Metro

Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ repositioning Nigeria as global investment hub— VP Shettima

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2024

Vice President Kashim Shettima believes the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President Bola Tinubu administration is gradually transformating Nigeria into a global investment hub and a prime investment destination.

The Nigerian VP who made the assertion on Friday during a High-level dialogue on delivering the “Renewed Hope Agenda” on the theme, “Nigeria’s Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality,” held in Abuja, said the policy thrust of the present administration was aimed at repositioning Nigeria with the agenda hinged on the “core pillars of democracy, development, demographics, and diaspora engagement.”

Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, noted that the “present moment serves as the opportune time to remind both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business.”

Shettima went on to outline the Tinubu administration’s ambitious roadmap, noting that the President’s commitment to bold reforms and strategic partnerships to revive the nation’s economy and enhance security has been applauded by the international community including the United States, the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others.

“Our reason for this gathering is less about the certainty of our vision for this nation. This has never been in doubt. We are here because of our place in a world of opportunities—a world that can’t afford to neglect or underestimate our place,” Shettima said.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework; it is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people.”

The V pointed out that at the heart of the administration’s foreign policy approach, dubbed the ‘Tinubu Doctrine,’ is a ‘4-D Diplomacy Strategy’ centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential, and engaging with the diaspora community.

“This is further evidenced by the recently announced $10 billion Diaspora Fund, a multi-sectoral investment initiative set to be launched soon and expected to strengthen ties with our diaspora community while boosting forex inflows to support our national development plans,” the Vice President said.

On security challenges dogging the country, Shettima assured of the administration’s commitment to guaranteeing the safety of lives and properties through regional and national interventions.

“This is the time to partner for democracy, for development, for peace, and for security,” he enthused.

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Metro

24 killed, thousands displaced by flooding, landslides in Ivory Coast

Published

5 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Isaac Dachen

At least 24 people have been confirmed killed while thousands of others have been displaced following devastating flooding and landslides in Ivory Coast’s largest city of Abidjan.

A statement on Tuesday by the National Office for Civil Protection (ONPC), said that the disaster came as a result of a week of heavy rains which were four times the usual volume in some cases.

The ONPC reported that the 24 deaths were as a result of “torrential rains from Thursday 13 to Saturday 22 June”, and warned of the risk of collapsed buildings.

“Two more people were missing after being swept away by the waters”, the ONPC statement added.

In a fresh update on Tuesday afternoon, the agency said the eight people had died after the exceptionally heavy downpours.

“In the commune of Yopougon, Sodexam recorded 214 millimetres (8.4 inches) of rain in a day. The normal level is 50 millimetres (two inches),” it said.

According to the Ivorian Meteorological Agency (IMA) which also gave an update, the recent rainfall was particularly violent with more than 200 millimeters (8 inches) in some districts, four times the usual amount in a day.

“Informal settlements are particularly vulnerable because of poor storm drainage among homes often built quickly without zoning regulations.

“The flooding and landslides have also caused significant damage across the city, flooding houses and roads,” the Ivory Coast National Office for Civil Protection said in a report.

“At least 271 people who were trapped after the rains have been successfully rescued,” it said.

Metro

Mininum Wage Saga: ‘Be patient with Tinubu’, Presidency begs Nigerian workers

Published

14 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian Presidency has, once again, pleaded with citizens to be patient with the President Bola Tinubu administration and avoid piling unnecessary pressure on it as it is working round the clock to transmit the proposed bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly once it is ready.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, who made the appeal on Monday, gave the assurance following a warning by the Organised Labour to the President not to send the minimun wage bill to the National Assembly without consulting and reaching an agreement with its leadership.

In a statement on Sunday, the labour leaders had alleged that there were plans by Tinubu to transmit the bill to the Assembly without the government and the unions reaching a compromise, and urged the President to resist the temptation of doing so without adequate consultations.

But while responding to the allegations by labour, Onanuga, in an interview with journalists on Monday, wondered what the rush for the transmission of the bill was all about.

He had earlier lampooned the labour leaders over their stance on its demand for N250,000 as minimum wage, asserting that the demanded by the workers’ union was unreasonable and unsustainable, warning that the Federal Government cannot channeled all its resources to meet such demand.

While admitting that he had no knowledge of the date for submission, he pleaded for more time.

“People should be patient,” he stated. “The President is working round the clock to ensure that the bill is ready and would be transmitted to the National Assembly in due course,” he added.