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FG deploys technology to boost maritime trade
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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, says Nigeria has commenced the deployment of advanced technology to enhance its global competitiveness in maritime trade.
The minister made this remark on Wednesday, during the inauguration of the new executive committee of the Nigerian Institution of Facilities Engineering and Management, NIFEngM, in Port Harcourt.
Oyetola, represented by Peter Mbam, Director of Legal Services in the ministry, affirmed that the adoption of cutting-edge technology was part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to the blue economy initiative.
According to him, facility engineers play a critical role in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of physical infrastructure for the marine and blue economy sectors.
“An inspiring example of the importance of facilities engineering in the blue economy initiative is the recent innovative development of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
“This project exemplifies how cutting-edge engineering and effective management can boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness in maritime trade.” Oyetola noted.
He explained that the blue economy involved the sustainable utilisation of ocean resources to promote economic growth, improve livelihoods, create jobs, and preserve the health of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Oyetola added that the Federal Government was working closely with facility engineers to leverage on technology to build smarter and more resilient infrastructure across the country.
“Smart technologies, such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and big data, are revolutionising facilities management, and we are leveraging these innovations to improve our infrastructure,” he said.
The minister further reiterated the government’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which underscores the importance of facilities engineering in achieving SDG 7, 9, and 14.
He expressed confidence that the newly inaugurated NIFEngM executive committee would collaborate with the government to enhance the nation’s blue economy initiatives.
“Collaboration with facilities engineers will help drive the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“Together, we can advance the frontiers of facilities engineering and management for the benefit of our nation and future generations,” Oyetola said.
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Gov Soludo supports NAFDAC to eradicate fake drugs in Anambra
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Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra has pledged to collaborate with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to eliminate fake, substandard, and adulterated drugs from the market.
Soludo made this commitment on Saturday in Onitsha while addressing traders at Ogbo Ogwu and surrounding markets, which were recently shut down by NAFDAC for dealing in counterfeit and expired drugs.
The governor recalled that the market had previously been shut for four months in 2007, stressing that such actions were necessary for public safety.
“The enforcement is being carried out by NAFDAC. We are here to solve the problem,” he said.
Soludo also referenced a meeting with the head of the plumbing market, who expressed shock at the discovery of counterfeit drugs in the area.
“He did not know that such illicit drugs could be found here.
“I’m not here as a politician, but to address the issue at hand—the high rate of fake drugs in the market.
“These drugs are so dangerous that taking malaria pills, for instance, can cause further health problems instead of curing malaria,” he warned.
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Pope Francis in critical condition — Vatican
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The Vatican has stated that Pope Francis is in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high oxygen flow on Saturday.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalised for a week with a complex lung infection, which doctors later diagnosed as pneumonia.
In a late update, the Vatican confirmed that the pope also received blood transfusions after tests indicated a condition associated with anaemia.
“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is experiencing more pain than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis is reserved,” the statement said.
Earlier, doctors revealed that Francis was battling pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection, which they described as a delicate situation. They confirmed that he would remain hospitalised for at least another week.
Despite his absence, the Vatican proceeded with its Holy Year celebrations on Saturday.
In a brief update earlier in the day, the Vatican noted that Francis had slept well overnight.
However, doctors have cautioned that the primary risk facing the pope is the potential onset of sepsis, a severe blood infection that can develop as a complication of pneumonia.
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South Africa faces ‘indefinite’ power outages
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South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, has announced that it will cut 3,000 megawatts of power in controlled outages, known locally as load-shedding, from 5:30 pm (15:30 GMT) on Saturday until further notice, following a temporary setback.
At the end of January, Eskom implemented similar power cuts after 10 months of uninterrupted supply, as the utility strives to overcome chronic outages that have hindered economic growth for years.
In a statement, Eskom said it would provide an update on Sunday but did not specify the cause of the latest setback.
It is understood that frequent breakdowns at Eskom’s fleet of ageing coal-fired power plants, which supply the majority of electricity in Africa’s most industrialised economy, are often the reason for load-shedding.
Load-shedding is managed in stages, with stage 1 cutting 1,000 MW from the national grid, and stage 6 being the highest implemented to date.
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