UN plans $860m aid for Borno, Yobe, Adamawa.

UN plans $860m aid for Borno, Yobe, Adamawa.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it requires at least $860m to reach 4.4 million of the most vulnerable persons in Nigeria’s northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in 2024

OCHA revealed this in an overview of its soon-to-be-published Humanitarian Response Plan for the year.

$860m, the lowest target in four years, is expected to reach millions of locals in need of food, healthcare and shelter, among other forms of intervention in the three states. This population comprises Internally Displaced Persons, returnees and inhabitants of host communities.

However, it warned that “Humanitarian funding for Nigeria is predicted to decline significantly in 2024,” even as 63 per cent of its funding target for 2023 was unmet.

“In 2023, the humanitarian response in the BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) states has been challenged by severe funding and access limitations. Of the $1.3bn requested to assist six million people, only 37 per cent, or $479.8m, has been received at the end of October.

“This significant funding shortfall, compounded by persistent security challenges and movement restrictions, hampered delivery, leaving many acute needs unmet.

“Despite these challenges, 130 partners have reached 3.4 million people through humanitarian interventions,” the UN revealed.

OCHA said its Humanitarian Country Team “foresees an even tighter funding environment, predicting a sharp decline in humanitarian allocations for Nigeria” in 2024.

“In the face of these anticipated financial challenges, humanitarian partners aim to support 4.4 million people, setting a funding target of about $860m, which includes estimated funding requirements of $45m for anticipatory interventions to address in particular climate-related shocks such as flooding and cholera outbreaks,” it added.

Fourteen years after Boko Haram and other terrorist groups began gory campaigns in Nigeria’s northeast, OCHA says the ensuing humanitarian crisis remains one of the most complex globally.

In June 2021, the United Nations Development Programmes estimated at least 350,000 deaths from conflicts with Boko Haram since 2009. It cited damage to agriculture, water, trade, food and healthcare, concluding that “Many more have died from the indirect effects of the conflict.”

At least 66,768 lives were lost in states most hit by the conflict—Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna Benue and Plateau—a September 2023 survey by the Council of Foreign Relations revealed.

However, direct deaths make up only a portion of the conflict’s impact.

Boko Haram, which aims to banish Western influence and create a Salafi-Islamist state in Northeast Nigeria and the entire nation, has also displaced over three million people, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees said.

In October 2017, then-president Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the establishment of the North East Development Commission in October 2017, to lead the reconstruction and development of Nigeria’s northeast.

NEDC earmarked N31.01tn in its 10-year North East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan in September 2022.

It said the amount is to be sourced from “a robust partnership with humanitarian actors such as International Non-Governmental Organisations, INGOs, captains of industries and investors worldwide.

In its 2023 dashboard, OCHA said, “To date, the Humanitarian Response Plan is now 70 per cent funded. Of the $1.1bn requested funding, some sectors remain vastly underfunded, forcing response partners to prioritise interventions in communities ranked highest on the severity scale.

“Despite this funding shortfall, 124 humanitarian actors are responding to the most acute needs. Together, they delivered some form of humanitarian assistance to 4.7 million people since January 2022, accounting for 84 per cent of the estimated people identified for assistance.”

However, it forewarned that “if the funding deficit continues, a number of life-saving programmes across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states will have to scale down or shut down completely.”

Although the Office did not specify what areas or locations its operations suffered the most hit, it said, “certain areas remain inaccessible to humanitarian partners, diminishing the overall humanitarian footprint.”

The most capital-intensive areas in 2024 are likely to include camp coordination and camp management, early recovery and livelihoods, education, food security, health, nutrition, protection, shelter & non-food items and water, sanitation and hygiene.

From January 2022 to June 2023, OCHA said it received $9m on Camp Coordination and Management despite targeting $51.4m, $22.5m for early recovery & livelihoods despite a $133.6m target, $14.7m on education while needing $194.2m, $454.4m on food security with an initial target of $921.1m.

Health gulped $117.6m with an initial target of $221.5; nutrition, $120.2, initially targeting $277.5. OCHA received $31.7 for shelter and non-food items and $8.7m for water, sanitation and hygiene from its 123 partners.

