Hamilton, who co-founded the museum. “These tokens… are basically a contract that says this serial number belongs to this piece of art, and if you own this token, you are the rightful owner.”

The museum has programming planned throughout the year.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important the educational part of this museum is,” said Hamilton. “We’re trying to onboard folks and help them see what the value of NFTs are and help people pull back the curtain a little bit on what blockchain is and what its utility is.”

Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Says Badagry Deep Seaport To Generate $2.6b

By
Angel Gimalo
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The Federal Government said the Badagry Seaport would generate about $2.6 billion and create 5,000 direct and indirect jobs when operational.

Mr Micheal Ohiani, the Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), said this when he led a team to visit the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, in Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power.

Ohiani also presented the Full Business Case Compliance Certificate, for the Badagry Deep Seaport and the Modular Floating Dock to the minister.

He said the proposed port would create a total ecosystem in terms of shipping, transportation, job creation amongst others.

He said one of the most notable attributes of the Badagry port was that it would enable the country compete favourably with the Cotonou seaport.

“In respect of the Dry Dock which is handled by NIMASA, the revenue that will come to the Federal Government within that period is $65 million and it’s going to create a job opportunity of over 800,000”, Ohiani said.

Responding, Amaechi thanked the ICRC for its diligence, noting that the presentation reflected that the project was financially viable.

Amaechi further informed that the Ministry would write to the Federal Executive Council for approval on the projects.

Badagry Deep Seaport will be the second in the state after the Lekki Deep Seaport, projected to be inaugurated in 2022.

Trade Policy: Nigerian Government Warns APM Terminals, Others Over Non-Compliance

By
Angel Gimalo
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The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned APM terminals at Apapa and others to adhere to government’s freight forwarders’ directive on the collection of practitioners operating fee, POF.

Speaking during a meeting between officials of the Ministry of Transportation and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders and terminal operators in Lagos weekend, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said since the introduction of the policy on February 24, 2021, some terminal operators have failed to comply with the agreement reached, which has resulted to loss of revenue to the country.

Ajani said the ministry could no longer ignore the actions of the terminal operators, explaining that the job of the ministry was to ensure that government policies were adhered to.

According to her, where there is failure to adhere, it leaves the ministry with no choice but to look at sanctions that can follow such disobedience of policy in the future.

She said the ministry had given terminal operators two months to key into the collection of POF, after which sanctions would be applied for those who failed to abide.

Ajani stated that one of the importance of the POF was that it would enhance the fortunes of freight forwarding in Nigeria.

She pointed out that the POF would promote global competitiveness and build capacity for effective participation in the new Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.

Construction Commences On Idaho’s Largest Solar Project

By
Angel Gimalo
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Construction is now underway on what will become the largest solar project in Idaho, U.S.

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is developing the 120MW Jackpot Solar project in Twin Falls County, the utility subsidiary’s first utility-scale project in Idaho.

Idaho Power has secured a 20-year power purchase agreement for energy generated by Jackpot Solar to support the utility’s goal of providing 100% clean energy by 2045.

The Jackpot Solar project is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

Swinerton Renewable Energy was selected for engineering, procurement, and construction on the project. Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will own and operate the project.

In 2021, renewable energy sources generated 74% of the electricity in Idaho, the fourth-highest share of renewable electricity for any state after Vermont, South Dakota, and Washington, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Idaho also enjoys the lowest electricity prices in the country, largely due to its hydro generating more than half of the state’s power.

As recently as 2015, Idaho did not have a single utility-scale solar project. By the end of 2021, Idaho had 612MW of solar capacity installed, representing an investment of $901 million, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

At 120MW, Jackpot Solar is expected to pass what’s believed to be the largest utility-scale solar project in Idaho, the 108MW Grandview PV Solar Two project installed in 2016.

India Heat Wave: Climate Change-Fueled Event Topples Monthly Records

By
Angel Gimalo
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0

The heatwave still gripping parts of India and Pakistan set all-time monthly records this weekend and has yet to fully abate.

Why it matters: At least a billion people suffered through temperatures of 104°F (40°C) or higher from Thursday through Sunday, with many seeing highs of 110°F (43°C) and above.

Heatwaves are becoming more common, severe and longer as the world warms in response to human emissions of greenhouse gases.

By the numbers: According to Maximiliano Herrera, an expert on global temperature extremes, several monthly records fell in India and Pakistan on April 30 and May 1, while Pakistan likely experienced its hottest April on record.

Banda, in Uttar Pradesh, reached 117.4°C (47.2°C) on Friday, setting an April record. Other such records were set Saturday in Gurgaon, Chandigarh and Dharamshala.

On May 1, the temperature climbed further, to 121.1°F (49.5°C) at Nawabshah, Pakistan, which is likely the hottest temperature on record in the Northern Hemisphere so far this year.

Jacobabad in Pakistan hit a punishing 120.2F (49.0°C) on April 30. Delhi saw temperatures exceed 110°F (43.3°C) for several days.

