Nigeria gets $150m credit for mining sector

THE Federal Nigeria and the World Bank Group are to meet this week in Washington D.C., United State (U.S.) to discuss and possibly conclude operational terms on the power sector recovery plan.
Power, Works & Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola is billed to lead key officials in his ministry and that of the Office of the Vice President to the meeting which is expected to hold on the sidelines of the annual World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings.
Sources said that the meeting has been specifically arranged to hold at the time of the spring meetings between April 21 and 23. The sources explained that both parties would take time out to discuss key factors in the implementation of the power sector recovery plan.
It said Fashola confirmed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the plan for use, paving the way for Nigeria and the Bank to conclude discussions on it.
Also, the World Bank’s Board has approved a $150 million credit to enhance the contribution of the mining sector to the local economy.
The project will help establish a strong foundation for mining sector development and enhance competitiveness by improving information infrastructure and knowledge, strengthening of key government institutions, and fostering of domestic investment in the sector.
“Nigeria has a favourable geological potential that if adequately assessed, well exploited and sustainably managed, could support broader economic growth through mineral sector,” said Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank Country Director, Nigeria.
He went on: “In line with the Nigerian government’s priority to diversify the economy to a broader range of non-oil productive sectors, one of the key objectives of this project is to support the government in the realisation of the full mineral endowment for sector policy, promotion, conducive business environment and integrated long-range resources and investment planning.”
Nigeria has been unable to attract significant investment in exploration and mining into the sector, and current productivity from the Nigerian mining sector is still insufficient to meet local demands, particularly for industrial minerals.
Insufficient geo-data and geological knowledge, weak implementation and enforcement of the mining law and regulations, and a large, poorly regulated and informal artisanal and small-scale mining sub-sector are among the critical binding constraints for sector development.
The project will help develop measures for formalising, regulating and inventorying artisanal and small-scale mining, facilitate the flow of mineral transactions, facilitate access to finance, technology and equipment.
It will also increase knowledge, support the mining and processing of the minerals in accordance with best practices, including with regards to environmental and social protections.

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North Korea continues missile test

North Korea will continue to test missiles, a senior official has said in Pyongyang, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the United States.

“We’ll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis,” Vice Foreign Minister, Han Song-ryol, told the BBC.

He said that an “all-out war” would result if the U.S took military action.

Earlier, U.S Vice-President, Mike Pence, warned North Korea not to test the U.S.

He said his country’s “era of strategic patience” with North Korea was over.

Mr. Pence arrived in Seoul on Sunday hours after North Korea carried out a failed missile launch.

Tensions have been escalating on the peninsula, with heated rhetoric from both North Korea and the U.S.

Mr. Han told the BBC: “If the U.S is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method.”

North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and United Nations sanctions.

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Sanusi ranks Northwest, Northeast most backward

EMIR of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II is worried over the backwardness of the Northwest and the Northeast in community healthcare delivery and education.
According to him, the two zones have remained the most backward for a decade.
Speaking yesterday at the Aminu Dabo College of Health Science and Technology, Kano, where he inaugurated a state-of-the-art health science laboratory named after him, the emir urged the rich in the North to invest in health and education.
He said “the two regions have multi-dimensional index of poverty”, due to their inability to measure up with other regions in terms of healthcare delivery and education.
The elite, Emir Sanusi said, should unite to drag the North out of its socio-economic problems.
The monarch described healthcare delivery and education as very important to human development, just as he called on politicians, businessmen and northern elite to encourage education and community health programmes through donation and award of scholarships.
He, however, commended the proprietor of the College, Aminu Abubakar Dabo, for his foresight and service to humanity through investment in programmes that have direct impact on human development.
In his opening remarks, Dabo said: “The idea behind the establishment of the College of Health Science and Technology is to bridge the gap that exist in the availability of qualified and well trained professionals in the field of health care provision in the state, northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.”
Dabo, a one-time Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), further stated: “The aim of the institution is to train health and allied health professionals in the areas of environmental health, community health, dental health, health information management, pharmacy technician, medical laboratory technicians and dispensing optician.”
According to him, the institution, now operating on a temporary campus acquired from the defunct Bank of the North Training Centre, has acquired 100 hectres of land at Kanye, in Kabo Local Government Area as its permanent site, with hostels in Hotoro.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Babatunde Opabola, said plans have advanced to elevate the College to Aminu Dabo International Medical University.

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Army rescues 1,623 Boko Haram captives

ABOUT 1,623 Boko Haram captives were yesterday rescued by troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in Jarawa, Kala Balge Local Governmet Area of Borno State.
Acting on a tip-off, the troops assisted by 10 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), went on the offensive on suspected location of Boko Haram terrorists at Jarawa general area.
According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the troops came under heavy fire at Jarawa village.
Usman said: “The troops responded decisively and went further to clear Deima, Artano, Saduguma, Duve, Bardo, Kala, Bok, Msherde and Ahirde settlements. During the operation, the troops neutralised 21 Boko Haram terrorists, rescued 1,623 residents of Jarawa, who were held captives by the terrorists. They also recovered 3 AK-47 Rifles with registration numbers 565222414, 563729686 and UF 3646, a 36 Hand Grenade, 12 Cutlasses and 4 Motorcycles.”
The military spokesman said the rescued persons have been escorted to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Rann. All the children, he said, were vaccinated.
Brig.-Gen. Usman the did not record any casualty.

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