Category: News

A gas explosion in a restaurant in northern China has killed at least 31 people, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.

Seven others were injured, one of them seriously in the explosion on Wednesday night, Xinhua said.

The explosion happened at a barbecue restaurant in the Chinese city of Yinchuan, in the North-Western Ningxia region.

The cause which was probably a gas leak led to many deaths.

China’s state and party leader Xi Jinping ordered a full investigation into the incident, which happened on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, a public holiday.

Nine people suspected of being responsible were arrested, including the manager, a shareholder of the restaurant, and employees, state television reported.

Their bank accounts had been frozen.

The municipal government said that a restaurant employee and a cook had noticed the smell of gas about an hour before the blast.

They realized that the valve of a gas tank had broken.

Another employee was sent to buy a new valve.

The explosion occurred while it was being replaced, the statement said.

State media reported that a gas tank on the ground floor exploded first, rupturing a gas pipe on the first floor.

The first floor contained rooms with karaoke facilities, where a large number of guests were having dinner, according to the news website Fengmian Xinwen.

It was not initially known why the restaurant was not evacuated immediately after the smell of gas was detected and the defective valve was discovered.

People from neighbouring houses were brought to safety in nearby hotels after the incident.

Rescue workers were trying to establish the identity of the victims.

Twenty fire engines and about 100 emergency personnel and volunteers were mobilized, state media reported.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has advocated for creation of the Nigeria-UK Bi-National Commission to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Shettima made this known when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery on a courtesy call at the presidential villa.

The Vice president said that Nigeria and UK had a long-standing historical relationship, business activities and shared common interests, which has led to the exceptional cordial relationship between the two nations.

He lauded the British government for its regular support and assistance to Nigeria while expressing hope for more robust business relations ahead.

“I will urge you to facilitate the setting up of the Nigeria-UK Binational Commission. The Bi-national Commission can be the driver for accelerating enhanced business relationships between our two countries.

“We need to ramp up the trade between our two nations taking into cognizance of our proximity and the long lasting relationship.

“There is no nation that we are close to than the UK and our trade represent less than five per cent of the volume of our import and export,” Shettima said.

He said that the Federal Government was committed to creating an enabling environment for business activities to flourish in the country.

The VP underscored the need for economic reforms in order to position the country’s economy for growth in order to march the recent removal of fuel subsidies.

“This is just the beginning because it was a fait accompli to withdraw the fuel subsidy.

“We either get rid of the fuel subsidy or the fuel subsidy get rid of the Nigerian nation.

“In 2012, we spent 10 billion dollars on fuel subsidy alone.

“Last month, we were purportedly consuming 67 million litres per day, but after the removal of the subsidy, it drops to 41 million litres per day, nearly four per cent off.

” So the whole subsidy regime was opaque, ridden with a lot of inconsistencies.”

He said that the previous multiple exchange rate regime with a lot of corruption brought about the proliferation of many schemes.

He said that the government had no other option but to collapse the exchange rate regimes into one.

 “In the coming weeks and months, we are going to make more pronouncements on how to reposition the Nigerian economy and make it vibrant for business,” he said.

He spoke on the role of the private sector in driving economic growth.

According to him, Lagos is booming fundamentally because of the private sector but not because of government as the government has created the avenue for businesses to thrive.

In efforts to find a lasting solution to the security challenges in the country, Shettima stated that there was a need for both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches toward addressing the problems.

In his remarks, Montgomery commended the new administration’s proactive economic policies, especially the reforms.

He lauded the long-standing relationship and cooperation with Nigeria, especially in areas of trade and investment, security and defence, digital technology, and education.

He assured the willingness of the UK government in partnering closely with Nigeria towards achieving the overall development of the nation.

The Co-chair, Bill, and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, has urged the Federal Government to improve investment in equitable solutions and in the people who are working on them.

He said this during the Pan-African Youth Innovation Forum on Wednesday in Lagos, as part of activities for his visit to Nigeria.

The Forum had the theme: “Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation.’’

Gates said that Nigeria was full of talented people with a lot of potential, but noted that it could be hard to fulfill that potential if they don’t have access to the most basic building blocks of life.

