UN Commits To Deepening Partnership With Gombe Across Key Sectors

The United Nations (UN) has pledged its commitment to support and collaborate with the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State in various critical sectors, including health, education, and more to foster socio-economic development.   The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed gave this indication during a meeting with the Governor on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York. She commended the giant strides and progress achieved under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe State, noting that the Governor has set a precedent in subnational governance. Hajiya Amina Mohammed offered words of encouragement to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, lauding the discernible improvements in the quality of life of the people of Gombe State.  She assured the Governor that the UN would stand shoulder to shoulder with him and his administration throughout his stewardship to deliver meaningful development to Gombe State. The DSG assured Governor Inuwa of her willingness to engage with international development partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Susan Buffet Foundation, and the African Peace Corp to garner support for Gombe State in the realm of healthcare and human resource development. She also offered to facilitate UN’s technical support to bolster the Secretariat of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, a crucial platform for regional development, as soon as a formal request is made. In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya commended the Hajiya Amina Mohammed for her remarkable contributions to the UN’s global mission, describing her as a worthy daughter of Gombe and proud global ambassador of the state and Nigeria. During the meeting, he presented an overview of the multifaceted development initiatives that his administration is currently implementing, with a particular focus on healthcare and education. The Governor appealed for support in leveraging Hajiya Amina’s international networks to enhance Gombe state’s healthcare system, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. This includes attracting skilled manpower to fortify the operations of the three General hospitals that have either been constructed or rehabilitated across the three senatorial zones of Gombe State. He emphasized his administration’s unwavering commitment to providing counterpart funding where necessary to facilitate this vital endeavor. In his capacity as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya also sought the UN’s assistance in strengthening the Forum’s Secretariat through the provision of technical experts. These experts would work in tandem with the Forum to drive its overarching development objectives.

Lokpobri vows to ensure Nigeria meets OPEC’s production quota

The new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobri, has said his mission to the ministry is to ensure Nigeria’s crude oil is ramped up on a sustainable basis.  Lokpobri, who said this when he met chief executives of the ministry on Monday in Abuja after his swearing-in at the Presidential Villa, added that he was not in the ministry to sit in the office but rather to ensure that Nigeria meets its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota.  According to him, everybody has to work together to increase production.  “This is not time for speeches. There is only one agenda that I have come to this ministry to achieve and that is to ramp up crude oil production on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Lokpobiri said. Lokpobri, who will be in charge of ensuring the country’s crude oil production meets OPEC’s quota, stressed that he is a creek boy and would ensure through constant visit to the creeks that he provides the leadership that would ramp up crude production.  According to him, with everybody working together, “we will write a new story for the oil industry,” he added.  Earlier, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpo Ekpo, said that the full utilization of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by Nigerians would help cushion the adverse effect of petrol subsidy removal by the government.  Ekpo insisted that with its abundance of gas deposits, it was time the country maximises its use in order to provide a better life for the citizenry.  He said he would with collaboration with stakeholders work strategically to translate Nigeria’s enormous gas resources into reality to address the challenge of power.  In his introductory remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Gabriel Aduda said the breakdown of the minister is part of the requirement of the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.  “This shift has ushered in a new era of transparency and independence,” he said. He noted that with the present challenge of ramping up production, the new leadership the two ministers will bring to the sector will help the country navigate the challenge.