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Namibia has introduced an online tool to ease cross-border trade that has been supported by technical assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Namibia is closer to implementing a National Single Window.
The Namibia Inter-Ministerial Workshop on establishing an operating authority for the country’s National Single Window for Trade was opened on Monday.
The event attracted both the public and private sector stakeholders who are determined to develop the operational structure of a body to implement the single window.
U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires John Kowalski said the single window technology facilitates the exchange of trade-relevant information between traders and government agencies, as well as among government agencies, for obtaining permits and licenses, certificates and necessary approvals.
“It does so by allowing traders and agents to submit trade documents and data in electronic or paper form, through a single entry point.
“This reduces the time it takes to clear goods and reduces the costs of doing business,’’ he added.
Kowalski said USAID has supported the implementation of Namibia’s National Single Window for several years and the idea has already been successfully implemented in many other countries.
“When Ghana introduced a National Single Window, customs revenue increased by 50 per cent in the first year while, simultaneously, the time and cost of exporting shrank by 65 per cent,’’ he said.
More than 672 million dollars (N211.6 billion) to be spread over three years was on Friday pledged by 14 countries at the Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad region in Oslo, Norway.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the Conference, co-hosted by Nigeria, Norway and Germany had sought for one billion dollars emergency funding to prevent famine in the Lake Chad region and northeast Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama said this in a statement issued by Sarah Sanda, the Special Assistant, Media to the minister in Abuja.
Onyeama expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the donours, adding that no donation would be taken for granted.
He said the sheer magnitude of the Humanitarian crisis which cuts across Nigeria and countries contiguous to the Lake Chad area was one of the largest and gravest humanitarian crises in the world.
The minister said the gesture came at a time Nigeria was experiencing fiscal constraints as the economy had plunged into a recession in the midst of costly military operation against Boko Haram.
“In Nigeria alone, 26 million people have been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency and 10.7 million people have been identified by the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) as needing life-saving assistance.
“The root causes of the crises including poverty, underdevelopment and high population pressure must be addressed,” he said.
The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien in a related report said the summit’s host country, Norway, led efforts by pledging 192 million of the 672 million promised by international donours.
O’Brien said further contributions were still expected later in the year from the UK and the U.S, while two other unnamed countries had indicated to pledge substantial contributions.
Deputy Director of USAID’s Office of Food for Peace Programme, Matthew Nims at the conference said the threat of famine in Nigeria was greater than ever.
“We could see this and I think we the governments in the region, those around the table here need to accept that there was a failure on all our parts to see where we have come to.
“All of us know that it’s also not the only country.
“If you look at 2017, it may be the great year of transition on many levels, but we don’t want it to be the year when famine becomes a more commonplace word.
“We are in unprecedented times of food insecurity,” he said.
The report also quoted Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno as saying “some rehabilitation of former fighters had taken place, but insisted the group’s make-up had to be seen as a triangle”.
“At one end, there are the ideologically driven Boko Haram, who will resist any reintegration.
“Then you have the forcefully conscripted Boko Haram, then there are the fortune seekers who join for economic reasons,” he said.
Edited by: Ese E. Ekama
(NAN)
Mr Andrew Herscowitz, the Coordinator, ‘Power Africa’- a United States Energy Initiative, has reaffirmed the longstanding commitment of the U.S. to improving power in Nigeria.
Herscowitz said in a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy on Friday in Abuja his country’s support was already “making a difference” in the troubled sector in Nigeria.
The coordinator, who was on a three-day visit to Nigeria, spoke at the stakeholders’ forum of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company on the sector’s challenges and how to modernise and make its operations more efficient.
He said that “Power Africa’’, through USAID, would provide direct management and technical support to Abuja, Benin, and Eko Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to implement an aggressive management plan to boost their efficiency and cash flow.
“Power Africa will continue its work in Nigeria to increase access to electricity.
“Our commitment to Africa’s growth and development is strong. Our programmes are already making a difference,” Herscowitz said.
