Metro

Ukraine’s donation of food aid to Nigeria a national disgrace— Peter Obi

Published

2 months ago

March 5, 2024

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has faulted the donation of 25,000 tons of wheat as food aid to Nigeria, describing the donation as a “national disgrace” stemming from years of leadership failure.

The Nigerian government had announced that the war-torn European country had made the donation as a part of its contribution to help Nigeria tackle the food crisis that has affected millions of people in the county, especially in the
northeast.

The government had stated that donation was to bolster the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) response in north-eastern Nigeria amidst inflation and food price spikes and part of Ukraine’s humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

But while the government celebrated the donation, Obi, a former Governor, has condemned the development, insisting that if Nigeria governments at all level had embarked on an aggressive investment in agriculture as well as security and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), the embarrassment of the donation would not have come up.

Obi who expressed his disapproval of the donation in a statement he posted on his verified X account it was disheartening that a country like Nigeria with so much human and natural resources should celebrate such donations.

“As laudable as Ukraine’s kind gesture is, it speaks volumes for us as a people endowed with all needed human and natural resources, that a country officially prosecuting a brutal war of national survival with its powerful neighbour, Russia, is generous and kind enough with their food supplies to help us who are officially at peace,” Obi said.

“For the people of Ukraine, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit which should earn them greater global solidarity. It demonstrates our shared humanity.

“However, a situation like this underscores vigorously the importance of sound political leadership as the first concrete requirement for any nation desiring to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry.

“It is disheartening that our once economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance.

“This national disgrace stems from years of leadership failure, necessitating urgent reflection and a reordering of our national priorities and resource management and allocation.

“Instructively, Ukraine, with a population of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, covering 744,249 km2 with a young, energetic population exceeding 100 million.

“In 2015, Ukraine’s GDP per capita was $2125, compared to Nigeria’s $2680. By 2022, despite being at war, Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeded $4000, while Nigeria’s regressed to $2184.

“Ukraine cultivates over 60 per cent of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60 per cent uncultivated arable land.

“Despite the conflict, Ukraine feeds itself, and exports agricultural products worth over $25 billion which is about the same value as our crude oil export earnings, and it serves as a strategic global food supplier, even providing aid to a peaceful yet unproductive Nigeria.

“To overcome this embarrassment, we must aggressively reorder our priorities by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture. Addressing insecurity is crucial for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses,” the former presidential hopeful said.

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Metro

Mapanza traditional council shares positive outlook on media rights, freedom of expression

Published

16 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Jonathan Muchindu, a representative of the Traditional Council of Mapanza Chiefdom in Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia, asserts that the media in Zambia currently enjoys “total” freedom of expression.

Muchindu attributed this position to the advancement of civilization, which he identified as a significant factor in ensuring media freedom.

He emphasized the role of the media in providing citizens with the necessary information to make informed decisions.

In an exclusive interview with Zambia Monitor in Choma, Muchindu, who also serves as the Director of the Zambia Corruption Prevention Watchdog, described the media and its content as essential elements akin to “food on the table.”

“We are truly privileged to witness the advancements in civilization. Previously, the media was confined to the hands of a few individuals, and its reach was limited.

“However, with the advent of technology, accessing news through various platforms such as radio and television has become commonplace.

“The media has evolved into an indispensable source of information, and its participation is now integral to our daily lives,” he remarked.

When questioned about the operational landscape of the media, Muchindu expressed confidence that no media entity currently faces undue interference or censorship.

“From our perspective, both in rural villages and urban centers, we have not encountered instances where journalists or media outlets have been subjected to harassment or undue influence.

“This collaborative effort had ushered in a sense of enlightenment among the populace, allowing for open discourse on governance matters, particularly in the realm of politics.

“The media enjoyed the same freedoms as ordinary citizens, and there is unequivocal liberty in its expression,” Muchindu concluded.

The declaration by the Traditional Council of Mapanza Chiefdom underscored a positive outlook on media freedom in Zambia and reaffirmed the critical role of the media in fostering informed public discourse.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Nigeria loses N1.29trn annually to crude oil theft, vandalism— Reps Speaker

Published

23 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has revealed that the country loses a whopping sum of N1.29 trillion to crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminality in the oil sector.

Tajudeen, who spoke at the commissioning of the Nigerian Navy Training Command at Eleme, Rivers State in South-South Nigeria on Friday, said about 300,000 barrels of crude oil were also lost per day to oil theft by bunkerers.

Tajudeen who was represented at the event by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, stated that the crude oil theft and pipeline vandalization has continued to pose a challenge to the Nigerian Navy which has hindered the service from rising up to its mandate of contributing to the survival of the national economy.

“Unfortunately, it is estimated that Nigeria loses over 300,000 barrels of crude oil daily to oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminality. This has led to revenue losses estimated at N1.29 trillion annually,” the Lower Chamber Speaker said.

Speaking further on steps taken to curb the menace, Abbas said:

“Concerned about the adverse effects of oil theft in Nigeria, I inaugurated a special committee on Crude Oil Theft Loses on November 22, 2023, to determine decisive remedial actions to be taken.

“I commend the Nigerian Navy on the steps taken so far, and I urge the Navy to sustain the momentum.”

Also speaking, Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, thanked the Rivers State Government for the donation of the entire complex to demonstrate the existing cordial relationship between the Nigerian Navy and Rivers State.

Ogalla said the relocation of the Headquarters Naval Training Command from Lagos to Ebubu-Eleme in Rivers State would bolster human capacity development of personnel of the Nigerian Navy.

“It will also assist in providing the enabling environment for learning and enable us to carry out the statutory manning of the entire state, and national security of our country.

“This is in line with Mr President’s mandate given to us to provide the enabling environment for the harnessing of the enormous economic potential inherent in our blue economy for the overall good, national prosperity and development.”

The Naval chief assured that the Nigerian Navy would continue to carry out operations to ensure security of the nation’s maritime domain as well as secure Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region.