Day: May 3, 2023

The Federal Government has released a 1,564-page compendium detailing the numerous achievements of the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023.

The compendium, which came in two volumes and documented by the Ministry of Information and Culture was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

In the preface, signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he said the compendium was one of the outcomes of the multi-dimensional programmes designed by the Ministry to showcase the administration’s achievements.

According to the minister, “the compendium contained the aggregation of the scorecards of the various ministries.

“Making it the most authentic and detailed collection – in a written form – that anyone can have on the achievements of the Buhari Administration from its assumption of office in 2015 to the end of its two-term tenure in 2023.

Mohammed said the collection came under the Administration’s Scorecard Series (2015-2023)’, launched by his ministry in October last year, to consolidate the propagation of the government’s achievements.

The scorecard series, according to him, provided the platform for ministers to tell Nigerians how they had fared in executing the policies and programmes of the administration from their various sectors.

Mohammed said other components of the multi-layer programmes included a documentary showcasing in vivid terms the giant strides of the administration in all spheres of life.

He said a Testimony Series was also organised, which gave ordinary Nigerians the opportunity to express how they had benefitted from the administration’s policies.

The minister said the ministry equally launched a Legacy Portal that would preserve for posterity all the achievements of the administration.

“I can boldly say that we have achieved our objective of launching the entire Scorecard Series, which is to tell Nigerians what the Buhari Administration has done in all the sectors to positively impact on

their lives.

“Prior to the launch of this Scorecard Series, the refrain from the opposition was that the APC and the Buhari administration have nothing to campaign with in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.

“But we have proven them wrong. Not only do we have achievements to campaign with, we are spoilt for choice,” he said.

The minister appreciated all the ministers for their support and cooperation in making the compendium and all the other components of the scorecard series a reality.

He also expressed gratitude to the members of staff of his ministry, heads of the agencies under the ministry as well as the media, which consistently reported the presentations.

On behalf of other ministers, Mohammed gave gratitude to President Buhari for his unflinching support for them to deliver on their mandates.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, inaugurated an advanced communication infrastructure, code maned, ‘Giwa 2 Project’ for the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is a secured and dedicated communication domain that provides real-time audio and video communication for military operations.

It is a defence communications networks coordinate project executed by Defence Headquarters.

Buhari said the communication infrastructure was designed to provide secure means of communication, real-time instant reporting as well as information exchange between the armed forces and other security agencies.

He said it would lead to enhanced collaboration between the defence, intelligence and security communities while providing the platform for the denial of freedom of action to perpetrators of insecurity across Nigeria.

According to him, Giwa 2 project initiative is in alliance with some of the main focus areas of the Federal Government in the areas of security, economic progression and technology development.

“These benefits of Giwa 2 project informed the timely support of the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that the centre is commissioned as one of the proud landmarks and enduring achievements of the armed forces of Nigeria under this administration.

“It is evident from what we are witnessing here today that you have the infrastructure designed to stand the test of time and deliver on its mandate,” he said.

Buhari said the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy would support the Defence Headquarters in ensuring that the infrastructure available for rural telephony were fully deployed for the attainment of the project.

He pledged that the government would support the full actualisation of other features of the project to ensure professional and vibrant armed forces with the capacity to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

He said the armed forces had continually demonstrated resolve to provide safe, secure and an enabling environment to promote national security.

The president said his administration had made significant strides to enhance the capacity and capability of the armed forces to tackle the multiple of security challenges confronting the country.

He urged troops to continue to give their best in the service of the nation.

He also challenged the armed forces to continue to break new ground and remain at the forefront of mainstreaming, technological and other cutting-edge initiatives to facilitate the provision of a safe, secure and peaceful environment for Nigerians.

The Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Kana, commended the DHQ for the successful completion of the secure nationwide defence communication network infrastructure.

Magashi said the project was a remarkable breakthrough in the technological advancement of communication systems in the armed forces of Nigeria.

He said the network had the capability of providing voice, data and video as well as other value-added services for the armed forces locations in and outside Abuja.

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, said the deployment of the new network would support the nation’s security institutions to build trust and enhance their reputation.

Pantami said the deployment would go a long way in consolidating the achievements of the Buhari administration in security and also open new opportunities for addressing the security challenges in Nigeria.