Satellite-derived land surface temperatures in India and Pakistan April 29, 2022.

Threat level: Many in this region lack access to air conditioning, and heat-related illnesses spiked in India and Pakistan, according to news reports. Power outages related to the high electricity demand exacerbated the suffering.

March was India’s warmest such month on record, and April will make the top five nationwide, while northwestern India may see its warmest April.

Climate studies have shown clear causal links between the intensity of heatwaves and human-caused climate change.

A study that examined the deadly heatwave in the Pacific Northwest last year, for example, found that the sizzling temperatures would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change.

Between the lines: India’s average temperature has risen by around 0.7°C, or 1.26°F, between 1901–2018, according to an IMD report, which tied this trend to human emissions of greenhouse gases.

That report found that under a worst-case emissions scenario (which is no longer considered the likeliest outcome) extreme heat could increase by 50 to 70% by 2100.

However, recent assessments from the U.N.’s top climate panel projected significant increases in heat waves globally even under more modest warming through 2100.

“We have looked at data for seventy years and at the intensity, the number of heatwaves is directly in response to global warming,” Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate expert at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said.

What’s next: Temperatures will start easing during the next few days but more extreme heat is expected until the monsoon season arrives between May and June.

OPEC Fund Supports Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project With $14.3M

By
Elizabeth Williams
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The OPEC Fund for International Development has expressed its support for the ongoing massive gas project embarked upon by Nigeria and Morocco.

The OPEC Fund will finance $14.3 million for the second phase of the studies in the submarine Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.

The OPEC Fund for International Development is the intergovernmental development finance institution established in 1976 by the Member States of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.

According to the project document from the website of the OPEC Fund, the sum is extended to the Moroccan government to support its national development strategy aimed at transitioning to a low-carbon energy system, diversifying its energy mix and achieving its renewable energy commitments.

The document titled ‘Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) Front End Engineering Study Phase II Project’ showed that the fund is for a study for detailed evaluations of the implementation and design process for the eventual construction of the gas pipeline, thus facilitating the final investment decision.

It said the OPEC Fund’s contribution will specifically co-finance the survey works for the North Area (Senegal – Mauritania – Morocco) of the NMGP.

Earlier, a statement by the Moroccan Ministry of Finance on Friday, said the agreement was signed by the Moroccan Finance and Economy Minister, Nadia Fettah and the general director of the OPEC Fund Abdulhamid Alkhalifa.

Nigeria Remains 2nd Globally In Quantity Films Production- MD

By
Koko Lawrence
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The Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr Chidia Maduekwe, has urged filmmakers to sustain Nigeria’s second position globally in quantity films production, by improving quality of their films.

Maduekwe made the plea at the opening of a seven-day Zuma Film Festival in Abuja.

The theme of the festival is entitled: “Show the Money” which underscores the immense commercial benefits that could come from investing in the sector.

Maduekwe, who urged Nigerians to invest in films production, said that the sector could not only provide entertainment, but would provide money for stakeholders in the industry.

According to him, abundant opportunities are inherent in this sector in terms of content creation, employment generation and wealth creation, as well as the cross border impact.

He said that the 2022 Zuma Film Festival was organised to provide a platform for film networking between Nigerian filmmakers and their counterparts from other film countries.

“It is also aimed at exploring and expanding film co-production opportunities beneficial to Nigerian filmmakers, as well as recognise and reward cinematic excellence and entrench professionalism.

“The festival will boost export potential of Nigerian films and herald Nigeria as Africa’s tourism and film destination hub,” NFC chief said.

He commended the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration for partnering with the corporation to host the 12th edition of the festival in Abuja.

The Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammed Musa, said that the FCT Administration agreed to host the festival, not only because Abuja City is a beautiful location for film production, but to encourage youths to see opportunities in films production.

Musa, represented by Samuel Attang, the Director, Operations and Strategy, expressed optimism that the sector would enhance youths empowerment and poverty reduction.

Also, Folorusho Coker, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), said that the United Nations World Trade Organisation had granted Nigeria the right of global conference co-operative tourism.

Coker, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Odeh Anuba, said that this would give filmmakers the opportunities to market their films for tourism development.

IMF Revises Up Egypt’s 2022 Real GDP Growth Forecast to 5.9%

By
Elizabeth Williams
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its projections for Egypt’s real GDP growth in 2022 to reach 5.9 percent, up from 5.6 percent expected in January.

The IMF also expected Egypt’s GDP to register 5 percent in 2023, it announced on Tuesday 19/4/2022.

In January, the IMF expected Egypt’s real GDP growth to reach 5.6 percent, compared to growth projections of 5.2 percent in its previous report in October.

Commenting on the January report, Gita Gopinath, IMF’s Chief Economist, said Egypt was the only country among the oil importing nations to record a positive growth rate thanks to its good management of the Covid-19 pandemic’s fallout.

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