The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.- Gen. Yushau Ahmed, has warned corps members to stop posting camp activities on social media.

The D-G said that posting happenings in the camp on social media was a violation of the scheme’s standing rules and policies.

Ahmed, who spoke during a visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun, on Friday, advised corps members in camps across the country to maintain good character and discipline during the three-week orientation exercise

He also tasked the corps members to be focused and take advantage of the skills acquisition programme in camp.

According to him, the knowledge and skills acquired would make them self-independent and better individuals after their service year.

” The skill acquisition is targeted towards making you independent in order not to depend on white collar jobs .

” We are in collaboration with stakeholders that will give you grants. Please that this measure seriously,” the D-G said.

Ahmed assured the corps members of their safety and security, adding, “the camp officials will never post you anywhere that is not safe for you. You are important to us .

” Guide yourself against any danger and be vigilant. Also, take precautionary measures by ensuring you stay safe,” he said.

Ahmed further advised them to maintain the best hygiene while in camp in order not to be infected with any disease, especially cholera diseases.

He also urged corps members to be good ambassadors wherever they are posted in the country.

The NYSC state coordinator in Osun, Mr Agbor Obim, thanked the D-G for his visit to the camp and the love he has for the corps members.

• The Federal Government has hinted that it is moving away from asphalt highways to concrete road construction across the country.
• It disclosed that 70 per cent of federal highways are now being designed on concrete to last longer for public use.
• The minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, stated this in Ilorin, Kwara State, where he led federal lawmakers and top government officials on a tour of a plant of KAMSTEEL Integrated Company Ltd in Jimba-Oja, Ifelodun Local Government Area.
• He said: “If you think of all the roads we construct in Nigeria, you will discover that we are moving from asphalt to concrete for over 70 per cent of our roads. In fact, all the roads we are designing now are being designed on concrete.”
• The elated minister, overwhelmed by the many steel products of the KAMSTEEL plant and the employment opportunities it created, directed contractors working on the federal government’s projects to henceforth patronise local manufacturers for construction materials.
• According to him, patronising local manufacturers would help generate jobs and revenue for the government, “would also help in minimizing the insatiable quest for foreign products at the expense of locally made materials and in turn safeguard the nation’s currency.
• “What we have seen here is a kind of what you see in China and India, and we are so impressed with the massive scale clubbed with modern technology used to produce international quality products. It is something of great hope for Nigeria. Because in having road with concrete, we must reinforce technology, and you will see the multiplier effect.
• “It is going to be in line with the agenda, hope, courage and destiny of President Bola Tinubu, which he has brought to us.
• “A lot of our contractors are already using local materials. From what I have seen today, and also the files that my directors revealed, we have no hesitation by directing our contractors, almost all, to promote made in Nigeria construction materials.
• “Some of our asphalt roads don’t last five years. And so with the concrete technology and with every raw material, every ingredient of road pavement sourced locally, a great value for taxpayers money.
• “So, we are going to support local manufacturers and even get our presence. If need be, we will even specify it in our procurement for contractors to source materials locally so that we meet highest quality for our bridges.”
• The group managing director of KAM Holdings Limited, Dr Kamoru Yusuf, who conducted the minister round the factory, said his firm is determined to ensure standards in all its products.
• He said that his major preoccupation was for products coming from asphaltic to meet the international standard, adding that the company’s prime product, Elephant TMT is export grade UKCARES certified product being used for heavy construction activities like high rise buildings, mega bridges, dams, etc.
• “We are determined to make the end users to have value for what they are paying for, and that is our mission in the country. We are very sure that any contractors that use our products, they always have good testimonies to say about us,” Yusuf said.

The Federal Government has urged relevant stakeholders to embrace the carbon tax to help tackle climate change in the country.

Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), said this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ workshop on “Understanding the Incentives and Obstacles to Effective Carbon Tax Regimes in West African Countries.”

Ezeokonkwo described carbon taxation as a cost charged on the amount of carbon emissions into space.

He said that the Federal Government, through the development that was introduced by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), was developing a framework to determine the amount to be charged based on the quantum of emissions.

He said that the Federal Government, through the NCCC, was devising strategies to implement a robust carbon finance (carbon market framework and carbon tax regime) for the country in line with the Climate Change Act.

This, he said, followed the ongoing global dialogue on climate change mitigation, which emphasises the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through practical policy measures such as carbon taxation.

The Vice-Chancellor called on the stakeholders to ensure that they sensitised the public to buy into the government plan.