“It may not surprise you that Nigeria’s state and federal governments only spend the equivalent of $10 on health per person each year, compared to $31 in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole.

“Leaders need to make a much bigger financial commitment, focused most of all on improving primary health systems.

“Making sure clinics are well-staffed and supplied, making sure children get the vaccines they need—all of this is absolutely essential to improving health and opportunity and unlocking all of Nigeria’s potential,” he said.

Gates said that he would speak with the government about increasing commitments to agriculture and digital financial systems.

According to him, Nigerian youths have shown how passionate they are about progress, but they need to encourage their leaders to follow through on these commitments.

“The last time I visited Nigeria in 2018, I spoke to government leaders about your country’s potential for growth.

“This time, I wanted to speak also with you: Nigeria’s next generation of innovators.

“Ever since I was a teenager, writing computer code on a terminal at my high school, and later at Microsoft, I have loved the feeling of innovating to make something a little better for people—or a lot better.

“I’m sure you know this feeling too.

“There’s going to be a lot of opportunity for you to continue to make a difference in the world, because of the unprecedented potential of new technologies.

“However, Nigerians are still facing many of the challenges I talked about five years ago—and you have to contend with economic instability and security threats.

“I have a lot of faith that your generation will persevere and improve lives throughout Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

Gates said that talented youths are a powerful asset to making the world a better place.

He said that Nigeria’s huge youth population represented a lot of potential skills and passion to solve big problems.

“Yesterday, I met some impressive Nigerians whom the Gates Foundation has been partnering with for years.

“These scientists are improving seeds, fertiliser, and biopesticides so farmers can thrive in the face of climate change and grow crops free of toxins.

“And I met with a researcher scaling up an effective way to reduce anemia in pregnant women,” he said.

Gates said that young people needed strong support system to thrive, starting with education.

He added that Nigeria had a strong foundation, with some of the best educational and research institutions across the continent.

He stressed the need to bridge inequity in health, education, financial services and pay gaps to drive development.

Gates expressed his belief in the power of science and innovation to help people lead long, healthy lives, but noted that he had learnt that the benefits don’t automatically reach everyone.

“To do that, the people creating new breakthroughs, funding them, and getting them into the world all need to prioritise equity,” he said.

The philanthropist said that there are many exciting innovations in the global pipeline that would improve lives here in Nigeria.

“They’re going to prevent infectious diseases, provide life-saving interventions for mothers and babies; make food more nutritious, and give women more convenient contraception options.

“Down the road, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be applied in ways that will bring quality health care and education to more people,” he said.

Gates expressed excitement at the potential AI had to save and improve lives, but, said that won’t happen if profit was the only motive.

“So, our foundation is thinking about what we can do to help AI develop in ways that improve the lives and well-being of everyone, not just the wealthiest people in a few rich countries.

“The foundation has issued a call for proposals or what we call a “Grand Challenge” for innovative, safe uses of large language models.

“We received 1,300 proposals, and half of them were from Africa. The winners will be announced in Senegal in October.

“We hope what emerges will help build an evidence base for advancing equitable outcomes in health and development everywhere in the world,” he said.

A financial expert, Dr Akin Olaniyan has lamented the increasing poverty rate in the country caused by multiple factors among which is poor management of resources

Olaniyan who stated this during a media training organized by Polaris Bank in Lagos, said: “Nigeria exhibited a poverty headcount ratio of 30.9 percent, while South Africa’s stood at 20.5 percent, with a life expectancy of 53 years as against 65 years for South Africa, population growth rate of 2.4 percent as of 2021 for Nigeria while South Africa is 1.0 percent, among others.”

Olaniyan, former deputy Editor with the Punch Newspaper while further lamenting the current state of the economy noted that despite its huge potentials for rapid growth and development, Nigeria is still caught in a debt trap.

