Emir’s 'Renewed Hunger-Bolt': A reality check for ruling elite by Remmy Nweke - WeekendSalvo@NaijaAgroNet

In a blistering political intervention that has sent shockwaves through the ruling establishment and local political circles alike, the Emir of Katsina, HRH Alhaji Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman CFR, delivered a devastating reality check to a high-powered federal political delegation visiting his ancient palace. 

Stripping away the usual diplomatic pleasantries and calculated niceties that typically accompany such high-level state visits, the revered monarch dismantled the federal administration's signature "Renewed Hope" narrative, directly countering it with the stark, unvarnished reality facing ordinary citizens on the ground across northern Nigeria.

70 countries lack meteorological services to check climate change

NaijaAgroNet:

An estimated 70 countries across the globe are yet to establish a functional meteorological service in their domains, NaijaAgroNet can authoritatively report.

Disclosing this on Monday, while addressing delegates to the 2017 World Government Summit in Dubai, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Mr. José Graziano da Silva lamented this development, saying this was the major reason his office has special partnership in this regard with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

This, he said, underlines the fact that some 70 countries do not have established meteorological services as an example.

FAO, therefore, he said, is working with the World Meteorological Organization to develop low-cost, farmer friendly services to address this need.

“To withstand the vagaries of a harsher, less predictable climate, small farmers will also need better access to other sorts of technologies and to markets, information and finance -- as well as better land tenure and improved agriculture infrastructure,” Graziano da Silva said.

He emphasized on the importance of prevention which is worth a pound of cure, arguing that adaptation to climate change makes economic sense.

“… The benefits of adaptation are much bigger than the costs," he declared, stressing that the importance of national efforts like the United Arab Emirates (UAE's) strategy on food diversification, security and climate change. 

Uj. N. Dom/GEE

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Pix: Dr Joseph Romanus Mukabana - Directotr Offices for Africa & Least Develped Countries WMO

Hilary Clinton petitions Congress over Zika virus funding

NaijaAgroNet:

The United States presidential hopeful, Senator Hillary Clinton has petition the Congress over lack of adequate funding to check the spread of Zika virus across the world, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Clinton in a petition seeking some 500 signatories expressed worries about Zika virus, but lamented that despite the concerns expressed by global leaders including President Barrack Obama, the United Nations (UN), and every major health organization in the world. 

“But Congress has taken no action to provide funding that could help us stave off this virus and ultimately find a cure,” she said.

According to her, over 2 billion people are at risk for Zika, which could cause serious health problems for pregnant women and babies, stressing that in the United States, estimated 800 cases have been documented so far, and in Puerto Rico, it’s possible that 1 in 5 people will be affected by the end of this year.

“… That’s why I’m sending members of my staff there this weekend to discuss what more we can do to mitigate this crisis,” Mrs. Clinton said.
NaijaAgroNet recalls that the World Health Organization has declared Zika a public health emergency, hence, Mrs. Clinton noted that the United States needs to step up and do more about it.

Also NaijaAgroNet reports that President Obama had requested emergency funding from Congress two months ago, but Congress has yet to give him the money. 

“That’s just unacceptable and together, we can do something about it,” Clinton assured, stressing that there’s a lot the world is yet to know about Zika.

“How exactly it’s transmitted, how far mosquitoes carrying the disease can travel, and the full extent of the health risks involved. We need to move quickly on life-saving research to develop a diagnostic test, a vaccine, and a treatment,” she said.

Pointing out that nothing really could be done until Congress approves the needed funding, insisting that with Americans’ health at risk, she said, Congress must take action.

“I know petitions have been a powerful tool to influence Congress - Change.org petitions have helped prompt Congress to provide health care for firefighters who fight wildfires and families affected by contaminated water at a military base,” she submitted.

Clinton, therefore, urged people of good conscious to help by signing the petition so as to convince Congress to do the right thing to confront this dangerous virus.

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Pix: Hillary Clinton