The growth recorded by the mining sector in the second quarter reaffirms the importance of all partners in the industry to work together in an effort to contribute positively to the growth of the economy.
The Department of Mineral Resources on Tuesday noted that the sector grew by 4.9% and contributed 0.4 of a percentage point to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, led by growth in platinum group metals (PGMs), copper and nickel, amongst others.
“The mining and quarrying sector contributed positively to GDP in the second quarter, data released by Statistics SA has confirmed. This bodes well for the sector and indicates a commodity boom may be imminent,” the department said.
The department said the growth in the sector is a good indicator against the background of the recently-announced retrenchments and a decline in gold prices as well as demand for platinum.
The department said as one of the leading mineral exporting countries, South Africa has been negatively affected by global economic factors and as a result, the mining industry experienced a decline in performance over recent years.
“Prioritising the exploration of new mineral deposits, and continuing to work together with the industry, we can turn our comparative advantage into competitive advantage, and ensure the sector’s positive contribution to growth of the economy is sustained,” said Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.
UNICEF in Collaboration with Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency (NOA), has concluded plans to establish 90 theatre groups in three states to mobilise and support communities to access healthcare services for healthy development of children.
The States are Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger.
Communication for Development Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Eki George, made this known in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, at the opening of a 3-day Training the Trainers on Theatre for Development (TFD) from the States.
The training was organised by NOA, Kaduna State Office, with support from UNICEF to equip participants with the capacity to set up theatre groups that would periodically perform drama to promote healthy behavioural change.
George explained that the theatre groups, 30 each in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger states, would specifically mobilise communities on essential family practices and improve demand and uptake of health services.
He explained that the idea was to use theatre to sensitise communities and caregivers on the benefits of polio vaccines, other health services and key households practices hinged on diseases prevention.
The communication for development specialist said, “For example, another round of Oral Polio Vaccine is coming up in October. We want the theatre groups to use theatre to communicate to communities its benefits to the child, the family and the community.
“They will also be expected to mobilise and support families on uptake of polio vaccine, routine immunisation, HIV/AIDS services and other health services crucial for children survival.
“The groups would also support hand washing, sanitation and hygiene practices, exclusive breastfeeding and good complementary feeding practices, school enrolment campaign, particularly the girl child and other child development related issues.”
Earlier, NOA Director in Kaduna State, Galadima Zubairu, described theatre as effective tool for behavioural change towards building healthy communities that support survival of children.
Zubairu expressed confidence that issues on healthy behavioural change and key household practices when dramatised, would create the needed change among caregivers.
He explained that the participants were expected to step down the training in their respective states and subsequently establish the theatre groups.
His counterpart in Nasarawa state, Mrs Priscilla Gondoaluor, thanked the organisers for the training, stressing that the strategy would go a long way in mobilising communities toward healthy development of children.
“Drama is very effective in communicating health messages to the people. I am certain that we will all benefit immensely from this training,’’ she said.
The Nigeria Youths SDGs Network, a coalition of youth-led Organisations across Nigeria is set to host the second edition of the National #SDGsStory Summit in Abuja on Thursday. This is line with the United Nations’ commitment to build a more rewarding future without leaving anyone behind.
The National #SDGsStory Summit will bring together 300 National delegates across Nigeria to share and learn from the efforts of other young Nigerians and how such efforts is helping them achieve the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs in Nigeria.
During the course of the Summit, resource persons from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), YouthHub, Connected Development, and the International Labour Organization will feature on the panel sessions.
Special Adviser, Social Investments to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Maryam Uwais, is expected to be the Keynote Speaker.
“Many young people are passionately working to make a difference where they find themselves, the stories of such people should be shared and applauded. There is so much we can do when we come together as against when will work individually and separately,” says the Coalition Chair, Semiye Michael.
“The SDGs Story Summit is designed to celebrate the efforts of young people across Nigeria who mobilizes resources to carry out intervention projects in the urban and rural spaces as giant strides towards the implementation of the SDGs,” he added.
