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Acute Hunger To Set In Nigeria, 20 Other Countries, UN Warns
Published
3 years agoon
By
EditorA recent report released by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that acute hunger is set to soar in Nigeria and 20 other countries in the coming months of 2021 owing to conflicts or other forms of violence which shall leave affected countries in dire economic shock.
Speaking about the impending ugly situation in a joint statement released by both UN’s organisations, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said: ‘The magnitude of suffering at the moment is alarming. It is incumbent upon all of us to act now and fast to save lives, safeguard livelihoods and prevent the worst situation.’
He noted that in many regions, the planting season has just started or was about to start, urging: “We must run ahead of the clock and cease this opportunity to protect, stabilize and even possibly increase local food production slip away.”
On his part, WFP Executive Director David Beasley said: ‘We are seeing a catastrophe unfold before our very eyes. Famine – driven by conflict, fuelled by climate shocks and the COVID-19 hunger pandemic – is knocking on the door for millions of families.
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“We urgently need three things to stop millions from dying of starvation: the fighting has to stop, we must be allowed access to vulnerable communities to provide life-saving help, and above all we need donors to step up with the US$ 5.5 billion we are asking for this year,” he added.
The report noted that “in conflict-hit northern Nigeria, projections for the June – August lean season shows that the number of people in emergency level of acute food insecurity is likely to almost double – to over 1.2 million, Since the same period last year- in the next six months, food and nutrition insecurity is set to rise considerably in northern Nigeria with some 13 million people affected unless food and livelihood assistance is scaled up.”
The report recommends critical short-term actions in each hunger hotspot to address existing and future needs.
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“These range from scaling up food and nutrition assistance, distributing drought-tolerant seeds, treating and vaccinating livestock to rolling out cash-for-work schemes, rehabilitating water- harvesting structures and increasing income opportunities for vulnerable communities.”
According to the report, the following factors are behind the projected rise in acute food insecurity in the 20 hunger ‘hotspots’ between March and July 2021.
“Conflict or other forms of violence may protract or is likely to increase in parts of Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Central Sahel, Ethiopia, northern Nigeria, northern Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan and the Sudan. Increasingly constrained access in some countries to help people in need has been making things worse.
“COVID-19 will continue to impact numerous countries around the world, leaving them highly vulnerable to economic shocks. Latin America is the region hardest hit by economic decline and will be the slowest to recover. In the Middle East, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon are seriously affected by a rapid currency depreciation and skyrocketing inflation.
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“Climate extremes and la Niña-driven weather will likely continue in April and May, driving hunger in several parts of the world – from Afghanistan, Madagascar to the Horn of Africa. Desert Locust outbreaks in East Africa and on the Red Sea Coast remains a concern. In Southern Africa, in parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, African migratory locusts threaten to ravage the summer crops,” the report stated.
(SUN)
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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin
Published
10 months agoon
July 22, 2023By
EditorBy Omokha Andrew
A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.
The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.
The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.
The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.
However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.
One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.
“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.
“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.
When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.
Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.
Business
Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports
Published
12 months agoon
May 18, 2023By
EditorNigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.
James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.
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The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.
He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.
“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.
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In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.
Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.
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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine
Published
2 years agoon
March 16, 2022By
EditorThe Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.
The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.
On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.
Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.
Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
READ ALSO: Ukraine: Horror As Russian Forces Shoot People Queuing For Bread
They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.
The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.
The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.
The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.
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