According to him, more than half of Nigerians, 95 million people, still do not have access to electricity, and those who are connected to the grid suffer from extensive power outages.
“A lack of reliable and affordable supply of electricity affects every facet of life.
“Well-functioning DISCOs, will not only improve customer’s satisfaction, but also attract more private investments and safeguard generated power from being ‘lost’ or ‘stranded’ by lack of distribution and transmission capacity.
“We have seen that effective management can reduce losses,” he said.
Also, Herscowitz, during his discussions with government officials, legislators, and private sector entities, on many complex issues facing the power industry, reaffirmed the Power Africa’s support for the industry from production to distribution.
The coordinator also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Community Energy Social Enterprises Ltd., a Nigerian firm, and Renewvia Energy Corporation, a U.S. company.
He said that the MoU outlines their cooperation to develop solar micro grids in 25 communities across Nigeria.
“Once fully installed, these facilities will produce approximately five megawatts of electricity and bring power to over 10,000 households.
“Power Africa is also supporting broader reform efforts assisting the Bureau of Public Enterprise during the privatisation of the successor generation and distribution companies and with developing the blueprint for transmission investment.
“Without sufficient transmission capacity and stronger regulatory capacity, increased generation doesn’t mean much.
“Power Africa draws on the combined expertise and abilities of 12 U.S. Government agencies, the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank.
“The governments of Sweden, Norway, Canada, the International Renewable Energy Agency, African governments, and private sector partners,’’ Herscowitz said.
Edited by: Gregory Mmaduakolam/Olagoke Olatoye
(NAN)
Kenya’s Health Ministry is carrying out a Tuberculosis prevalence survey that will determine the accurate burden of TB in Kenya and inform policy formulation.
A statement from the ministry received on Tuesday said the survey, which is the first since independence, is based on data that was collected from all the counties and will be released on March 24.
Head of the National TB, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program Dr. Enos Masini said the survey would guide and enhance ongoing interventions, noting that the government spends close to 25 million dollars every year providing free TB diagnosis and treatment services.
Masini said the findings of the survey are expected to boost the country’s efforts in ending TB by giving a clear picture of the disease burden as Kenya has been relying on estimates from the World Health Organisation.
“Kenya is placed among 30 high TB burden countries in the world with an estimated 120,000 Kenyans contracting the disease every year,’’ he said.
TB, which is the fourth leading cause of death in Kenya, can be treated but there were previously no child-friendly formulations of medicines in the right dosage.
TB testing and treatment is free at all public health facilities in Kenya and if any member of the household is diagnosed with the disease, all other household members should be tested for TB, especially children.
According to Masini, 82,000 people in Kenya were treated for TB in 2015 alongside 450 others for drug resistant TB.
Masini said the government has put in place an elaborate network of public and private facilities that are equipped to test and treat TB.
“Unlike in many countries, the government of Kenya buys 80 per cent of TB drugs and Kenya is slowly moving away from donor support.
“We have done well in TB control but we need better data so that we can do even better,’’ Masini said.
He further revealed that over the last 10 years, the government had successfully treated close to one million
Kenyans who were suffering from TB and further averted the deaths of an estimated half a million Kenyans during the same period.
In addition, the government and its partners have provided Counties with cutting-edge technology for TB testing.
TB is currently the leading infectious killer disease in the world, having overtaken HIV two years ago.
The findings of the survey will also support plans by both National and County governments to end TB.
The TB Prevalence survey has been conducted with support from the Global Fund and USAID among other partners.
Edited by: Abigael Joshua/Sadiya Hamza
(NAN)
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) says the agency is poised to achieve greater heights in biotechnology research this year in spite of the challenges of 2016.
Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, the Director-General of the agency Ogbadu made this resolve in an interview with the Nigeria News Agency on Thursday in Abuja.
Ogbadu specifically mentioned the turbulence of anti-GMO crusaders in 2016, saying that the agency was able to weather the storm.