The team lead in Abuja, Seyifunmi Adebote, said: “Our aim is to amplify the efforts of young people doing amazing things across Nigeria. Their innovative interventions in technology, agriculture, education and lot more areas have greatly helped them birth a great sense of responsibility and also puts Nigeria on the global scene for good.”
“I personally believe that if we do not give them a platform to rightfully tell their stories, that implies we are giving the microphone to strangers who could twist our stories.”
The SDGs Story Summit is designed to celebrate the efforts of young people across Nigeria who mobilise resources to carry out intervention projects in the urban and rural spaces as giant strides towards the implementation of the SDGs.
The event which will hold at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja, is also expected to attract representatives from Office of Senior Special Adviser to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals, members of the diplomatic communities and other dignitaries.
Vehicles Seized by Nigerian Customs Service, Ogun State Command
Vehicles Seized by Nigerian Customs Service, Ogun State Command
By Oladele Igbagboyemi
Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), South West of the country, says it has intercepted 6,194 smuggled bags of rice, 33 vehicles and other contraband worth over N382million.
The seizures also include 395 kegs of vegetable oil (25 litres each), 340 kegs of petrol, 1,954 pairs of footwear and seven bales of secondhand clothing.
The State NCS Comptroller, Michael Agbara, who disclosed this while briefing reporters at the Idiroko border, said the contraband were seized in August.
Agbara, who stated that 45 cartons of frozen poultry products, 150 cartons of Ceres red grape juice and five cartons of Ribena currant juice were among the seizures, put the duty paid value of all the goods at N382,263,360.
According to him, the command has improved on its revenue generation and suppression of smuggling activities.
He explained that within the month of August, the agency generated a total revenue of N799,682,839.62 which was N71million excess of a monthly revenue target of N727,775,499.91.
The Comptroller further noted that the seizure of 6,194 bags of foreign rice last month was the highest monthly seizure ever made in the command since inception of the Federal Government policy on boosting local rice production.
He said 27,085 bags of rice have so far been intercepted from January till date, adding that the figures exceeded the 21,789 bags seized by the command throughout 2017.
“The anti-smuggling success story is a blow to smugglers who wanted to exploit the avenue of Sallah festivities to perpetuate their illicit act and orchestration to the fact that officers and men of Ogun command have fulfilled the promise of curtailing the activities of economic saboteurs,” he said.
Agbara also disclosed that in line with Headquarters directive, his command recently handed over 11,057 bags of rice and other perishable goods to internally displaced persons in Borno State through Nigerian Army Corps of Transport and Logistics.
He added: “The command equally participated in a joint operation which has led to the seizure of large quantity of petrol in a creek at Ijoun in which the quantity is yet to be ascertained due to ongoing evacuation.
“We wish to commend the patriotic role of our sister agencies, traditional leaders, eminent personalities and some host communities who have always partnered with us in our quest to effectively perform our statutory functions in compliance with extant government policies.”
He assured of the commitment of the command’s operatives to tackling smugglers and smuggling across the state.
A regional Conference on Tracking Trends of Corruption through abandoned projects in the Niger-Delta has called for the establishment of an Audit Service Commission for prudence and sectoral Service discipline into public procurement and auditing processes.
In a Communique issued at the end of the conference in Port Harcourt, participants also tasked anti-corruption citizens groups to intensify campaigns toward bringing the menace of corruption in the region to an end.
They also suggested that anti-corruption ambassadors be further raised to add to the milieu of resources and tools championing the crusade against Corruption in the society as well as Citizens participation in budget planning and implementation.
Other Reconciliations are: –
“That the school curricula must be considered for infusing anti-corruption study into formal education process right from basic education level. The use of youth gangs to induce violence and insecurity as contributing factors to the problem of abandoned project must be discouraged.
“The overbearing influence of the oil and gas sector must be made to subscribe to prudent contracting processes in order to improve anti-corruption practice and also enhance contract related benefits and services to respective communities.
