Nigeria To Boost Relations With Cuba With Arts And Culture

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March 11, 2022

The Nigeria government is looking to strengthen bilateral ties with the Caribbean country of Cuba using arts and culture as potential tools.

The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe made it known when he played host to the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Clara Escandell who paid him a courtesy visit.

Runsewe made a statement in which he highlighted that both Countries have very rich cultural heritage, mentioning also the similarities existing in music and dance, explaining that these similarities should be explored to create room for easy affiliation.

He said,” the NCAC has provided a platform for the diplomatic community to gather and rob minds on cultural issues to engender cultural diplomacy.”

He further stated that the International Arts and Crafts, INAC, Expo also brought other international communities under one umbrella to network their arts and crafts to the rest of the world.

The director-general commended Ambassador Escandell for dressing in Nigerian attire for the visit and promised to visit the Republic of Cuba soon.

Escandell said she was in the Council to see the man who had projected the image of Nigeria culturally both home and abroad as well as working tirelessly to use arts and culture to show the need for peaceful co-existence among countries of the world.

She reiterated the need ”for stronger collaboration between the NCAC and the Republic of Cuba to harness the rich cultural heritage of both countries for export.”

The Cuban Ambassador used the visit to call on the diplomatic community to perceive culture as a veritable tool in the building of strong bilateral relationships.

Pharmacists back Lawmakers on Bill to reconstitute Teaching Hospital Boards

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Cleopatra Okohai

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March 11, 2022

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The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria has commended the recent move by the Federal House of Representatives to pass a bill that would reconstitute the governing boards of Federal University Teaching Hospitals.

A statement issued by CPAN National Chairman, Dr. Joseph Madu, disclosed that the proposed bill is long overdue, stressing that it should not be delayed anymore.

Tagged ‘A Bill for an Act to amend the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards etc.) Act Cap U15 LFN 2004’, the proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun state, seeks to restructure the composition of the governing boards of tertiary health institutions to make them more vibrant and efficient.

The bill, which had passed the second reading, also seeks to include pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and other medical professionals in the board of tertiary hospitals.

According to Madu, the current legal regime which serves as a guide for the appointment of leaderships into tertiary hospitals has done more harm than good.

“The level of the unheard-of rivalry in our health care team is mainly because of the current laws guiding the appointment of the headship of our tertiary health institutions.

“The laws have done nothing but promote disharmony, and the end result has been Nigeria’s very poor health index, as well as very low life expectancy in the country,” he said.

Madu noted that it has become a trend for certain health care practitioners to threaten strike whenever fellow health professionals in other disciplines are promoted or appointed to a higher cadre in the health sector.

“We need to borrow a leaf from countries where things are working well. In those countries, headship is situational and based on competence.

“It is not the birthright of any particular professional as our laws have made it seem in the past decades. This is because the job of the head of a hospital is purely administrative.

“The bill will undoubtedly end interdisciplinary rivalry and disharmony within our tertiary health care institutions. It is in tandem with international best practices as seen in many countries like the UK, the US, France, etc,” he said.

Indonesia’s Mount Merapi: Lava Flows As Volcanoes Continues To Erupt

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Angel Gimalo

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March 11, 2022

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INDONESIA-VOLCANO — Lava flows down from the crater of Mount Merapi, Indonesia's most active volcano, as seen from Tunggul Arum in the city of Turi near Yogyakarta early on March 27, 2021. (Photo by AGUNG SUPRIYANTO / AFP) (Photo by AGUNG SUPRIYANTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Indonesia’s Mount Merapi continued to erupt Friday, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on the slopes of the country’s most active volcano.

The volcano on the densely populated island of Java unleashed clouds of hot ash shortly before midnight Wednesday into early morning Thursday and fast-moving pyroclastic flows — a mixture of rock, lava and gas — traveled up to 5 kilometers down its slopes.

It was Mount Merapi’s biggest lava flow since authorities raised its danger level in November 2020, said Hanik Humaida, the head of Yogyakarta’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center.

Dozens of light eruptions continued during the day Thursday with a river of lava and searing gas clouds flowing 2.5km down its slopes.

No casualties were reported. About 253 people were evacuated to temporary shelters but they returned to the volcano’s fertile slopes after the activity subsided, Humaida said.

Authorities have closed at least five tourism attractions located within the danger zone of 5km from the crater and halted mining activities along the volcano’s rivers, Humaida said. Activities out of the danger zone remained open.

Mount Merapi is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently.

World Kidney Day: Group warns Nigerians against unhygienic food

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Cleopatra Okohai

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March 11, 2022

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Nigerians has been urged to be more hygienic and careful of the food they consume by the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, Ogun State chapter.

The Association made the call as part of the celebration of World Kidney Day on Thursday, with the theme, ‘Bridge the knowledge gap to better kidney health”.

