₦airaland Forum

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

MY TRIP TO CHINA ‘VERY SUCCESSFUL', PRESIDENT TINUBU TELLS NIGERIANS LIVING IN CHINA, PLEDGES TO REPLICATE QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN NIGERIA

President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Beijing rounded off his official engagements in China by meeting with Nigerians living in the country, describing his visit as "very good and successful."

Addressing members of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community at the China World Hotel, the President emphasized his efforts to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy and mining during his discussions with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and his participation at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

"What is uppermost in my mind is for you to continue representing Nigeria as good citizens, and I urge you all to be good ambassadors of our nation in China.

"We will always celebrate our diversity. We cherish it, but this diversity is our commitment to serve. If it is about service, we must be good citizens," the President stated.

President Tinubu also emphasized the importance of discipline and commitment to national service, citing China’s disciplined society as an example for Nigerians to follow.

[b]"I cannot tell you more, except from the embassy, that China is a very disciplined society and we have to be disciplined too. Without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world.

"We must exploit our diversity and be ready to do everything required of us within the laws of the communities that we live in and reflect a good image of our country," [/b]the President said.

Highlighting the impact of investments in China's economy, President Tinubu assured Nigerians in Diaspora that Nigeria’s Bank of Industry is prepared to collaborate with them to leverage opportunities back home.

"Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices.

"But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?

"What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?

"So many of you are so talented, speaking very fluent Mandarin. It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people. The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development,’’ the President said.

To the applause of the audience, President Tinubu stated that one key takeaway from his visit to China is the commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure back home.

"We want our children to be in good schools, not tattered huts and dilapidated buildings. We must make our teaching innovative and allow businesses of all kinds and sizes to flourish.

"One economic action leads to another, and it is in your hand to build our nation. Mine is to provide the leadership, and I am committed to doing just that," the President stated.

The President noted that while it is not always easy for a leader to have a national consensus on issues, he is ready to take the hard decisions to move the nation forward.

"We are focused, and I have a very good team," President Tinubu added.

In his remarks, Dr. Oche Barnabas, President of NIDO China, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China relations, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people collaboration.

He expressed NIDO China's support for Nigeria's 4Ds initiative, launched by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, earlier in the year.

He pledged that the organization is eager to drive the initiative forward within the diaspora community.

Mr. Barnabas requested President Tinubu’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation, which would open up job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China.

''Your Excellency, I wish to indulge your kind attention and use this rare opportunity to share a key challenge on behalf of the Nigeria community in China. Due to the peculiar nature of this country, the Nigerian community is mainly composed of students, expatriates, and businessmen.

''Our desire is that Nigeria is officially recognized as a native English-speaking nation in China. We believe your esteemed engagements with the high-level authorities can assist us in establishing this status.

''Presently, over 70% of available international jobs in China are reserved for native English speakers. In 2016, the local authorities listed South Africa as a native English-speaking nation.

''We believe Nigeria has a chance to receive similar recognition due to the fact that English language is our official language and we are also blessed with Professor Wole Soyinka who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.

''We believe the enhancement of our status will open more opportunities to allow more Nigerians to study and work in China, thereby increasing diaspora remittance to Nigeria,'' he said.

The Chairman of NIDO China pledged that the organization would continue to contribute their expertise and resources to support President Tinubu’s administration and efforts to elevate Nigeria’s global standing.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 6, 2024

📢📢NEW PARALYMPIC RECORD!!!

Nigeria's Onyinyechi Mark has just broken the Paralympic Record in women's 61kg, smashing Lucy Ejike's record and setting a new one of 145kg!!

Mark is just a class apart, and has all but secured Nigeria's first GOLD medal of #Paralympics2024, with one lift to spare. Her closest challenger is going for 138kg on her final attempt, and Mark is looking to further improve with her final attempt of 147kg

Super human!! 👏👏

#TeamNigeria 🇳🇬 #Paralympics

🗣️🗣️GOLD MEDAL & WORLD RECORD!!!

Onyinyechi Mark has won Nigeria's 1st GOLD medal at the #Paralympics2024 smashing her own World Record, lifting a breathtaking weight of 147kg!! 👏👏

Mark was on another level, breaking the Paralympic and World records en route winning Nigeria's 1st GOLD 🥇🥇medal in Paris!!

All the way from Umuahia and conquering the World.... Onyinyechi is really 'marking' her name in history as one of the greatest Powerlifters to come out from Naija

#TeamNigeria 🇳🇬 #Paralympics

Onyinyechi Mark sets multiple World Records to win Nigeria’s first GOLD at the Paris 2024 Paralympics!