When reached for comments, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Rhoda Iliya, declined to provide a statement.

Japa: Nigeria lost 16,000 doctors in five years – Minister.

Japa: Nigeria lost 16,000 doctors in five years – Minister.

The Federal Government on Sunday disclosed that 55,000 licensed doctors are in the country to attend to the growing population of patients following the exodus of health professionals to hospitals and health facilities abroad.

It said in the last five years, the country lost about 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to the Japa syndrome while about 17,000 had been transferred.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, disclosed these when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Pate, who said the brain drain syndrome has robbed the health sector of its best hands, affirmed that the government is doing its best to expand the training scheme and motivate others who chose to stay back and serve their fatherland.

The brain drain phenomenon, otherwise known as ‘Japa’, has seen a generation of young doctors, health workers, tech entrepreneurs and a number of professionals abandoned Nigeria for greener pasture abroad.

But the minister reiterated that though there are 300,000 health professionals in Nigeria, only 55,000 of them are doctors.

He said, “There are about 300,000 health professionals working in Nigeria today in all cadres. I am talking about doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and others. We did an assessment and discovered we have 85,000 to 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors. Not all of them are in the country. Some are in the Diaspora, especially in the US and UK. But there are 55,000 licensed doctors in the country.

“The issue overall, in terms of health professionals, is that they are not enough. They are insufficient in terms of the skills mix. Can you believe most of the high skilled professional doctors are in Lagos, Abuja and a few urban centres? There is a huge distribution issue.

“The population of doctor overall is about 7,600 doctors in Lagos and 4,700 or thereabout in Abuja. The doctor to population ratio in Abuja is 14.7 per 10,000 population. These are numbers that you can verify. In Lagos, it is about 4.6, even though the average is 2.2 by 10,000.

“There are huge distributional issues and they are, of course, the opportunities even for some of those who have been trained to get into the market. So you have to look at it from a perspective that is holistic. Not only doctors but other cadres that are important in the delivery of health care. For doctors, we have been losing many that have been trained.”

Continuing, Pate emphasised that since the oxygen of any serious health sector is its human resource, Nigeria cannot afford to continue losing its best brains to the developed countries.

He however admitted that the Japa syndrome is a global phenomenon that equally affects other countries like India and Pakistan.

According to him, the country has lost about 16,000 doctors to brain drain in the past five years.

“Now to the Japa you talked about, it is not only limited to Nigeria. It is a global phenomenon. Other countries don’t have enough. They are asking to take more. It is not only in Nigeria. It is happening in India, Philippines and other parts of Africa. In the last five years, we have lost about 15,000 to 16,000 and about 17,000 had been transferred. We’re barely managing. That’s why expanding their training will become logical. The same thing with nurses and midwives; they are also leaving. That’s why expanding the training is important to ensure those still around are well trained.

“But there are also thousands more, which is what I was trying to hint at, who are here. And despite the opportunity to travel abroad did not leave and we don’t appreciate them. I’ll give you an example. The head of the ICU at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, a very brilliant gentleman. I met him in December and he said, ‘Four of my colleagues have left’ and I asked to know why he has not left. He said ‘Look, this is my country. I want to serve because health is a sector where there’s inherent motivation in those who select to go in there.’ People don’t just go in there because they want to have a job. They go because they’re intrinsically motivated and we have to recognise and tap into that.

“We are beginning to take steps to expand the training and work environment, taking some steps to encourage salaries and incomes commission to do certain things that will encourage them to feel at home. But even the issue of working hours that has come about recently, particularly for the junior doctors, is being addressed.”

“We are beginning to take steps to expand the training and work environment, taking some steps to encourage salaries and incomes commission to do certain things that will encourage them to feel at home. But even the issue of working hours that has come about recently, particularly for the junior doctors, is being addressed. This is because when some of their colleagues leave and they remain at home, the burden has not reduced. And so they work extremely hard. We’ve listened to that. We are looking at how we can alleviate that and with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, we are looking at how within the code of ethics and the guidelines for the physician to provide some safeguards to ensure they are treated as valuable assets so they are not burnt out,” he said.

Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova crowned Miss World 2024.

Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova crowned Miss World 2024.

Krystyna Pyszkova of the Czech Republic has clinched the coveted Miss World 2024 title during a glamorous event in India on Saturday, edging out Indian contestant Sini Shetty who made it to the top 8.

Miss Lebanon, Yasmina Zaytoun, secured the first runner-up position in the competition.

According to Press Trust of India on Saturday, Karolina Bielawska, the reigning Miss World from Poland, crowned Pyszkova as her successor at the star-studded finale.

This victory marks the second time a representative from the Czech Republic has claimed the Miss World crown, following Tatana Kucharova’s win in 2006.

Expressing her astonishment at winning the prestigious title, Pyszkova, who is in her twenties, confessed it was beyond her expectations.

During the pageant, Pyszkova’s ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ project emphasized “quality education for children,” and she pledged to utilize her platform as Miss World to amplify awareness for this cause.

Speaking to reporters after the finale, Pyszkova shared her excitement about the supportive community of Miss World contestants, vowing to continue her advocacy work.

“So far, we have helped 320 children. Through the Miss World platform, I’ll be able to help as many children as possible…

“The Miss World sisterhood is such an empowering community. I think we will be sharing this moment forever because we experienced so many things. We experienced this incredible country, India, together. I’ll be happy to come back soon,” Pyszkova told reporters here after the finale.

According to the official Miss World website, Pyszkova, a Czech model, is pursuing degrees in law and business administration and is the founder of the Krystyna Pyszko Foundation.

Fluent in English, Polish, Slovak, and German, Pyszkova advocates for sustainable development through education, citing her proudest moment as the establishment of an English school for underprivileged children in Tanzania, where she volunteered.

“Her proudest moment was opening an English school for underprivileged children in Tanzania where she also volunteered. She enjoys playing the transverse flute and the violin, and has a passion for music and art having spent nine years in an art academy,” read Pyszkova’s profile on the website.

India, which hosted the event after a gap of 28 years, was represented by 22-year-old Shetty.

The 71st Miss World pageant, featuring contestants from 112 countries, took place at the Jio World Convention Centre in BKC, with Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and Miss World 2013 Megan Young from the Philippines as hosts.

Tourism ministry plans training for women.

Tourism ministry plans training for women.

The Ministry of Tourism is set to train and empower community women in souvenir production.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Joesef Karim, on Sunday.

According to the statement, the FG would be introducing a sustainable tourism entrepreneurship programme ‘EcoGenesis Incubator’ for training and empowering women and youths that are residents in Nigeria’s tourism host communities across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“The objective is to offer a dynamic platform that will catalyse innovation and drive economic empowerment by helping the participants to develop, articulate, and refine their skills and tourism products.

“This will eventually lift many out of poverty by leveraging on the abundant tourism opportunities inherent in our communities across the nation,” the statement said.

The first series of the ‘EcoGenesis Incubator’ programme will be the training and empowerment of women in tourism souvenir production, specifically in jewellery making and rhinestone embellishment.

The training is scheduled to be held in Makurdi, Benue State, on March 14-15, 2024.

Karim said, “On completion, the trainees will be given tourism entrepreneurial starter-packs to enable them to start their jewellery-making and rhinestone embellishment businesses targeting visitors and tourists in Benue State.”

The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, had on International Women’s Day charged women to always contribute their entrepreneurial skills to the country’s development while urging them to use the immense potential within the tourism sector to showcase their talents, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Buttressing her points in the statement, the minister said, “The EcoGenesis Incubator is a tailored Nigerian tourism enterprise development program designed specifically for women and youth residing in the heart of tourist host communities.

“Through targeted training and empowerment initiatives conducted in rural areas across Nigeria, this program aims to facilitate the emergence of local tourism businesses and service offerings, fostering sustainable development in the country.”

“We are dedicated to forging partnerships with key stakeholders, including the private sector, state governments, and local communities, to cultivate distinctive Nigerian tourism offerings and elevate Nigeria as a premier tourism destination.”

