Category: Diplomatic Channel

Positive reports on Nigerian diplomacy and international relations!

Kadinvest 2.0: USA & Kaduna State Sign MoU on Economic Growth

The U.S. government, through the Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced at the Kadinvest 2.0, its continuing support to the economic sector in Kaduna State with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the USAID Acting Mission Director Julie A. Koenen and His Excellency the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.

Kadinvest 2.0

The ceremony took place on April 5 at Kadinvest 2.0, Kaduna’s annual conference on economic development.  The Kaduna State government used the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to achieving sustainable economic growth by creating mechanisms to make it easier to do business, and aligning its budget to capital expenditure in order to build both human capital and infrastructure.

This three-year MOU outlines the shared and individual commitments to help drive economic development collaboration between USAID/Nigeria and the Kaduna State Government. These include:

  • Strengthening the agriculture sector through increased agricultural productivity of selected value chains, expanded market participation, increased access to finance and an improved business enabling environment
  • Developing the capability of Kaduna State Government to manage water and sanitation resources
  • Increasing access to and availability of power in Kaduna State

USAID currently supports activities aimed at agricultural productivity, trade efficiency, innovation, power sector growth — including renewable energy and increased energy access for residential and institutional consumers, as well as improved management of water and sanitation services. This MOU will strengthen and deepen activities that are expected to come on-line over the next five years helping to reach a multitude of economic growth objectives in Kaduna State.

FGN Approves Posting Deployment of Ambassadors-Designate

  1. Prof. Tijjani Bande (Kebbi State) – Ambassador/Representative to the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Headquarters in New York
  2. Itegboje S. Sunday (Edo State) – Nigeria’s Ambassador/Deputy Representative, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Headquarters in New York
  3. Kadiri Ayinla Audu (Kwara State) – Ambassador/Representative to the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Offices in Geneva
  4. Bankole Adegboyega Adeoye (Ogun State) – Ambassador/Representative to the Embassy of Nigeria/Permanent Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa

 

*Career diplomats      *Non-Career diplomats

President Buhari Ratifies Paris Agreement on Climate Change

President Muhammadu Buhari ratifies Paris Agreement on Climate Change as Nigeria becomes the latest country to ratify the Paris Climate agreement, which aims to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change by cutting carbon emissions.

Nigeria had demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to global effort to reverse effects of the negative trend by signing of the agreement at a special event in New York, hosted by the former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September last year.

To date, out of the 197 parties, 141 have ratified the convention. The Paris agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, 30 days after the date on which at least 55 parties to the convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 per cent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the depository.

With the ratification, Nigeria has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent. The Paris agreement is expected to deliver $100 billion per year by 2020 in support of developing countries, to take climate action.

Under the agreement, each country submitted an emissions reduction proposal known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Nigeria is considering 30 per cent energy efficiency in industries, homes, businesses and vehicles, and increased use of natural gas in generators and renewable energy.

Other measures being considered include stopping gas flaring, capture of gas, setting standard for appliances, generators, buildings and climate smart agriculture, all is expected to lead to $4.5 billion benefits to the country.