“ 2016 was a year when the agency faced its fiercest opposition on the account of people and organisations opposed to genetically modified foods but the agency has come out stronger.
“In view of the extreme care and caution with which the GMO technique is conducted, there are no risks or hazards resulting from products that emanate from GMOs.
“Genetically modifies products are not new to mankind as it includes the yogurt that is consumed without fear and vaccines that is administered for healthcare.
“I reiterate that these products though not yet in our markets here are safe to consume; those against the GMO are talking without basic understanding of its process or just out of mere fear.
“Since the structure of the genetic material found within the nuclei of the plant is known, biotechnology or genetic engineering provides the opportunity for precision in selecting the exact gene that has the desired trait,’’ Ogbadu said.
The director-general said that in 2016, the agency partnered with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to set up HIV and AIDS intervention clinic.
According to her, the collaboration with NIPRD and other agencies like the National Action Committee on HIV and AIDS (NACA) as well as Aids Health Care Foundation (AHF) will achieve the desired results.
“The aim of the programme is to minimise the number of undetected HIV positive individuals in the workplace and eliminate budding infections.
“It will also help to determine the prevalence of HIV infection amongst staff of NABDA and Lugbe community and create more awareness and eliminate HIV stigma.
“Develop efficient HIV and AIDS intervention for vulnerable groups as well integrate HIV testing with basic clinical tests of opportunistic infections,’’ she said.
She expressed optimism that all these accomplishments were just stepping stones for what the agency hoped to realise in 2017.
Ogbadu said that the oppositions helped the agency to be more focused and even go further to achieve, especially in capacity building of its personnel.
She said that NABDA also built the capacity of its staff by sponsoring them to do doctorate programmes in relevant courses and one of such people was Miss Ijeoma Akaogu, a senior scientific officer of the department of agricultural biotechnology.
“Ijeoma has been awarded the prestigious Norman Borlaug LEAP Fellowship funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“She is studying Linkage Mapping for Striga resistance genes in early maturing tropical maize lines as part of her PhD thesis research project,’’ she said..
Edited by: Grace Yussuf
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced 227.3 million dollars (about N71.5 billion) additional developmental assistance to support the five-year 2.3 billion dollars agreement signed with the Federal Government in 2015.
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, made the announcement in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the 227.3 million dollars had brought the total provision under the agreement to 702 million dollars.
According to him, the additional funding is intended to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty by stimulating inclusive economic growth, promote healthier, more-educated population, and strengthen good governance.
“We are pleased to announce new funding under the agreement signed with the Nigerian government in 2015 to provide better access to education and health services and promote democracy and economic growth
“We know this funding will significantly improve the well being of Nigerians,” Symington said.
He said that USAID would collaborate with some federal and state ministries to structure the agreement, which would run through 2020.
He listed the federal ministries to include Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education.
The envoy said that the U.S. was also providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by the Boko Haram crisis and food insecurity in the North East and the Lake Chad Basin.
He said that the U.S. provided more than 291 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria in 2016, adding that his country remains the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Nigeria.
The U.S. Consul General, John Bray says the U.S will continue to support, encourage and expand its Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL) initiative aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria.
A statement by the information unit, U.S. Embassy, on Monday in Abuja, quoted Bray as saying this at SMGL global team-building meeting in Calabar, Cross River.
The meeting was organised by the Cross River Government in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“Health challenges in Nigeria are not always a result of limited access to facilities, but access to enough skilled professionals and quality services within those facilities.
“Saving Mothers, Giving Life Initiative is helping reduce both maternal and neonatal mortality.
“We will continue to support and encourage the Cross River government in its efforts as we look to expanding the programme into other areas in Nigeria.”
According to him, the project is U.S. government initiative for a period of five years at a cost of 18 million dollar.
Bray said that SMGL was a public-private partnership aimed at addressing three primary delays associated with maternal and newborn health.
“The delays are in seeking services, in reaching care, and in receiving high-quality care at a health facility.
