Gov. Ortom escapes herdsmen attack in his farm - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has recounted how he was attacked by suspected herdsmen while at his farm located along Makurdi-Naka road in Makurdi, Benue State capital, last weekend, reports NaijaAgroNet.

While speaking during an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the governor said;

“Just last week, I was on my farm that is situated in the outskirts of Makurdi town when armed herdsmen came there and shot at me. They also shot at the vehicle of our Livestock Guards who came there and shattered it. We had to call the joint military security team, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), who came and saved the situation,” Ortom lamented.

The governor vowed never to bow to any attempt to intimidate him for speaking up for his people. He also repeated his call for arrest and prosecution of Miyetti Allah leaders for allegedly instigating violence against farmers in Benue state.

Benue state has recorded one of the highest numbers of farmers/herdsmen attacks.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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NLNG signs sale, purchase agreement with Eni - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and Eni have signed a LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for some of the remarketed volumes from NLNG’s Trains 1, 2 and 3, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The agreement, according to the General Manager, External Relations, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, is for the supply of 1.5mtpa for a 10 year term on a Delivered Ex-ship (DES) and Free on Board (FOB) basis.

The agreement, Fatayi-Williams told NaijaAgroNet, signified customers’ confidence in NLNG as a trusted, safe and reliable LNG supplier in the world.

The company added that it is primed for taking up a position in the ranks of top LNG companies with plans to grow its market share. The SPA with Eni advances the ongoing plans by NLNG to remarket volumes from the three trains.

NLNG is an incorporated Joint-Venture owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 per cent), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6 per cent), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr.l (10.4 per cent).

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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ASH commends Adams on smoking cessation report - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Jerome Adams, has been commended for the release of “Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General," reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) gave this applause, Thursday in a press statement endorsed by Megan Arendt and made available to NaijaAgroNet, saying that Surgeon General deserves commendation for once again leading the fight against tobacco addiction, disease and death.

ASH noted in particular, Dr. Jerome Adams and his staff should be commended for making it clear that access to treatment greatly improves success in quitting and that providing access is a critical component in the fight to end the tobacco epidemic.

"For too long, cessation has been the ugly step child of the tobacco control movement and the nation’s public health priorities. There are several reasons for this: confidence that the epidemic can be ended by preventing youth uptake, a misunderstanding that cessation treatment is costly, and a thinly-veiled belief that adult smokers brought it upon themselves," Arendt said.

Pointing that "We have made great strides in reducing youth tobacco use (although the vaping crisis threatens to undermine that success). But victory over big tobacco requires fighting on all fronts, as outlined in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). We cannot expect to win without large numbers of adult smokers quitting, and many can’t quit without therapy."

Emphasising that even where access to cessation is available, it is inexplicably limited. Many health plans that cover nicotine replacement therapy impose strict time limits, even though it is in their own financial interest to help smokers quit.

"Most smokers want to quit, but many are highly addicted to the nicotine and can’t do so cold turkey or on their first try. As the Report highlights, several quit attempts are often required," Arendt maintained.

ASH equally said that while the benefit of cessation for smokers is obvious, society as a whole profits from smokers becoming non-smokers. Smoking costs the country over $300 billion annually, and much of that cost is borne by governments, meaning taxpayers. As Dr. Adams shared today, every American pays roughly $1,000 every year to cover the national cost of smoking.

The group insisted on the imperative to stop seeing smokers as the perpetrators of the tobacco epidemic. As the Report notes, nearly all started in adolescence, and became hooked on a product that was engineered to be as addictive as possible.

"Children cannot sign contracts, vote, or rent a car; legal authority comes at the age of 18 for a reason. Certainly, a middle schooler cannot consent to become a nicotine addict. The blame for the tobacco epidemic rests squarely on the tobacco industry, but governments bear some responsibility for allowing a product that is addictive and kills when used as intended to be sold in nearly every corner store," the group said.

The human right to health – which is well recognized in international law – says that every human has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In a rich society like the U.S., access to smoking cessation treatment is certainly attainable.