“The theme of today’s workshop is timely as the Federal Government, through the NCCC, is devising strategies to implement a robust carbon finance, carbon market framework and carbon tax regime for the country in line with the Climate Change Act.

“The timing of this workshop is crucial given the ongoing global dialogue on climate change mitigation, which emphasises the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through practical policy measures such as carbon taxation.

“Your role as stakeholders is crucial. While effective carbon pricing is acknowledged as a powerful tool in the global battle against climate change, getting public support for environmental policies remains a significant challenge in Africa.

“This workshop, therefore, seeks your valuable input from pertinent stakeholders in the realms of carbon pricing and fuel subsidy reforms in Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.

In his remarks, the Head, of Economic Regulation, National Petroleum Authority of Ghana, Abass Tasunti, stated that Ghana was also on the verge of ensuring that fossil fuel emissions were drastically reduced.

Tasunti said that the country’s target was mainly the industries that emit large-scale carbon.

He, however, said that so far, the country has not arrived at a fixed rate for it.

“The whole essence of carbon taxation, in my view, is to introduce taxes that move people away from the consumption of fossil fuels.

“Policymakers are looking for a way to impose taxes on petroleum products and use them to provide other alternative fuels.

“If they are done, it will give consumers options because you will agree with me that fossil fuel will not go off immediately.

“These carbon taxation initiatives and cleaner fuel initiatives are supposed to complement the use of fossil fuels,” he said.

The federal government has announced plans to enrol 100,000 nurses by the end of 2024, according to Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.

Alausa made the announcement in a statement on Thursday, saying that the Federal Government, leveraging existing infrastructure in FMCs across the country, had set a target of enrolling 100,000 nurses by the end of 2024.

“As the Federal Government continues to put in effective measures to achieve universal health coverage in Nigeria even through the provision of accessible, affordable, and qualitative healthcare services, strategic efforts are geared towards increasing and upscaling human resources for health,” Alausa said.

He said this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on behalf of the Federal Government and Plateau State Government on the takeover and upgrade of General Hospital Wase to Federal Medical Centre Wase and National Orthopaedic Hospital Jos held in Abuja

Informing that 65,000 nurses had already been enrolled in nursing schools across the country, Alausa explained that the government had mandated all FMCs in the country to establish nursing schools within their facilities and noted that one would also be cited in FMC Wase.

The Minister stated that the takeover, which was one of many across the different geopolitical zones, was part of the government’s effort to reduce the physical and financial pain of Nigerians through the provision of accessible, qualitative, and affordable healthcare services.

He also disclosed that the government had recently concluded talks with Lagos State on converting the state’s College of Medicine to the University of Health Science.

Further stating that 500 medical students will be admitted at the start of the university’s academic session in September and that other states, Ogun and Kwara, have indicated interest in developing such partnerships.

A significant controversy has erupted over Nigeria’s $150 billion Samoa trade deal with the European Union, following public concerns that the agreement includes provisions recognizing LGBT rights.

Ministers, including Information Minister Mohammed Idris and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu, have firmly denied these claims, emphasizing that the agreement is focused solely on economic development and does not mention LGBT or same-sex marriage. The Samoa Agreement aims to address global challenges such as climate change, migration, and security. Nigerians took out to social media to voice their concerns.

The Information Minister Mohammed Idris, Denied any inclusion of LGBT provisions in the Samoa Agreement, stating that the deal is centered on economic development.

Also, Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu Supported Idris’s statements, clarifying that the agreement does not contain any mention of LGBT rights or same-sex marriage.

The Samoa Agreement is a broad economic and developmental partnership between Nigeria and the European Union. It aims to address a range of global challenges, including:

Climate Change: Strategies and funding for environmental protection and sustainability.

Migration: Collaborative efforts to manage and streamline migration processes.

Security: Initiatives to enhance security cooperation and combat terrorism.

The controversy began with rumors and concerns raised by various groups about the potential inclusion of LGBT rights in the agreement. Despite the government’s assurances, these claims have sparked significant public debate and scrutiny.

Ministers have reiterated that the primary focus of the Samoa Agreement is on fostering economic growth and tackling global issues. They have urged the public to disregard misinformation and focus on the benefits the agreement is expected to bring to Nigeria.

As the Nigerian government works to implement the Samoa Agreement, officials continue to stress its importance for the nation’s economic future while denying any hidden agendas related to LGBT rights. The deal is positioned as a strategic partnership to boost Nigeria’s development and address pressing global challenges.