Connect with us

News

Gunmen kill two in Rivers community

Published

on

Gunmen have killed two natives of Briun community in Bou-Ko kingdom in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident incident reportedly occurred around 8pm when many residents of the area were already indoors.

Some of the residents, who heard the sound of the gunshot, were said to have panicked and fled the community.

A resident of the area and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ken Saro-Wiwa Surveillance Group, Bright Nwiyorde, called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Advertisement

Nwiyode called for more security presence in the area and urged the state government and relevant security agencies to come to the aid of the community and help fish out the killers.

He said: “In Bou-ko kingdom we heard that unknown gunmen shot two people in Briun community at night.

“We don’t know the people and that is why we are calling on the Government, the Commissioner of Police, the Khana local government chairman and the security at the local government level to come and investigate the matter and bring them to book.

“At the same time, myself as a security person I’m also doing my own investigation to help the government get to the root of the matter.”

Advertisement

When contacted, Rivers police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was yet to receive a report of the incident.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

President hospitalised after falling ill at G20 Summit

Published

on

Paraguay’s President Santiago Pena was taken to a Rio hospital late Monday after falling ill while attending a G20 summit, officials said.

“We inform that the President of the Republic, Santiago Pena, was treated today at the Samaritano Hospital (Botafogo) in Rio de Janeiro due to an indisposition,” Paraguayan authorities said in a statement.

In a medical bulletin, the hospital later indicated that Pena, 46, had “a malaise in the afternoon” and was taken to a health center for diagnostic tests.

“The head of state is doing well and his current state of health is stable,” it added in a note.

Advertisement

Earlier, witnesses said Pena was taken by ambulance from the summit venue.

Some Latin American media reported that he had suffered chest pains.

“I spoke with President Pena, who is in Rio de Janeiro’s Samaritano Hospital after a slight illness. He is doing well and awaiting the results of medical tests,” Paraguay’s Vice President Pedro Alliana said on the social network X.

Paraguay is not a member of the G20, but Pena was invited to the summit along with many other leaders outside the group by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the host.

Advertisement

Before falling ill, Pena had been presenting the economic situation of his country to other summit participants, notably in the area of poverty reduction.