"We also have a duty under human rights to seek equity in human development, especially for vulnerable populations. Racial minorities and the LGBT community have been particularly targeted by tobacco industry marketing, and consequently suffer disproportionately from the tobacco epidemic," ASH submitted.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Marathon Oil meets President Mbasogo, commits to support Gas Mega Hub - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Marathon Oil Corp, one of the biggest energy investors in Equatorial Guinea, has met with the country's president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, committing to increase its investment in the required infrastructure to support the Government’s vision for the Gas Mega Hub, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In company of H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo met this week with Marathon Oil Chairman, President and CEO Lee Tillman and Executive Vice President Mitch Little to discuss Marathon Oil’s short and long-term future plans in the country.

Marathon Oil reiterated its commitment to Equatorial Guinea and towards the development of the country’s Gas Mega Hub, including unlocking funding to promote the delivery of gas from neighboring countries and cross-border fields to maximize existing facilities and possibly consider a second LNG train. Marathon Oil also declared support for the Ministry’s efforts to construct a modular refinery in Punta Europa by undertaking a conceptual study on the Ministry’s behalf.

“Marathon’s disciplined and consistent performance is going to ensure that Equatorial Guinea can continue to count on a partner that is tried, true and tested when it comes to running world-class gas projects. I have no doubt that under Chairman, President and CEO Lee Tillman, Marathon will continue to be a strong, resilient, and well positioned partner for the future of Equatorial Guinea,” stated H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons

Marathon Oil continues to prioritize the ongoing Alen backfill project currently under implementation with Noble Energy, Glencore, Atlas and Gunvor. Efforts are underway to accelerate gas for delivery by year end 2020, while currently scheduled for first quarter 2021. The project is an important step towards replacing declining output from the Alba field.

Furthermore, both parties agreed to immediately commence feasibility studies related to methanol to gasoline and other methanol derivatives, in coordination with the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons. “President Obiang expects and demands of my Ministry and Marathon, today and for the foreseeable future, to work on creating an integrated set of solutions that are required — ranging from producing hydrocarbons in Equatorial Guinea efficiently to developing policies that encourage long-term investments that create jobs and opportunities for our citizens,” added H.E. Minister Obiang Lima.

Many foreign investors are planning to increase their investment in Equatorial Guinea this year, or enter the market to tap into several opportunities across the hydrocarbons and mining value chains under the Year of Investment initiative.

Details of the program are available at www.investineg.com and interested investors are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons to discuss investment opportunities and projects.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Putin reappoints Novak energy Minister - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin has reappointed Alexander Novak as the country's energy minister, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Reacting to the appointment, the African Energy Chamber welcomes the reappointment of Minister Novak who has always supported the establishment of new alliances with Africa and believes this move signals the potential for further cooperation for Russia and Africa.

“Minister Novak has ensured that African companies have a seat at the table, built partnerships and pushed President Putin’s mission to broaden and strengthen relationships with Africa,” said Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk. “The African Energy Chamber has always enjoyed a good relationship with him and the Russian energy sector and, we look forward to furthering our collaboration,” he said.

Having maintained his seat as energy minister since 2012, Novak’s reappointment is received as the Kremlin’s commitment to the continuation of the OPEC+ strategy which has already seen Russian companies benefit from bilateral cooperation with OPEC member states and boosted oil prices.

"Alexander Novak has emerged as the reliable and dependable bridge between OPEC and non-OPEC in the Declaration of Cooperation. He has earned the respect and admiration of all participating countries in the OPEC+ group," said H.E. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC. Adding that, “His reappointment as Russia’s Energy Minister at this crucial juncture will further strengthen the collaboration with OPEC in our noble course to maintain oil market stability in the interest of producers, consumers and the global economy.”

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Pix: Novak

Sylva earns DEMS’ passmark with digitization in oil & gas - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The leadership of Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers’ (DEMS Volunteers’), an NGO tracking all development activities in the nation’s public and private sector on digital economy, has assessed activities of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva since his appointment and gave him a pass mark.