The state chairman of the association, Rabiu Kusimo said this in a statement issued on Thursday, in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Kusimo cautioned Nigerians that to avert kidney disease, they should be more conscious of their food intake.

The medical expert noted that the kidney contributes to normal health by removing waste products from the body, balancing the body’s fluid, releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure, and producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong and healthy bones.

He said, “There are many people all over the world suffering from one form of kidney disease or another. It is important for every person to take responsibility for their health by taking deliberate care about what they eat, drink, or even get exposed to their environment.

“Our intakes have a way of passing through the kidneys as products of metabolism and such products may injure the soft tissues of the kidneys if they are harmful, as such, individuals should take note and report any abnormal feelings in any part of their body early to the health care providers to get necessary attention and advice before it is too late.”

The doctor, however, advised people to be more mindful of what they consume as the kidney was a vital and sensitive organ.

Nigeria Partners With Japan For Tech Start-Ups

By

faith Jegede

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March 11, 2022

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The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence Robotics NCAIR, a subsidiary of the National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA is partnering with Japan International Corporation Agency JICA to empower eight indigenous technology Startups through its ‘iHatch’ initiative.

The Director-General NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa announced the partnership while declaring the iHatch incubation open in Abuja.

Stating that the program was critical to Nigeria’s digital transformation drive, he noted that iHatch is designed to train, mentor, and empower promising Nigerian tech entrepreneurs.

Inuwa also affirmed that the program will boost Nigeria’s wealth creation drive through effective capacity building.

He further explained that “President Muhammadu Buhari promised to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. To achieve that, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, formulated the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy NDEPS; the policy is the backbone program that provides digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria”.

“At NITDA part of the implementation of the policy, we are partnering with JICA to see how to create enabling environment, train our start-ups that can come up with innovative ideas to create wealth and prosperity for our country. So this initiative named ‘iHatch’ is crafted to identify promising start-ups with promising ideas. To help, train, mentor, incubate them and for them to turn their ideas into product and services as well as train the start-ups on how to pitch their ideas to potential investors so that they can get funding,” he added.

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Matsunaga Kazuyosh assured of Japan’s interest in enhancing Nigeria’s Digital Economy sector.

“I believe the biggest asset of Nigeria is not natural resources but human capital. So the Japanese government is now focusing more on not helping the establishment of infrastructures, agriculture, medical and security but also digital transformation and green energy in Nigeria,” Kazuyosh stressed.

He said “innovation is key to promoting digital transformation and green energy. I am very happy that the ‘Ihatch’ program will inspire Nigerian youths to brush up on their innovative ideas and maximize opportunities for empowerment. I hope this program will contribute to the success of not only the Nigeria market but also the global market.”

He explained that “the important part of the program will not only bring private sector funding to the start-ups but also provide training to Nigerian Youths.

No Immediate Claim Of Responsibility As Saudi Oil Refinery Is Attacked By Drone

By

Angel Gimalo

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March 11, 2022

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An oil refinery in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, was attacked by drone, causing a small fire that did not cause injuries or affect supplies, the energy ministry said Friday.

The statement did not specify where the drone strike was launched from. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The kingdom’s oil facilities have been a target of Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the past.

The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a shocking attack in 2019 at the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Eastern Province, which temporarily knocked out half the kingdom’s daily production.

The ministry statement, published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, was released shortly after midnight Friday and said the attack took place around 4:40 a.m. on Thursday.

The ministry said such attacks not only target Saudi Arabia, but also the security and stability of energy supply to the world.

Saudi Arabia has been involved in Yemen’s civil war since 2015, fighting against the Houthis who overran the capital of Sanaa and ousted the government there from power. Despite seven years of fighting and war, the Houthis remain in control of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen.

The war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands of people, both fighters and civilians, and spawned the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Many more have been internally displaced.

Around 13 million Yemenis are headed for starvation due to a protracted civil conflict and a lack of funding for humanitarian aid, the U.N. food agency has warned.

NDLEA intercepts three million capsules of opioids in Lagos

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Cleopatra Okohai

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March 11, 2022

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Friday, said it intercepted three million capsules of opioids, a drug more dangerous and potent than tramadol at Jaelith Bonded Container Terminal under Tincan seaport in Apapa area of Lagos.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

According to him, the seizure of 3,000,000 capsules of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol weighing 1,500 kilograms on Monday, March 7, 2022, followed a similar operation in which anti-narcotic officers of the Agency also intercepted 8,613 kilograms of Loud Cannabis smuggled in from Ghana through the waterways at the Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos the previous day, Sunday, March 6, 2022.