“As we all know, all the systems that have been used today in security, need effective networks, including control systems, computer systems, communication systems, intelligence systems, information systems, surveillance systems, recognising systems, all of them.

“They need a very secure network to communicate and I believe with this project as part of the Giwa 2 project.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the project was supported by the apex bank because of the impact of insecurity on agriculture.

Emefiele said that improved security would help in addressing the challenge of food scarcity occasioned by the inability of farmers to go to farms.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the project was borne out of the fact that the entire fields of electronic warfare, information warfare, and cyber warfare were inter-related.

Irabor said that every commander would wish to have both technical and operational control of his own communications, as well as the capacity to influence those of his adversaries.

He said the armed forces had over the years been desirous of having a dedicated and secure communication platform that could be deployed to enhance administrative, logistical, and operational activities.

“Consequently, the National Communications Commission allocated 20 megahertz bandwidth to the DHQ for the establishment of a secure nationwide defence communication network in 2013.

“Following years of planning and consideration of various funding and operating models, DHQ began establishing the secure nationwide communication network code named Giwa 2 Project infrastructure in May 2021.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has canvassed for effective implementation of the national action plan on Ageing in Nigeria.

The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

She stated this during a 2-Day Training Workshop for Desk Officers on the Implementation of NSCC’s Strategic Roadmap on Ageing 2022 -2032.

Omokaro said that the Strategic Roadmap on Ageing provides a framework for assessing the effectiveness of actions taken to effect change.

”This strategic framework will provide the needed multi-sectoral foundational thrust for the robust implementation of the strategic objectives of both the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017 and the National Policy on Ageing, aligned with the tenets of the SDG goals.

”This strategy should deliver transformational changes needed to promote and protect older persons’ rights to dignity, security, health and wellbeing, happiness, independence and continued participation in what they have reasons to value.

”It will also set the institutional precedent for sector-wide efforts to improve the quality of lives and wellbeing of older persons in Nigeria,” she said.

Omokaro said that the objective of the exercise was designed to increase the understanding of the desk officers in relevant MDAs on Ageing.

”Their role and responsibilities in the implementation of this strategic roadmap is necessary to develop Desk Officer Engagement Framework towards increasing feedback and Desk Officers’ effectiveness.

”NSCC has through its partnership successfully mainstreamed older person into the NDE Matured People Program and signed an MoU with relevant Agencies to support older persons in Nigeria.

”So, with the desk offices, we should be able to strengthen our partnerships with various MDAs, where they already exist and, to leverage on the enhanced understanding of ageing and issues of older persons to evolve more effective partnerships on mainstreaming ageing into specific programsme,” she said.

The D-G, therefore, expressed determination to establish ageing desks with focal officers in relevant MDAs to interface with NSCC so as to ensure effective inclusion of older persons.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop had in attendance participants from 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as three officers from House Committee on Disabilities and the Committee on Women.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Communication Rene Emmanuel Sadi, has told media practitioners that Cameroon is a State that respects human rights, with press freedom constituting the backbone.

Rene Sadi was invited to the brainstorming event organized by the Cameroon Association of English-speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) and the Cameroonian section of the International Francophone Press Union (UPF), to mark the 30th edition of the World Press Freedom Day.

During activities that took place in Yaounde, on May 3, the Communication boss said the liberalization of the national media landscape within a period of thirty years, has “profoundly transformed Cameroon from a monolithic system to an effective pluralist regime”.

The Minister said journalists have a duty to respect the ethics and laws which are part of the enabling factors of press freedom within the country.

“It must be noted that in many cases, national media practitioners are often at odds with the rules of the ethics and professional conduct that should guide their work. Such a deficiency is likely to discredit the press” Rene Sadi said.

“The abuses observed and induced by this lack of professionalism expose journalists and the media to the sanctions provided for by the laws and regulations in force.”

The Communication Minister also added that “there is the instrumentalization of the media by certain actors with hidden agendas”. He called on media professionals to exercise more vigilance.

Concerning the social security of journalists, media owners were urged to fulfill their social and legal obligations towards the journalists they employ, notably the provision of employment contracts and the regular payment of salaries.

Minister Rene Sadi said the government is aware of the difficulties faced by national media operators in the exercise of their profession, assuring them of the government’s efforts towards ameliorating the situation.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day was celebrated under the theme; “Shaping a future of rights: Freedom of expression as a driver of all human rights”.

Source: Cameroon News Agency