A report released weekend in Lagos on the reforms adopted so far by the ministry in the last couple of months, have shown marked departure from the way and manner the operations of the nation’s oil and gas sector had been.

The Director General of the NGO, Prince Stan Okenwa noted that “Starting from the downstream sector, the 2019 December can be rated as yuletide season in Nigeria that never experienced any form of fuel scarcity due to new ideas and digital tracking systems put in place by the ministry.”

The DG in a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Mr Peter Oluka, said “There had been steady supplies and uniform price of petroleum products especially petrol across the federation and this has continued both off and on yuletide season.

“The relentless efforts of the Minister in coordinating the planning of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 Final Investment Decision (FID) earlier this month, remains a game changer in Nigeria’s drive to lead the continent in gas revolution.

“Further investigations made DEMS Volunteers’ revealed that various transformation processes are currently ongoing in NNPC which include but not limited to digital installations, growing from Business Unit Focus Areas (12 BUFAs), Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE). We are aware that the Ministry is considering the Incorporation of NNPC and its existing Joint Venture Companies as government is currently working on the modalities.

“Still on the downstream, DEMS Volunteers’ is aware of a special consideration by the ministry to introduce two new regulators; one for the Upstream (the Commission) and another for the Midstream & Downstream (the Authority) to open enormous opportunities to local investors and consequently create massive job opportunities in the country.

“To us as an NGO, the move will deepen investments in pipeline engineering design, procurement &construction, terminal operations, pipe mills, fabrication of pressure vessels, storage facilities, pipe transportation and laying equipments, Refineries, Central Processing Facilities and also investment in Gas-based industries (Fertilizer, Methanol, Petrochemicals, LPG and CNG) etc. Besides, open access for oil and gas transportation will be fully enhanced.

“On the upstream sub-sector, DEMS Volunteers is convinced that the ministry is coming up with more robust fiscal provision, acreage management, drilling-or-drop programme, and will not only retain investors, but more players will join the leagues of high-value operators.

“We are further thrilled by the planned use of technology for pro-active leak detection in the Niger Delta to end instances of oil pollution.  

“We are also convinced on the way and manner the Ministry under Chief Timipre Sylva, is driving the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialization Program (NGFCP).

DEMS Volunteers’ is also pleased with the tenacity with which the Technical Adviser to the Minister on Gas Business, who doubles as the Program Manager of NGFCP, Mr Justice Derefaka is driving the scheme, designed as the strategy to implement policy objective of the government for the elimination of gas flares with potentially enormous multiplier and development outcomes for Nigeria in terms of job creation and ending gas flaring.

“We are aware that the key objective of the NGFCP is to eliminate gas flaring through technically and commercially sustainable gas utilisation projects developed by competent third party investors who will be invited to participate in a competitive and transparent bid process. 

DEMS Volunteers’, however encouraged the Minister to hasten the ongoing harmonization of existing versions of PIBs so that a more reliable document would be transmitted to the waiting National Assembly for legislative surgery in the interest of the nation.

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2bn mosquito nets delivered globally since 2004

NaijaAgroNet:

The RBM Partnership to End Malaria has revealed thagt some 2 billion insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) were delivered globally since 2004, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This development and scale up of nets, RBM said were responsible for 68 per cent of the malaria cases prevented in Africa since 2000, contributing to global efforts that saved over 7 million lives and prevented another 1 billion malaria cases.

A new video highlights the global collaboration it took to boost funding, pioneer, produce, and deliver the insecticide-treated mosquito nets to millions of families around the world living at risk of malaria, a preventable disease that kills a child every 2 minutes.

The film follows the journey of one of the life-saving mosquito nets passed among representatives from the global malaria community including advocates, a scientist, global leaders and malaria-endemic country health workers to reach a family in Nampula, Mozambique, one of 5 countries with the highest burden of malaria. It also features a classroom of young women in Nyanza Province, Kenya, including Clementina Akinyi. Ms Akinyi, now in her last year of high school, grew up sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and was photographed as a young child under a mosquito net – an image which became iconic for the fight against malaria.