“An oversight committee comprising of State and CSOs representatives should be established across the States towards ensuring budget compliance to ensure social accountability on needs assessment, budgeting and implementation
“Parliamentary independence and oversight roles must be fully utilized to improve the prospects of realizing better dividends from transparency and accountability practices around public procurement processes in the region.
“There is compelling need for the State at all levels to implement the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) to address the problem of non-accountability and corruption.
“All relevant stakeholders should be involved from the beginning of project planning process to give all fair understanding of, and a sense of ownership to trigger implementation success for publicly funded projects.
“Open governance partnership, OGP, should be adopted to strengthen CSOs input into budgeting and project implementing – to this end; Open budget process should be vigorously pursued to enhance information access around public spending.
“Awareness creation and sensitization of the masses should be utilized to mobilize grassroots participation in combating corruption.
“Electoral process should be improved to achieve peaceful, free and fair balloting towards enhancing prospects of combating corruption.
The conference was organised by Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Section) in Collaboration with the African Centre for Media and Literacy with the support of MacArthur Foundation.
It had in attendance, anti-corruption agencies, committees, States government MDAs, Development Partners, CSOs traditional institutions, Community groups and the media.
A Kwara based Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Elites Network for Sustainable Development has joined the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) and the Kwara state government in the call for immediate relocation of residents of communities along the banks of River Niger; Lafiagi, Patigi, Jebba, amongst others.
The Hydrological Agency has already listed Kwara, Niger, Kebbi, Kogi, Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa as states that should be on the watch out and advised them to make necessary preparations to relocate people within the floodplains to safe and higher grounds in the event of flooding.
This call by NiHSA emanates from her observation that River Niger is still rising with likelihood of occurrence of River flooding.
A statement by the CSO’s Coordinator, Dr. Alagbonsi Abdullateef made available to AFRICA PRIME NEWS said the CSO appreciated the statement by the government, which provides the citizens with early warning system that is important in the prevention of disasters.
“However, we found the government’s statement as insufficient towards addressing the current issue.
“For instance, how the government will ensure strict compliance as she claimed was not disclosed in her statement: is it by enforcing the communities’ relocation or by facilitating it? There is no clear indication and plan on how the government wishes to relocate the people in those affected communities. It is too complacent of any responsible government to just give danger alert without discussing the future of such important communities and phenomenon.
“The ENetSuD will be happy to know the government’s “preparedness and mitigation plans”, which will give us ideas of the mechanisms she has in place in case of imminent disaster. In addition to the fact that these concerned communities pay taxes and revenues, and take part in the democratic processes by casting their votes, they also substantially contribute to Kwara state economy with their fishing and farming activities, which are their main occupations and sources of livelihood.
“Events of disaster may cause serious havoc and render them homeless and jobless, which is against the agenda of current government that strongly advocates for diversification of the economy from Oil to Agriculture.
” Because an elected government is supposed to be for everybody, the lives, properties and interests of these riverine communities ought to be considered and protected by government as well.
“Furthermore, ENetSuD is of the opinion that River flooding and displacement of residents are supposed to have been a forgotten story in Kwara and Nigeria at large, considering the huge amount of ecological funds that Federal government has been allocating in the past and in recent times. Corruption that surrounds the utilisation of this fund (which needs to be thoroughly investigated) could be the major reason these funds have not significantly solved the National ecological problem.
“The public may wish to be reminded of flooding incidences that occurred about 2 month ago across many parts of Ilorin, including Okekere, Oloje, Ode Adana,Okelele, Dada area, Aduralere, Alagbado, Amilegbe, Akerebiata, Kuntu-Oja road, Harmony estate, Mubo street, and many other communities in Kwara state where thousands of people were displaced and properties were destroyed. In our press statement made available to Journalists on the 24th June, 2018, we attributed the flooding in Kwara state to negligence on the part of Kwara state government due to non-implementation of the Kwara state master plan for environmental management, a view that was corroborated by the press statement of a former Kwara State Commissioner on Environment and Tourism, Dr. Bola Olaosebikan.