The EcoGenesis Incubator series will empower people with occupational skills and eventually lift many out of poverty by harnessing touristy opportunities inherent in tourist host communities.

In the coming weeks, the EcoGenesis Incubator programmes will be delivered in a series across the 36 States and the FCT with increasing trainees and empowerment packages

Tinubu to launch students loan scheme Thursday — Presidency.

Tinubu to launch students loan scheme Thursday — Presidency.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this when he spoke on TVC’s Politics on Sunday.

On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale highlighted some of the President’s welfare initiatives being implemented at the moment, saying, “Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme.”

“This is a major form of obligation reduction for Nigerians and families and young people at a time when Nigerians are feeling the pinch. We believe this is the way to go,” he added.

On June 12, 2023, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

The move was in “fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said.

The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which is expected to handle all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

The government initially said it would take effect in September, but it did not.

However, Tinubu had insisted that the scheme would go live in January 2024. Declaring the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja open on October 23, 2023, the President said, “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we’re saying no more strikes!”

He proposed N50bn for its take-off in the 2024 budget he presented to the National Assembly last November.

On February 7, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, confirmed to newsmen that the much-awaited scheme would go live on February 21, when President Tinubu launches it at the State House, Abuja.

However, the launch was delayed, with Sawyerr, alongside Presidency sources, explaining that the lag time is to enable the Fund to expand its mandate to include students seeking loans for skills development, as directed by the President.

After receiving briefing from the NELFUND team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the President directed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

Tinubu based his decision on the need for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue a university education, noting that skill acquisition is as essential as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas.

“This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.

“In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he had said.

Linking this directive to the delay, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga had told The PUNCH, “Don’t forget that the last time they met, the President asked them to go and expand their mandate to include those who want to learn vocational skills. That could be the reason why the whole thing was delayed; they had to increase the scope.”

On Saturday, Sawyerr also told our correspondent that the delay is due to unperfected backend systems to power the application process as the scheme is “entirely technologically driven.”

He said, “The delay in take-off was basically to enable the agency to put all necessary measures in place as the scheme is entirely technologically driven.”

Presidency denies budget padding allegations, slams Ningi’s claims.

Presidency denies budget padding allegations, slams Ningi’s claims.

Following the false claims made by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget, the Presidency has denied allegations of padding the 2024 budget by an additional N3 trillion.

Acting under the banner of Northern Senators' Forum, Senator Ningi, falsely claimed in an interview he granted BBC Hausa Service, that the National Assembly debated and passed N25 Trillion as 2024 budget and not the N28.7 Trillion that is being implemented by the Federal Government. 

However, in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency pointed out that Tinubu had initially presented a N27.5tn budget to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.

This was widely reported. He did not present a budget of N25 Trillion. 

Contrary to the strange view expressed by Senator Ningi, there was no way the Senate could have debated and passed a N25 Trillion budget that was not presented to the National Assembly. 

We don't expect a ranking Senator not to pay due attention to details before making wild claims.

It is also important to let Nigerians know that the budget that President Tinubu signed into law on January 1, 2024 as passed by the National Assembly was N28.7 Trillion. 

The National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased the amount proposed by the Executive by N1.2 Trillion.

In the spirit of democracy which allows give and take, President Tinubu didn't withhold his assent to the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly. We want to stress that if the budget figure was increased and made to be different from what the Executive proposed, it was the National Assembly that jacked it up in exercise of its power of appropriation. 

On the uncharitable claim that the 2024 budget was anti-North, we found such position as canvassed by Senator Ningi as too far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status. 

President Tinubu is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. In terms of funding, distribution of capital and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country. 

The North as an integral part of the country is well covered in all areas, from security to agriculture, healthcare to education, and other important infrastructure such as roads, rail, dams, power and irrigation projects to support all year-round agriculture. 

It is concerning that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can employ such primordial antics to fuel divisive rhetoric at a time well-meaning Nigerians are joining hands with President Tinubu to raise the spirit of national cohesion, unity and inclusive politics. 