According to the latest World Malaria Report, between 2010 and 2018, the number of pregnant women and children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa who slept under an insecticide-treated net more than doubled, up from 26% to 61%. Each net is typically effective for up to 3 years and 20 washes and, on average, protects two people simultaneously.

Some key initiatives driving this progress include The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which purchased and worked with malaria-endemic countries and partners to distribute 1.13 billion and 400 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets, respectively. Many other governments, notably the UK, and organisations, including UNICEF, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Bank, the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets initiative and Against Malaria Foundation, also made significant contributions to the 2 billion net milestone.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), said “Insecticide-treated nets have saved lives, prevented suffering and brought us 2 billion steps closer to our vision of a malaria-free world. With country leadership and global partnership, they will continue to play a vital role in fulfilling that vision.”

Also, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said “The milestone of delivering 2 billion life-saving nets is a hallmark example of effective global partnership and sustained commitment over the past two decades. As we enter a new decade, we must now step up action to meet the ambitious global targets of further reducing malaria deaths and cases significantly by 2030. Political commitment and engagement from all levels of society will be crucial to ensure we reach those most vulnerable – pregnant women and children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa – who still suffer from malaria with life-saving mosquito nets. Equally, we need to continue investing in developing, testing and scaling up nets with new insecticides and active ingredients to stay ahead of the evolving mosquito.”

Dr Marijke Winroks, Chief Staff, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and RBM Partnership to End Malaria board member noted that this is a great milestone. 

"With increased domestic and international investment, we can help close the gap and make sure everyone at risk for malaria has an insecticide-treated net – breaking the transmission cycle and helping more countries on the path to elimination,” Winroks said.

Clementina Akinyi, Kenyan schoolgirl featured in the film, explains that she does not fall sick due to her use of the nets.

“I don’t fall sick because I’m using the nets. Me and my sister are now champions for mosquito nets, and we are now advising people at school to use the nets. I advise everyone to use nets to prevent malaria, because malaria is a deadly disease.”

While current evidence suggests that nets treated with pyrethroid insecticides continue to be effective against the mosquito, resistance to pyrethroids – the only insecticide class currently used in ITNs – is widespread and highest in the WHO African Region.

To combat insecticide resistance, partners are developing, testing and scaling up nets with new insecticides and harnessing data to better target where to distribute current and new nets. Some of the new nets, which include combinations of insecticides and other active ingredients, have been approved by WHO while others are being piloted to build the epidemiological evidence needed for their public health value to inform WHO policy recommendations and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the nets under pilot conditions.

The Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) leads implementation of the pilot New Nets Project which began in 2019 in Burkina Faso and will expand in 2020 to Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda. The pilot project is funded by the Global Fund and Unitaid. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and U.S. Agency for International Development are providing supplementary funding. Funding for PMI in 2020 includes an additional US$15 million to invest in the use of mosquito nets treated with new types of insecticides. And, in October 2019, MedAccess and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an agreement with a mosquito net manufacturer to accelerate the availability of 35 million new nets, which is expected to help lower prices and further increase the use of these tools.

Between 2006 and 2017, the mosquito net market increased fivefold with prices falling from approximately $4.50 to $2, greatly increasing value for money and significantly expanding net coverage from 5.5 million in 2004 to almost 200 million in 2018.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Foresight Africa: Top priorities and agenda 2030 - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The new year 2020 Report marked the beginning of a promising decade for Africa. Through at least the first half of the decade, economic growth across Africa will continue to outperform that of other regions, with the continent continuing to be home to seven of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies. Collective action among African and global policymakers to improve the livelihoods of all under the blueprint of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 is representative of the shared energy and excitement around Africa’s potential.

