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FG restates commitment to tackling environmental degradation

The Federal Government says it will continue to deal with the numerous challenges posed by environmental degradation and biodiversity loss resulting from deforestation, desertification, land and ecosystem degradation.
The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, restated government’ s commitment to dealing with the problems, during the 2021 World Environment Day celebration on Saturday in Osogbo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Ecosystem Restoration: Resetting Our Relation with Nature.”
Abubakar said that government, being conscious of the alarming rate of deforestation standing at between 3.7 and 4.0 per cent, had continued to engage stakeholders locally and internationally on the issue.
The minister said this was in addition to the formulation of enabling policies and legislations aimed to bring the situation under control.
He said government had also begun execution of nature-based programmes and projects to address the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, in view of their multiple benefits.
He said: “Setting the pace, the Federal Government has made some efforts at all levels of governance to promote resilient environmental sustainability in the context of national development.
“At the just concluded National Council on Environment, the issue of Nature Based Solution was at the front burner.
“This came as a result of the renewed awareness on its cost effectiveness in the long-term management of ecosystem crises and its potential contribution to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
“It is also expected to facilitate the national and global targets, including the 2030 development agenda in which Nigeria is already making steady progress.
He said that the federal government submitted its NDC interim report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) few days ago.
According to him, the move was part of government’s practical demonstration of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on global action on climate crisis.
“This action underscores our determination to achieve the commitment we signed in 2015 to reduce Nigeria’s carbon emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and 45 per cent conditionally with international support by 2030,” he stated.
Abubakar said the ministry had made tremendous efforts to enhance effective and far-reaching actions to tackle deforestation, drought, desertification, climate change and reduce their impacts on the citizenry.
The minister said this was done through development of policies and building of institutional and legislative capacity.
In his remarks, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola said the state would continue to complement the efforts of the federal government towards meeting the country’s environmental challenges.
He said the state would do this through safeguarding the environment and also establishing enabling laws that would be of great benefits to the citizenry.
Oyetola commended the federal government for its choice of Osun to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day.
Also, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in the state, Mr Sola Oladejo , commended the federal government for its numerous environmental intervention programmes in the state. (NAN)
News
N10bn Alleged Loot: SGF Akume’s PA ,Torhile Uchi Turns Chinery

** as he implicates Sen. Jack Gyado, Shango, Two Reps members, Chia Waya and others
As the ongoing probe into the alleged fraudulent activities of the embattled personal Assistant to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF Senator George Akume, Hon. Andrew Torhile Uchi, continues , our correspondent gathered that he has allegedly turned to Chinery dropping prominent individuals names as EFCC widened up its investigations.
Meanwhile, the operative of the Commission on Thursday, granted an administrative bail to his younger brother, Mr. Tersoo Uchi, who was taken into custody over his alleged complicity in the matter.
Our checks reveals that a mind-boggling scandal was exposed via a petition written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, intimating them about a controversial office opened in the central business district in Abuja, beside the Federal High Court, to engaged on fraudulent consultancy of awarding Ecological contracts to business men and women, boards appointments and other governments favors amounting to billions of Naira.
Further checks also, revealed that the embattled Uchi, so far, has allegedly implicated two elder statesmen, Senator Jack Gyado and Elder Simon Shango, over the sharing of the largesse.
Also, mentioned are two serving members of the House of Representatives ( names withheld), Mr. Chia waya, Prof. Babatunde, Late. Ortaver Abaagu, a serving director in the SGF office and other three close political associates of the secretary to the government of the Federation, SGF Senator George Akume.
Importantly, a highly placed source at the Commission, told our correspondent that, the SGF, was duly notified about the investigations weeks ago, which he personally okayed that it’s must be carried out to enable him cleared his name and office.
The source who quoted the SGF, that he outrightly distanced himself from the alleged fraud that the law must takes its cause without any hindrance and obstructions.
Investigations from the EFCC, indicates that most of the inflows traced to four new generations banks of Mr. Uchi, allegedly raises serious suspicions with the volumes and the traffic its generated, which clearly indicated its were bribes.
Recall that a highly placed source at the Commission, had confirmed to our correspondent on Friday, that the embattled Uchi was invited by the operatives of the Commission on Monday, upon a petition received by the anti-graft agency over Alleged properties he acquired in Abuja, Jos, Makurdi, Gboko and Wannune in Tarka, local government Area of Benue State amounting to over N6 billion.
According to the source, further investigations so far, has revealed that between December 2023 to date the anti-graft agency has been able to trace a whooping N1.6 billion that was allegedly used in buying purch cars through four new generations banks to nine car dealers in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, Jos and Makurdi respectively.
The source further added that two Bureau de change operatives are currently been investigated by the Commission, over their alleged involvement in the scam, owing that most of the funds credited to embattled Torhile Andrew Uchi, emanated from their coys.
He said that the Commission is currently working towards getting a court nod to widen the scope of their investigations to the properties in Abuja, Jos and other part of the country to ascertain the source of the income and how the properties were allegedly purchased.
As of the time of filing in this report Mr. Uchi, is still in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, telling the dreaded operatives of the Commission how he allegedly got the funds which is largely believed to be proceeds from bribes.
He might end up staying in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC beyond 48 hours as recommended by the law, owing the fact that the Commission has secretly secured an injuction to keep him beyond the required days as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
News
Starship to leave for Mars at end of 2026 – Elon Musk

Elon Musk has announced an ambitious timeline for SpaceX’s Mars mission, revealing that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to depart for the Red Planet at the end of 2026. The mission will include Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, as part of the spacecraft’s payload.
“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.
The Starship rocket—considered the world’s most powerful—is central to Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars. However, significant technical hurdles remain before this dream becomes reality.
NASA is also counting on a modified version of Starship to serve as the lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. But before SpaceX can proceed with interplanetary travel, it must demonstrate that Starship is safe, reliable, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—an essential requirement for deep space missions.
SpaceX recently encountered a setback when the latest test flight of Starship ended in an explosion. While the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test, the upper stage failed, tumbling out of control before the live feed abruptly cut. The incident mirrored a previous attempt.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an investigation before Starship can fly again, adding another layer of scrutiny to SpaceX’s ambitious timeline.
Despite these challenges, Musk remains optimistic, continuing to push forward toward his goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species.
News
Obi donates N20m to Colleges of Nursing in Ahiara and Ihiala

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated N20 million to two Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo and Anambra States. The beneficiaries are Holy Rosary College of Nursing, Ogbe, in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, and College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, presented N10 million cheques to each institution during his visits on Friday. At the Holy Rosary College of Nursing, he handed over the cheque to the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Simeon Nwobi, at the college’s construction site. Similarly, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala, he presented the donation to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Miss Anigbo Chisom Mary, in the presence of excited students.
Highlighting the significance of his donation, Obi stressed that healthcare and education are critical to national development. He commended the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara for investing in nursing education, describing it as a vital step in securing Nigeria’s future.
“My Lords, what you are doing is a great service to our country,” Obi said. “This donation is not a favour but a recognition of your efforts in nation-building. I will always support this project because it is about securing a better future for Nigeria.”
Obi further urged the government to prioritize quality education, including the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries. He emphasized the need for free and accessible education at the primary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools.
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