“A woman dying from pregnancy and childbirth related complications is a major challenge in Africa and reducing maternal mortality has become a global priority,’’Bray said.
The envoy said that “the probability of a maternal death occurring is 1:13 in Nigeria’’.
He said that U.S. had been working in partnership with host countries and non-governmental organisations to reduce and put an end to preventable maternal and newborn deaths globally.
He recalled that Nigeria in 2014 became the third country to adopt the initiative after successes were reported by the programme in Uganda and Zambia.
He said the initiative brought together national and regional partners and key stakeholders to share updates on the progress of activities in Uganda and Zambia and guide inputs on expansion in Nigeria.
Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, Bray, and USAID acting Mission Director, Aler Grubbs participated in the opening ceremony.
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Edited by: Akin Makanjuola/Morayo Omolade
(NAN)
United States Government has announced the sum of 92.73 million U.S. dollars in developmental assistance to support the five-year 2.3 billion U.S. dollars agreement signed with the Federal Government in 2015.
The U.S. Embassy in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the amount was being provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The embassy explained that the money brought the total of development assistance provided in the agreement to 474.74 million U.S. dollars.
“This funding will continue to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty in a more stable, democratic society.
“Activities will stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote a healthier, more educated population, and strengthen good governance,” the embassy said.
It quoted the USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey as expressing the confidence that the funding would have positive impact on Nigerians.
“Today we are pleased to contribute additional funding in support of the agreement signed with the Nigerian Government in 2015.
“With their leadership we know this funding will have a significant impact on the well-being of Nigerians,” It said.
The statement also said that said USAID had collaborated with the Federal ministries of Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education in an effort to align Nigeria’s development plans with sector-specific strategies.
According to it, USAID also collaborated with state-level government counterparts to structure the agreement, which was in place until 2020.
“In addition to the developmental funding, the U.S. provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.
“Since fiscal year 2015, the U.S. has provided more than 366 million dollars in humanitarian assistance and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region,” It added.
(Edited by: Julius Enehikhuere)
(NAN)
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billion in Power Africa commitments finalised – USAID Chief billion in Power Africa commitments finalised – USAID ChiefOver one billion dollars debt and financing commitments from U.S. agencies and private investors will be announced for U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature on Africa energy initiative known as Power Africa.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) chief Gayle Smith said that the latest deals were finalised around a U.S.-Africa business forum on the sidelines of the ongoing U.N. meetings in New York.
Smith said that the deals covered funding for regional infrastructure facilities, risk insurance and renewable power projects in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania.
Obama inaugurated the initiative in 2013 with an initial investment of 7 billion dollars, which aimed to install 10,000 megawatts of new generation capacity and connect 20 million new customers.
It is also aimed at improving electric reliability across the Sub-Saharan Africa.
The programme hoped to attract private capital into energy projects in a region where regulatory hurdles and lack of risk instruments have often kept Western investors away.
To date, Power Africa has mobilised more than 52 billion dollars in additional commitments, of which 40 billion dollars is from private companies according to USAID, which coordinates the programme.
Power Africa is tracking more than 500 deals, and 40 transaction advisers working across Africa have identified 60,000 megawatts of potential deals, Smith says.
While the initiative has been criticised for its slow start, she said that projects were starting to come online.
“We are starting to see some of these projects go online and actually start the generation.
“We are seeing an uptick in commitments, which is because confidence of the market is building and they’re seeing you can actually get these transactions done,” Smith said.
Smith said that the Electrify Africa Act, which unanimously passed by the House of Representatives and Senate aimed to build on Power Africa
He said that the passage sent “a signal that this is something the U.S. will continue to do” even as the Obama administration winds down.
The legislation is largely symbolic and declares the policy of the U.S. to encourage electrification in Africa and instructs the U.S. Treasury and other agencies to make electrification funding a priority.
(Edited Isaac Aregbesola/Grace Yussuf)