Continue Reading

News

COP29: Reps, Others Advocate Equitable Policy For Energy Transition

Published

on

By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has solicited for accessible and equitable policies, including tax breaks and vocational grants to empower youth in renewable energy in African nations, and most especially in Nigeria.
Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Rep. Victor Afam Ogene made this call alongside other stakeholders at a side event co-hosted by the Committee on Renewable Energy and INCLUDE, a Netherlands based knowledge platform, at the ongoing Conference of Parties, COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where world leaders are gathered to discuss issues of climate change.
Rep. Ogene also want the inclusion of youths and legislators in conferences and workshops where issues involving policies regarding developments in climate change and energy transitions are discussed, for a better understanding that would engender right policy formulation and intentional youth involvement.
The side event, titled “Driving the Just Transition: Labor-Based Incentives and Youth-Centric Policies for a Sustainable Future,” according to a statement endorsed by both Hon. Ogene and Anika Altaf, PhD, Executive Director, INCLUDE, focused on actionable strategies to foster a fair and inclusive renewable energy transition in Africa. The discussions centered around labor-based incentives, youth-centered policies, and the intersection of equity, sustainability, and job creation.
Speakers at the side event included Ogene, Dr. Altaf, Victoria Manya, (Knowledge Broker, INCLUDE), Nurgul Iliazova, Professor of Economics, Bishkek State University, Kazakhstan, Farida Ally, Kenyan youth leader, Solomon Abu, a nuclear scientist and Kgaugelo Mkumbeni, research officer, Institute for Security Studies, Kenya.
Dr. Altaf in her presentation suggested mentorship programmes and international funding to authentically support youth-led renewable energy projects.
The conversations outlined a comprehensive approach to design labour incentives that not only support job creation, but also address the specific needs of young people. This includes accessible financial incentives, such as grants for youth-led startups and subsidies for skills acquisition in renewable energy industries; and policies that will integrate transparency and inclusivity to ensure equitable access.
The outcomes of the event reflected a unified approach to addressing Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities in the global energy transition.
The statement said further: “Victoria Manya set the scene for the panel’s conversation predicated on three critical points:
• Africa has pressing needs, like job creation and energy access, to address energy poverty.
• Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, so our transition must prioritize fair, localized strategies.
• For this transition to truly benefit Africa, we must base it on labour incentives that empower youth to take the lead.
“The event underscored the importance of crafting policies that resonate with young people. This involves using youth-friendly language, actively involving young voices in policy formulation, and prioritizing initiatives that align with their aspirations, such as meaningful, skill-based employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.”
The various speakers were also in agreement that “Young people are emerging as key contributors to renewable energy solutions tailored to their communities. These innovations are not only effective but scalable, demonstrating the transformative potential of youth-led technological advancements in combating climate change. Emphasis was placed on the role of AI and digital technologies in enabling this progress. Early exposure, such as teaching coding skills to children as young as eight, was highlighted as a critical step in fostering a generation capable of driving impactful solutions.”
Participants also stressed the importance of involving youths, not merely as advisors but as decision-makers in climate policy formulation.
Standardized toolkits and training programmes were identified as essential for equipping youth with the skills necessary to thrive in the renewable energy sector.
The session called for partnerships between governments, educational institutions, and private sector actors to develop and implement targetted technical and vocational training.
A critical theme in the conversation was ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized communities are not left behind in the renewable energy transition. Inclusive policies must address systemic inequalities by bridging access gaps, particularly for young people in underprivileged regions.  This approach includes promoting social equity in labour opportunities and decision-making processes.
Global and regional collaboration,
international organizations and regional stakeholders were urged to provide authentic support for youth-led initiatives. These includes mentorship programs, direct funding for grassroots projects, and platforms for cross-sector collaboration that prioritize local solutions.
The event concluded with a call for turning discussions into actionable frameworks, including involving piloting labour-based incentives, integrating youth-focused priorities into national renewable energy policies, and leveraging global forums such as COP 2024 to amplify Africa’s voice in the energy transition.
Participants unanimously urged international organizations and regional stakeholders to provide authentic support for youth-led initiatives. This includes mentorship programmes, direct funding for grassroots projects, and platforms for cross-sector collaboration that prioritize local solutions.
Continue Reading

News

Alleged adultery: Shari’a court clears Jigawa commissioner

Published

on

The Upper Shari’a Court in Kano, presided over by Ibrahim Sarki Yola, has cleared Jigawa State’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Danladi Sankara, of allegations of committing adultery with a married woman.

Recall that the case was filed by Nasiru Buba, who accused Sankara of having an illicit affair with his wife, Tasleem Baba Nabegu.

While delivering his ruling, Sarki Yola stressed the need for holistic and cautious investigations by law enforcement and regulatory bodies like the Hisbah Commission, noting that allegations against prominent individuals must be handled with care to avoid unnecessary tarnishing of reputations.

The court also observed that the complainant and his legal representatives failed to appear to contest the Police findings.

Advertisement

“Following the investigation by the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, the report shows there is no evidence to prove that there was any illicit affair between Auwal Danladi Sankara and Tasleem Baba Nabegu.

“Since the complainant and his lawyers are not present to challenge the submission by the police, I have no choice but to strike out the case,” the judge stated.

Speaking on behalf of Sankara, his counsel, Barrister Sadam Suleiman, expressed satisfaction with the judgment.

“We have always maintained that our client is innocent. The court has affirmed this by clearing his name based on the police investigation,” Suleiman said.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Rabiu Shu’aibu, counsel for Tasleem Baba Nabegu, indicated that his team might take further legal action against Nasiru Buba for defamation.

“We will discuss with our client to explore the possibility of filing a case against Nasiru Buba, as he has defamed her name,” Shu’aibu remarked.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News