News
Jonathan, 20 Other African Leaders Attend Zenawi’s Funeral
President Goodluck Jonathan was among 20 other African leaders
who attended the funeral service of Mr Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of
Ethiopia, who died on August 20.
The funeral, which took place at the popular Meskel Square
in Addis Ababa yesterday, was attended by former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo
and Abdussalam Abubakar, Aliko Dangote and Foreign Minister, Amb. Olugbenga
Ashiru, among other members of the Nigerian delegation.
In his tribute, President Jonathan described Zenawi’s death
as a great loss not only to Ethiopia but to the entire African continent.
He urged the government of Ethiopia to honour Zenawi through
continued implementation of his programmes and follow the path of harmony and
sustainable development which he had established in that country.
Jonathan, who assured the people and the government of
Ethiopia of Nigeria’s readiness to continue to support its development agenda,
said the relationship between the two countries would continue to be
strengthened.
“Nigeria and Ethiopia will continue to strengthen the
existing relations through our Bi-Commission, and will also pursue Africa ’s
development agenda together.”
President Boni Yayi of Benin and the President of the AU,
said that Zenawi was a Pan-Africanist whose dedication and vision lifted the AU
to greater heights.
He said that “Zenawi supported peace and legality where they
were affected especially in the Horn of Africa. He assisted in the success of
various negotiations such as the African Climate Change negotiation where he
defended the interest of Africa.”
Yayi said as chairman of African Heads of State on NEPAD,
Zenawi contributed immensely in putting Africa in the right place and ensured
rapid economic development in Ethiopia .
President Yoweri Musaveni of Uganda said the problem of
Africa has not been the lack of resources, but the lack of visionary leaders
like Zenawi.
Musaveni said the power generation in Ethiopia when Zenawi
took over power 20 years ago was 300 megawatts “but he raised it to 2,100
megawatts.
“His vision was to generate 10,000 megawatts for Ethiopia by
2015 after the completion of the Renaissance Dam currently under construction.”
The ugandan leader said he believed that Zenawi’s death at
57 must have been as a result of too much stress from his very tight schedule.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda said the late prime minister
had a life of imminence, courage and enterprise which he used to advance the
life of his fellow Ethiopians, Africans and beyond.
“He was a man of rear talent and selflessness that we all
feel the magnitude he has left behind. Zenawi was an unassuming, promising and
a formidable man who finds solutions to complex situations’’, Kagame said.
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa said Zenawi’s success
could be defined by the sprawling city of Addis Ababa and Ethiopia ’s economic,
democratic and social transformations recorded within a short time.
“It was painful for the Ethiopians to lose such a young
leader who dedicated his life to the economic, democratic and social
development of his people, his country, his region and the entire continent of
Africa.”
In her condolence, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the
UN, Susan Rice described Zenawi as
“talented leader who had many things to offer.
“He was selfless, fearless and dedicated to his work and
family. He was a world class mind who taught himself and many others so much.
He was not only a good negotiator, but a wise leader who disagree based on the
vision for his people and his country.”
“Whenever we disagree with Zenawi on Economy, democracy,
human rights, regional security or any other issue, you will find that his
disagreement was not based on ideology, but for his vision for the country he
so much loved.’’
Rice said that Zenawi was ambitious, but not for himself, he
was a son of Ethiopia and a father of its re-birth who conquered poverty,
hunger and fought against tyranny.
“He transformed from gorilla to a statesman. His untimely
death will remain a big loss to Africa and the world.”
The Acting Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr Hailemariam
Desseleng said the country had witnessed massive transformation in all sectors
of development, including security, agriculture, health, economy, rural
development, education, transportation among others.
He said during Zenawi’s leadership, the country also
improved its diplomatic ties with many African and non-African countries,
regional and international organisations.
Desselegn said the country had contributed immensely in
finding lasting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, and also in solving
many security problems between Sudan and South Sudan, in Liberia and in Uganda.
Our correspondent in Addis Ababa reports that other leaders
who paid tribute to Zenawi include presidents Omar Aashir of Sudan and Salva
Kirr of South Sudan, Mr Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa, UN and
EU representatives.
Meanwhile, the remains of Zenawi were buried within the
compound of Trinity Church located behind the Grand Palace, Addis Ababa, after
a church service restricted only to the immediate family members led by his
wife, Azef Mesfin, his three children, and senior Ethiopian government and
church officials.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.