Citing OPEC and NEITI data, he said “Nigeria boasts nearly 40 billion barrels in crude reserves, ranking 11th out of 20 countries. Additionally, gas and oil contribute 65-83% of the country’s total export revenue, with a crude oil production capacity of 2.5 million barrels per day. However, Nigeria currently produces 1.8 million barrels per day, making it Africa’s largest oil producer and the 13th largest in the world.

“Despite these economic potentials, Nigeria has been identified as the 14th most failed state in the world in 2011, climbing 40 places in the Fund for Peace ‘Fragile State Index’ between 2005 and 2011.

Nigeria now finds itself grouped with countries such as Somalia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan,” he added.  

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Marine Command has intercepted 2.910 kg of cannabis sativa coming from Ghana.

Mr Paul Ahom, Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA marine command, said this while showcasing the drugs intercepted in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to Ahom, this is the first biggest seizure arrested by the NDLEA Marine Command since inception of the unit, noting that previous seizures made have been transferred by sister agencies.

“On June 20, through credible intelligence, a team of NDLEA officers intercepted a boat along Alfa Beach and upon inspection discovered some substances of drugs suspected to be canabis sativa.

“The drugs where intercepted following an information of a drug trade by the sea.

“ Two Ghananian, Monday Saba, 30-years and Kwana Hakeem, 27-years were intercepted with the drugs and they identified themselves as loaders.

“The shipment was actually coming from Ghana and most of these drugs have always been from Ghana, they are the ones supplying to Nigeria,” he said.

He added that as at the time of interception, the person who was supervising the loaders had already gone to offload the ones they had taken out from the boat.

He noted that further investigation and testing of the substance proved positive that the drug exhibit was canabis sativa otherwise known as Arizona weighing 2.910kg approximately 2.9 tons.

“Investigation has commenced into the matter, and also, a very big boat which they used as means of conveyance was seized.

“On the street value, at the moment I cannot approximate because the price varies and so  cannot give the accurate street value of the drugs seized,” he said.

He added that another highpoint of today’s event was also to commence part of activities to mark the 2023 United Nations (UN) International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking celebrated every June 26.

“The celebrating coming up on June 26 is the reason for the presence of the other sister security agencies here present.

“The essence of their coming is to join hands with us to mark a week long event to commemorate the day and to further appreciate them for the long standing cooperation and synergy that we have over time.

“They have always been with us in terms of logistics, sometimes, they arrest on their own if we are not available and transfer to us for further investigation,” he said.

He urged that more intelligence be shared among critical stakeholders so that operations would be seamless.

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has approved a 114 percent increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders.

RMAFC is saddled with the responsibility of determining the remuneration appropriate for political officeholders including the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices as mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 of this Constitution.

The commission urged the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly to hasten efforts on amendment of relevant laws to give room for upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial and public officers.

The RMAFC Chairman, Muhammadu Shehu, represented by a federal commissioner, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, made the call at the presentation of reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State governor, Dr Nasir Idris, on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.

He said the implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages was effective from January 1, 2023, adding that the move was in accordance with the provision of paragraph 32(d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 constitution of the federal government (as amended).

He said the last remuneration review was conducted in 2007, noting that it culminated in the “certain political, public and judicial office holders (salaries and allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2008”.

Shehu said, “It empowers the revenue mobilisation, allocation and fiscal commission to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of the constitution of the federal government.

“Sixteen years after the last review, it is imperative that the remuneration packages for the categories of the office holders mentioned in relevant sections of the 1999 constitution (as amended) should be reviewed.

“Pursuant to the above, your excellency may please recall that on Wednesday, 1st February, 2023, the commission held a one-day zonal public hearing on the review of the remuneration package simultaneously in all the six (6) geo-political zones of the country. The aim of the exercise was to harvest inputs/ideas from a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”

He said the commission had objectively and subjectively reviewed the salary packages in the reports, adding that it adheres to the rules of equity and fairness, risk and responsibilities, national order of precedence among others.

“The subjective criteria reflected the various expression by stakeholders through memoranda received, opinion expressed during the zonal public hearings and responses to questionnaires administered.

“The objectives of the criteria were obtained from analysis of macro-economic variables particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI),” he noted.