With business environments improving, regional integration centered around the African Continental Free Trade Agreement progressing, and the transformational technologies of Fourth Industrial Revolution spreading, never before has the region been better primed for trade, investment, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

The recent, unprecedented interest of an increasingly diversified group of external partners for engagement with Africa highlights this potential. Despite the continent’s promise, though, obstacles to success linger, as job creation still has not caught up with the growing youth labor force, gaps in good and inclusive governance remain, and climate change as well as state fragility threaten to reverse the hard-fought-for gains of recent decades.

This special edition of Foresight Africa highlights the triumphs of past years as well as strategies from our experts to tackle forthcoming, but surmountable, obstacles to a prosperous continent by 2030.

Read more:

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GBV elimination: Centre LSD commences project on male engagement - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Concerned over the lack of male engagement in reducing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), has kicked-off the implementation of a male engagement project on Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), as well as Harmful Traditional Practices in Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The programme, NaijaAgroNet gathered is an initiative of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) under the Spotlight Initiative, envisioned a Nigeria where all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, live a life free from violence and harmful practices, by addressing the linkages between sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices with related aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights as a cross-cutting theme.

The project lead, Mr. Vincent Dania, Centre LSD, told NaijaAgroNet the focus will be on prevention efforts particularly addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and harmful practices (child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation) against women and girls; and ensuring access to inclusive, timely, and quality services for victims and survivors with a vibrant CSOs and women movement.

“The Centre will work with other implementing partners to achieve the goal of the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria,” he said.

The Centre’s role in the project, he said, would include “Mobilizing men and setting up platforms of men against Sexual & Gender-Based Violence at the community level; strengthening the capacities of identified traditional, religious leaders and media.  It will also identify and train male advocates and champions at different levels (community, state and national) to continuously speak up against Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG); engaging male opinion leaders to secure support for VAWG, gender equality and the empowerment of women; and train women and girls’ rights defenders in relevant skills to better engage with religious leaders to end VAWG and HP.”

Further, NaijaAgroNet gathered the Centre LSD will be implementing the project in two states, namely Lagos and Cross River.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Ekiti first lady seeks state of emergency on sexual violence - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The government of Ekiti State has been urged to declare a state of emergency on sexual violence in the country, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This call was made by the first lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi saying that such declaration would bring about the political will to fight the scourge adding states that had passed the law on Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act would be able to implement the law to the fullest.

The Wife of the Governor who stated this in her keynote address at the 20th anniversary of Project Alert on Violence Against Women in Lagos, on Friday, the passage of the VAPP law will lend support to the array of women organizations that work in very remote hard- to -reach areas.

“It has taken a long time but we have some laws in place. We have the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and out of the 36 States of Nigeria, only 11 States have domesticated this law. Even for those who have domesticated the law, there is an issue of resources. We are talking about financial resources, human resources, materials resources, as well as technical resources.

“We do need resources to push these issues through but we need the political will to drive the allocation of those resources. I will like to lend my voice to the voice of all the feminist organizations, human rights and civil society organizations in the country, calling for more attention to what has now become a national pandemic of gender-based violence, particularly sexual violence.

“In my own opinion, I believe we need the State of Emergency in Nigeria on sexual violence in particular. I think we need to call for more political will and that will hopefully drive things such as ensuring that those States who have passed the VAPP Act can implement it to the fullest, at least try their best.

“I will like to call for political will, I will like to call for resources and I will like to also call for a lot more partnerships and information sharing.

The Ekiti First Lady charged the participating organisations to focus their effort more on community engagement.

“I am based in Ekiti, which is a predominantly rural state, and so it’s not a State where everyone can have access to information via what’s happening on TV, Radio and so on.

“And so there are certain gatekeepers that we need to engage, who still hold deeply conservative views. A lot of religious leaders, traditional rulers, we have female chiefs, we have a whole array of people. We need to do a lot more work there. Because if communities don’t own response to gender-based violence, God forbid that sexual violence then become normalize.”

A major highlight of the event was the inter-generational dialogue on Gender –based violence. The Ekiti State First Lady was also honoured with the Excellence Award in Women's Rights Activism by Project Alert.

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor

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