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Nigeria to build 7 irrigation dams in its South-West region

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The Nigerian government has finalised plans to build seven dams in the six southwestern states for irrigation, and to improve food production.

Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, revealed on Wednesday.

To increase the nation’s electricity supply, Ashiru also disclosed that efforts are in progress to concession the Oyan Dam’s hydropower-generating portion.

He said that the dam, which was built in 1979 and has three turbines installed, can produce nine megawatts of power.

Ashiru made this revelation during his speech on “Developing Strategies for Management of Ecological Challenges” during the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria’s 46th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting, which was held in Lagos.

“Building Resilient Cities: Sustainable Development” was the theme of the annual conference and AGM.

Ashiru emphasised that dams are essential in tackling environmental issues like floods because they assist manage massive water surges that could otherwise spill downstream and cause chaos.

He said that several areas of Abeokuta and the whole Isheri region, among other villages, would have been underwater by now if it weren’t for the vision that resulted in the building of the Oyan Dam in 1979.

Ashiru explained, “We are building seven dams in the Southwest, and the contracts should be awarded between now and Friday. These dams are primarily for irrigation purposes, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agriculture agenda to enable all-year-round farming and boost food production.

“Each location of these dams will have 12 greenhouses and open fields for farming. We will also have storage houses to store the farm produce.”

Speaking about the country’s high rate of building collapses, he stated that ten regulations had recently been created to address the problem of building collapses across the nation in his capacity as Chairman of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria’s Engineering Regulatory, Monitoring and Enforcement Committee.

Bukar said, “In the past, the lack of enacted regulations hindered progress, but with the current leadership of COREN, we now have more than ten regulations that we can work with for a paradigm shift in engineering regulation.”

Metro

Chinese mining giant CNMC set for $1.6 billion investment in Zambia

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A Chinese mining giant, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC), has announced the investment of over $1.6 billion in Zambia, following successful discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House on Tuesday.

CNMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Gang, who held the discussions with Hichilema along with the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Han Jing, confirmed the company’s commitment to furthering Zambia’s economic development.

“We are actively investing in critical sectors of Zambia’s economy,” Gang said after the meeting.

He noted that CNMC was currently pumping water from Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mine, where 29.9 million cubic liters have been cleared as part of intensified dewatering efforts, adding that the company plans to inject an additional $200 million to develop a greenfield mine on the Copperbelt.

President Hichilema who welcomed CNMC’s commitment, highlighted the potential economic impact of the firm’s investment which will include job opportunities for Zambians.

“This $1.6billion investment, alongside advanced technology and expansion, will extend operations and create more jobs and opportunities for Zambians, especially in mining contracting and supply,” the President said.

He also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their shared commitment to fostering growth and cooperation between the two countries.

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Mpox immunisation scarcity slows Kinshasa’s epidemic fight

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A lack of mpox vaccine doses has prevented the Democratic Republic of the Congo from starting a campaign in the capital, Kinshasa, the response commander has confirmed.  However, the number of cases nationwide is still rising, particularly among youngsters.

 

In mid-August, a new strain of pox started to spread from the Congo to neighbouring countries, prompting the WHO to declare a global health emergency. However, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, donors have been hesitant to turn their pledges into cash and vaccines.

 

The head of operations for Congo’s mpox control program, Cris Kacita, stated on Tuesday that the country needed more than 162,000 doses of vaccine to start a vaccination campaign in the capital, but that 53,921 doses were still available for use in prisons, where inmates are at greater risk because of unsanitary conditions.

 

The capital, which is home to about 20 million people, has so far been less impacted than other parts of the nation. In six other provinces, vaccination campaigns are now underway.

 

Along with additional shipments from Germany and the African Union, France has committed to providing 100,000 doses.

 

He added the arrival of vaccines was also delayed by the administrative process, which includes sending an official request, manufacturing, creating documentation and gaining import authorisations.

 

“As long as we don’t have the necessary quantity, it’s going to be complicated to launch (vaccination) in the 14 health zones,” Kacita told Reuters, referring to areas of Kinshasa.

 

According to a health ministry study, from October 28 to November 2, 1,017 new suspected cases were registered nationwide in Congo, including 45 confirmed cases and 16 fatalities.

 

Since children are almost four times more likely than adults to die from the new strain of mpox, the charity Save the Children warned on Wednesday that targeted vaccines were necessary to halt the virus from spreading quickly among children.

 

“Children are especially vulnerable to mpox – they explore by touch and taste, don’t always understand health guidance, and have weaker immune systems than adults,” Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse from Save the Children said.

 

According to Africa CDC data, there have been over 42,000 suspected cases of Mpox in the continent, with 1,100 deaths reported so far this year.

 

The Mpox virus can spread from person to person via intimate contact and also from place to person through objects and surfaces that a person infected with Mpox has touched.

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