We want to use this opportunity to commend Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity for setting the record straight. We also commend Senators Steve Sunday Karimi (Kogi), Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue) and Kaka Sheu (Borno) for their forthrightness and for coming out against the misrepresentation of facts by Senator Ningi. 

President Tinubu is a firm believer in the rule of law and constitutional democracy. As an avowed democrat, he will not engage and indulge in any unconstitutional action or act in any manner that assaults the Constitution of Nigeria by operating any budget outside the one approved by the National Assembly, which he dutifully signed into law. 

We want to state categorically that the only 2024 budget that is being implemented is the N28.7 Trillion budget passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President. 

Included in the budget are statutory transfers to the Judiciary, National Assembly, Tetfund and others. 

NBS: Nigeria’s crude oil export up 20.8%, hits N10.31 trillion in three months.

NBS: Nigeria’s crude oil export up 20.8%, hits N10.31 trillion in three months.

In the three months from October to December 2023, Nigeria exported crude oil valued at N10.31 trillion, which constitutes a bulk of the nation’s overall exports of products

Foreign trade data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023 showed that the value of crude oil taken out of the country in the three months under review grew by 20.80 percent, accounting for a substantial portion of 81 percent of the total exports during the period.

Comparatively, Nigeria exported N8.53 trillion worth of crude oil in the third quarter of last year, compared to N4.91 trillion in the second quarter. This represents a 109.91 percent rise in value.

Owing to shrinking investment, vandalism, and widespread theft in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s overall crude oil production had been slowly declining for years.

With a decline in crude production to nearly 900,000 barrels per day in the third quarter of 2022, the federal government decided to step up and enlist local security organisations in the pipeline’s monitoring programme.

A growth in upstream activities in the oil and gas sector is further illustrated by the notable increase in Nigeria’s oil rig count, which has recently reached around thirty.

Following months of consistent expansion, Nigeria’s crude oil production, excluding condensates, rose above 1.42 million barrels per day in January for the first time in years.

Moreover, it appears the nation will have either met or surpassed its 1.5 million barrels per day renegotiated quota with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Q3, 2023 when the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) releases the production data for February.

The report stated: “The value of crude oil exports in Q4, 2023 stood at N10,310.70 billion indicating an increase of 20.80 percent compared to the value recorded in Q3, 2023 (N8,535.61 billion) and increased by 109.91 percent when compared to the same period in 2022 (N4,911.92 billion).

“The value of other oil products exports in Q4, 2023 was N1,287.65 billion; this showed an increase of 13.61 percent and by 79.98 percent when compared to the value recorded in Q3, 2023 (N1,133.42 billion) and the value in the fourth quarter of 2022 (N715.45 billion) respectively,” the NBS report indicated.

Despite a 6.43 percent gain from the previous quarter, Nigeria’s performance in the solid minerals sector fell below expectations during the period under review, earning just N58.92 billion.

“The value of solid minerals imports in the fourth quarter of 2023 stood at N58.92 billion. This value was 6.43 percent higher than the value recorded in Q3, 2023 (N55.36 billion) and 72.68 percent higher than the value recorded in Q4, 2022 (N34.12 billion).”

The largest exported product in the fourth quarter of 2023 was petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude was valued at N10,310.70 billion, representing 81.23 percent.

“This was followed by natural gas, with N1,015.84 billion accounting for 8.00 percent, and urea, whether or not in aqueous solution, with N251.90 billion or 1.98 percent of total exports,” the report added.

However, Nigeria’s total trade during the fourth quarter of 2023 was N26,801.95 billion. The value of imports was N14,108.33 billion, while the value of exports was N12,693.62 billion.

The overall value of trade was N71,880.01 billion each year, of which N35,917.62 billion was recorded as imports and N35,962.39 billion as exports.

When compared to the total exports recorded in the third quarter of 2023, which came to N10,346.60 billion, and to the corresponding quarter in 2022, which came to N6,359.61 billion, the total exports in the reviewed quarter grew by 22.68 percent and 99.60 percent, respectively.