“Instead of joining hands with the state government to provide a lasting solution, the senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District and President of the Nigeria Senate (Dr. Bukola Saraki) was reportedly distributing stipends as relief materials for the victims, a step that could not forestall future reoccurrence of this menace.
“The ENetSuD urged the Kwara state government to call for a local meeting with the concerned communities and visit the sites for strong preparedness and contingency plans in the event of the disaster.
“The government should also make adequate arrangement and take full responsibility for the relocation of residents in the affected riverine communities, as this natural disaster (river flooding) is not their making.
“Again, we call on the Kwara state government to promptly take steps towards the implementation of the State Master Plan for Environmental Management. As the government has taken tax collection a serious government business, Kwara state environmental issue should also be taken with more seriousness due to its important and direct impacts on all Kwara citizens and residents.
#SDGsStory Hangout at the Netherlands Embassy in Abuja
#SDGsStory Hangout at the Netherlands Embassy in Abuja
By Zainab Usman
Four short videos have been screened under the #SDGsStory Hangout, showing different approaches by young people to drive the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
This is coming ahead of the country’s #SDGsStory Summit holding in Abuja on Thursday, on the platform of the Nigeria Youths SDGs Network,
The videos were screened at the monthly #SDGsStory Hangout, which brings together young people to share some of their works and learn from the works and experiences of others. It is also to ensure that efforts of young people working to champion the Sustainable Development Goals are not limited to communities where they work.
Addressing the August meeting, Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Robert J. Petri, who hosted the meeting, appreciated the cooperation enjoyed by his team from the Nigerian community, stressing the need for strong bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and his country.
Among the videos were that of Dapper Exclusive Style Limited, which explained how they are gradually birthing a cycling culture in Nigeria, tied to 10 of the global goals.
The other was that of Feminine Folks Initiative, who profiled some of her past projects at the Internally Displaced Persons camps and other hinterlands.
The other two were that of Onfoja Foundation and Helen Asimegbe, whose works cantered on quality education and gender equality; goals four and five, respectively.
PDP Gubernatirial Aspirant in Rivers State, Soalabo West
PDP Gubernatirial Aspirant in Rivers State, Soalabo West
…Says it is time for Riverine communities to produce a governor
Barely 24 hours after Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, declared that he would be running for a second term in office, in 2019, another aspirant, Soalabo West, has also announced his willingness to contest for governorship on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.
Açcording to his Media Aide, Nkemjika Horsefall , West, an energy and maritime lawyer of the Kalabari ethnic extraction, says his willingness to vie for the 2019 governorship election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, “is anchored on a new paradigm to make Rivers State great again.”
The gubernatorial hopefull stated that the circumstances that threw up Wike in 2015 have been actualised with his emergence as governor in 2015 under the aegis of the PDP and it is now the turn of the riverine communities to produce the Governor in 2019.
“The prevailing argument then, was that Rivers was a PDP state and the people of the state needed to wrest the leadership of the state from the All Progressives Congress, APC, the party which the then incumbent governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi defected to in 2013.”
West recalled: “Governorship aspirants from the riverine ethic nationalities were asked to work with Wike, not because the Upland/Riverine dichotomy was not there, but essentially because of imperatives of the time.”
“One, that Rivers State should go to the PDP, and second, that the state should be properly mobilised to deliver majority votes to former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2019 presidential election.”
West emphasized that his governorship ambition is propelled by his desire to bring to the fore: vision; youthful vigour; and a pragmatic and dynamic approach to the development of the state devoid of political bickering and sectarian exclusiveness that is currently being institutionalized.”
He added: “My appeal to our youths and all stakeholders is to eschew violence and thuggery because according to former President Jonathan, nobody’s blood should be shed for anybody’s political ambition.”
