The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria – CBN to reduce interest rates to save the country’s manufacturing sector.
The outgoing Chairperson of MAN in Kwara/Kogi States, BIOKU RAHMAN, made the appeal at the association’s 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Mr RAHMAN said the CBN needs to direct commercial banks to reduce interest rates on industrial loans. He also urged the Bank of Industry (BOI) to roll out further reductions in its lending rates to industries.
The outgoing MAN Boss urged the CBN to widen the window of foreign exchange to local industries while urging the federal government to harmonise taxes and levies at the federal, state and local government levels.
, President BOLA TINUBU said he has received the news of the devastation wreaked by floods on communities and farmlands across the country with profound grief.
Recent data by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) indicate that lives have been lost — with thousands of hectares of farmlands damaged and thousands of people displaced by floods across the country.
Responding to the development, President TINUBU sympathized with all the victims, especially bereaved families, farmers, displaced communities, and those who have lost property.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Chief AJURI NGELALE, President TINUBU e-emphasized the need for concerted effort to address existential environmental concerns and build more climate resilient and adaptive society
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, while assuring Nigerians that his administration, through the relevant agencies, will continue to provide the needed support for victims, as well as timely warnings to mitigate the impact of environmental mishaps.
The West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP) Nigeria has advocated the creation of a Peace building agency in Akwa Ibom, to support the efforts targeted at addressing conflict in communities across the state.
The network believes that the lack of an agency creates a gap and needs to be filled with a view to driving peace building initiatives and establishing sustainability.
The call by WANEP came up during an engagement with civil society actors, community stakeholders including men, women, and youth leaders on conflict prevention, crisis management, and peace building.
Speaking with Inspiration FM news, the Programme Director for WANEP, PATIENCE IKPEH OBALO said an agency will help institutionalize peace building in Akwa Ibom and enhance healthy collaboration.
Also, speaking about how crisis management can be used to strengthen Peace Building in Akwa Ibom, WANEP’s representative in Akwa Ibom state, Mr SAVIOUR AKPAN believes entrenching peace from the grass root cannot be undermined.
Mr SAVIOUR AKPAN, who serves as the Early Warning and Response reporter in the state, highlighted the critical role traditional institutions can play in crisis prevention and advancing peace.
A significant aspect discussed at the event was the benefits of early warning and response in conflict prevention and how key actors can be involved in driving this element to handle conflict with tact.
The discussions by WANEP, which were embeded in a 3 day capacity building for community actors, are expected to solidify efforts aimed at peaceful coexistence amongst Akwa Ibom citizens.
Expressing satisfaction over the positive impact of the training on them, the participants vowed to go back to their locate communities and step down the knowledge acquired, so as to ensure a peaceful co-existence at the grassroots.
The three day event ended with an action plan for the participants to begin a conflict resolution programme, while certificates were presented to them.
The United Nations has called for the African continent to get a permanent seat at the UN Security Council as part of reforms to correct historical injustices.
The UN Secretary, Chief ANTÓNIO GUTERRES made the call, while stressing that the world has changed since 1945 and the changes ought to reflect in the composition of the Council, in order to keep the pace.
The Security Council, with five permanent members of which are China, France, Russia, the UK and the US – has long been criticised for representing the realities that prevailed at the end of World War II when much of Africa was still under colonial rule.
The 10 non-permanent members of the body are allocated by region, but unlike the five permanent members, they do not have the power of veto.
The African Union has long been pushing for the continent to have two permanent representatives on the council and an additional two seats as non-permanent representatives.
The UN Security Council has significant responsibilities, including authorising peacekeeping operations, imposing international sanctions and determining how the UN should respond to conflicts around the world.