The chairman added that the commission was also guided by some principles, including equity and fairness; risk and responsibilities; national order of precedence; motivation and tenure of office.

Shehu said that having considered the impact of the review on the economy, the remuneration of the political, public and judicial office holders in the country was adjusted “upward by 114%.”

The chairman explained that with respect to the judicial office holders, the commission considered the introduction of three new allowances.

He listed the allowances to include, “Professional Development Assistant: This is to allow for the provision of two law clerks to all judicial officers in the country.

“Long Service Allowance: This is to guarantee seniority/hierarchy between officers who have been on the bench for a minimum of five years and those that are appointed newly.

“Restricted or Forced Lifestyle: This is to take care of the nature of the lifestyle of judicial officers while in active service.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s healthcare reform agenda will be defined by making Universal Health Coverage a priority.

Anas said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a Health Policy Dialogue.

The theme of the event was “Setting UHC and Health Security Priorities in the New Dispensation: Getting it Right from the Outset.”

The dialogue examines Nigeria’s health policy priorities in the light of the Presidential Committee on Health Reform’s-recommendations and the citizens-led health agenda and charting a course of action.

The special adviser said the President’s objective was to bridge the divide between the underprivileged and accessing quality healthcare by providing financial security.

Dr Betta Edu, APC Women Leader, commended the current administration for its initiative in removing fuel subsidies.  

Edu said the president was committed to redirecting the resources to subsidise every household, through prioritising investments in the health and education sectors. 

Dr Haliru Yahaya, Emir of Shonga in Kwara, said the improvement of the country’s health system relied greatly on political will and a change in attitudes.

Yahaya said that those two elements were crucial in driving positive change and progress in the country’s health sector.

Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Country Representative (WR) to Nigeria, said that getting it right from the outset started with putting the right people in the right place.

Kazadi said that WHO acknowledged the invaluable role of community involvement in shaping health policies.

Dr Rob Yates, Executive Director, Centre for UHC, Chatham House, again emphasised how political commitment was critical for achieving UHC in the country.

Yates said that the Chatham House is willing to support the new state governors in advancing the UHC agenda in the country.

Mrs Chika Offor, the Chair of Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), urged the new government to work with a sense of urgency, to address the poor health outcomes in the country.

Earlier, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, Chair of UHC2023 Forum, said it was sequel to the emergence of a new political dispensation in the country.

Makanjuola said that the UHC 2023 Forum would intensify its engagement with the political class to ensure their health policy priorities reflected the most important gaps in the health system.

“Today’s event is one of such endeavours that is aimed at articulating available evidence on policy reforms in Nigeria and forging a consensus on health and health security priorities in the light of available evidence.

“This gathering also offers us the opportunity to identify key success factors for achieving health and health security reform objectives, especially in a complex administrative setting like ours.

“Furthermore, this forum comes with a unique opportunity to chart a course of action for effective and sustained citizens’ engagement towards productive health reforms,” she said.

The forum is a coalition of a wide array of stakeholders, including donor agencies, development partners, Civil Society Organisations and the Media.

The UHC 2023 Forum as an entity, committed to taking advantage of the policy window created by the political transition, to put UHC and health security on the political front burner.

The forum has formed a robust partnership with a global policy think-tank, the Chatham House UK and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to raise the political profile of health in the country.

The forum creates a citizens-led health agenda for participation by major political parties in the country.

The National Industrial Court will begin its 2023 annual vacation on July 31.

The announcement, which was made in a circular on Wednesday in Abuja, was signed by the President of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip.

The vacation, Kanyip said, will end on September 26.

In addition, he stated that normal court sitting would resume on September 27.

Kanyip made the declaration pursuant to Order 58 Rule 4(2) of the National Industrial Court Civil Procedure Rules.

The president said that there would be no normal court sitting during the period except for urgent applications to be heard by a vacation judge.

The court usually assigns vacation judges to preside in Abuja and Lagos Divisions in order to attend to applications that may lose their essence if not attended to during the vacation period.

Some of these applications include matters of national interest such as restraining orders to stop planned industrial action and stay of execution of proceedings brought via ex-parte motions.