He said, “The seized drugs at the bonded terminal were discovered during a joint examination of a 20ft container, SUDU 7774749, with men of Customs Service. Though the consignment was said to have originated from Ningbo province in China and falsely labelled as containing 271 packages of “insulating fittings, faucet water closet WC, and industrial office printing machine, investigations revealed that information on the bill of laden and shipping documents was fake.

“Further investigations uncovered that the container originated from India and arrived in Nigeria Apapa Port on 10th February 2022. Findings showed that the Tramadol found and labelled as Tafrodol 120mg is actually Tapentadol, which is more dangerous and potent opioid than Tramadol. It was also discovered that the container, SUDU 7774749, was consigned from India in Nhava Sheva Port, then transloaded through Morocco and Ghana to Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, based on credible intelligence, operatives of the Lagos Command of the Agency in the early hours of Sunday 6th March intercepted a consignment of Cannabis Sativa (Loud) weighing 8,613kg smuggled from Ghana through the waterways to the Eko Atlantic Beach side, Victoria Island.

Green Fuels: Ørsted, Maersk Sign Landmark Agreement

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Angel Gimalo

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March 11, 2022

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Global logistics company AP Moller-Maersk and renewable energy firm Ørsted have partnered on a new Power-to-X facility in the US to produce zero-emission maritime fuels in an effort to decarbonise shipping.

Ørsted will develop a 675MW Power-to-X facility on the US Gulf Coast, that will produce approximately 300,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year.

This will power Maersk’s newly ordered fleet of 12 methanol-powered vessels.

According to Ørsted, the biogenic carbon needed to produce e-methanol will be extracted through carbon capture and the 1.2GW of power needed for the facility will come from new onshore wind and solar PV farms.

The project is due to be commissioned in the second half of 2025.

African Countries to Travel to by Road

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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March 11, 2022

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Are you in Lagos Nigeria and thinking of travelling to some West African countries. People travel every day to other West African countries such as Togo, Ghana, Liberia, either by public buses or private cars. You too can do it either with friends or alone. All you need are your Nigerian passport, Yellow card and cash!

Here are some countries you can go to by road

Ghana

Ghana is so beautiful, especially when you travel by road. Arm yourself with your passport, yellow card and Ghana Cedis before travelling. You can get a bus from Jibowu or Maza Maza in Lagos South West Nigeria heading to Accra or Weija.

Mali

Explore the landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres. Board a vehicle from Togo heading to Mali or go Northern Ghana and board a bus.

Senegal

Go to Senegal through Cotonou, Burkina Faso then Mali or just take a direct bus from Cotonou. Bare in mind that Cotonou to Burkina Faso is 23 hrs bus ride, Burkina Faso to Mali (Bamako) is another 27hrs. Bamako to Dakar will take 26 hrs. Bus departs from Cotonou every evening between 4pm-6pm.

Mauritania

From Bamako (Mali) take a big bus to Nouakchott this would take you 31hrs (including a wait at the border of 4 hours). From Nouakchott, catch a minibus to Nouadhibou this takes about 6 hours.

Morocco

Take a shared car to Dakhla from Mauritania this takes 8 hours, including a couple of hours hanging around at the border. Take in the sights of the countryside from the minibus.

There you have it, so when next you are planning to take a fun trip consider going to some of these countries mentioned above and remember to do it by road because that is where the fun really lies!!!

Ghana To Expand Renewable Footprint With 1GW Solar Plant

By

Angel Gimalo

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March 11, 2022

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Huawei Digital Power has signed a cooperation agreement with Meinergy Technology to develop a 1GW solar PV plant and 500MWh energy storage system in Ghana.

The energy developer Meinergy works across mining, electricity and the solar PV sector in Ghana and has been expanding its renewable energy footprint in the country.

Meinergy previously built a 20MW solar PV plant in Gomoa Onyaadze in the central region of Ghana. That plant was commissioned in 2018 and it now operates under a PPA with Power Distribution Services Ghana, formerly Electricity Company Ghana.

The West African country has set a strategic goal to increase the proportion of renewable energy in their mix to 10% by 2030 as they concentrate on promoting green energy and making power accessible to all.

While it has an admirable electricity access rate of 84% (93% in urban areas and 73% in rural areas) the country wants to industrialise and modernise its agriculture sector which means unlocking its unreliable and costly supply of electric power.

Ghana updated its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement but pointed out at COP26 putting into action its various plans and agreements to mitigate carbon emissions would require significant international investment to implement climate interventions.

Ghana currently has more than 5,300MW of installed generation capacity, but rarely exceeds 2,400MW availability across its grid according to USTDA figures. This is because of changing hydrological conditions, inadequate fuel supplies and dilapidated infrastructure.

The country does have significant gas and renewable energy potential though to overcome these constraints and it is setting into motion various clean energy projects to support the country’s energy transition.