By Oluwadare Popoola -September 6, 2024

In a breathtaking display of strength and dominance, Nigeria’s Onyinyechi Mark set multiple World Records to win GOLD in the women’s Up to 61kg Para-Powerlifting at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.


Her journey began with an impressive 140kg, a lift that would have been good enough to medal, taking an early lead and positioning herself strongly for the GOLD medal. China’s Jianjin Cui, her closest competitor, attempted 130kg on her first attempt, but Mark’s dominance was clear from the start.

For her second attempt, Mark chose a lift of 145kg, which was 3kg more than the existing Paralympic Record was. She made the lift with ease, setting a new Paralympic Record and solidifying her position at the top.

Mark was not done. She returned to the stage for her another lift, raising the bar to an extraordinary 147kg, a lift that not only secured her the GOLD medal but also broke her own World Record.

As if that was not enough, Mark 10 minutes later surpassed her previous records with a phenomenal 150kg lift, setting yet another World Record!


Mark’s incredible performance meant that she has now set the last three World Records in the women’s Up to 61kg Para-Powerlifting category: 146kg, 147kg, and 150kg.

She defeated Jianjin Cui who claimed Silver with 140kg, while Mexico’s Amalia Perez Vazquez got 3rd with 135kg.

DSVRT is a collection of professional service providers and officials that respond as a group and in a timely fashion to the various needs of domestic and sexual violence survivors by providing legal, medical, emergency assistance, Counselling and psychological and psycho social support. It is to encourage and create unprecedented level of collaboration among professionals working to end sexual and Gender Based Violence.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) is an organisation under Lagos state Government committed to ensuring total eradication of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the State. Our mission is to provide sensitive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence while promoting healthy relationships as we strive to enhance our coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State and indeed in Nigeria.

naptu2:
Once again, contact the Domestic/Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in the following ways:

Website: https://lagosdsva.org/contact/

Physical address: Head Office DSVA, Novel House, Central Business District, Alausa 101233, Ikeja,

E-mail : info@lagosdsva.org

Telephone : 112, O-8000-333-333 (toll free)

Twitter: @Lagosdsva

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lagosdsva


The reason I advised that you should contact these people is that they've got lawyers, psychological counsellors and other professionals that are needed to tackle this case. They are backed by the Lagos State Government and they know how to make the police do their work. They can also provide shelter for the woman and the child if the need arises. They are your best bet.

Yesterday we played host to @nipcoplc and @nnpclimited at the commissioning of the Lekki gas distribution project and power plant. The NGML-NIPCO JV will certainly help in the development of Lekki Free Zone and will attract industries to set up their facilities seamlessly.

NIPCO, NGML to crash energy costs for industries, float Lekki Gas Project

Industries in the Lekki Free Trade Zone area in Lagos will begin to enjoy reduced energy costs, as NIPCO Gas in partnership with NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) commissioned the Lekki Gas Distribution Project for supply and distribution of natural gas in the Lekki area.

The infrastructure developed by NGML-NIPCO Gas JV has a capacity of over 100 mmscfd. The city gate station constructed by NGML-NIPCO Gas JV has a present capacity to flow fivemmscfd to 25 mmscfd of gas further extendable to over 100 mmscfd. Lekki Free Zone is having gas-based power plant of 24 MW capacity.

Speaking at the commissioning, Managing Director, NIPCO Gas Limited, Nagendra Verma, said the milestone marks a significant step towards unlocking and harnessing the nation’s abundant natural gas while boosting the economic development of Nigeria.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mele Kyari, the NIPCO Gas boss said: “The supply of piped natural gas by NGML-NIPCO JV will certainly help in development of Lekki Free Zone and Free Zone Enterprise licensed by NEPZA (FZE) in an exponential manner.

“This is also going to boost the industrialisation and employment opportunities in Lekki area which in turn will boost the economy of the country,” Verma stated.

He said NIPCO Gas believes that the collaboration between NGML and NIPCO Gas would attract industries to set up their facilities in the Lekki Free Zone due to advantages like proximity to the sea-port, export promotion zone advantages, improved road connectivity-hence providing better logistics for movement of raw materials or finished products among others.

According to him, the NGML-NIPCO Gas JV also has the natural gas distribution network along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to aid supply of gas to industries to meet their energy requirement.

Stating that gas distribution is also being extended to Ibadan, Oyo State and Abeokuta, Ogun State, he said: “With the availability of a natural gas distribution network, a lot of industries are setting up their facilities there. This is resulting in overall development of the area with increased number of employment resulting in socio-economic upliftment of citizens.

“Industries are enjoying reliable, economical and clean fuel for powering their factories and other fuel needs. The use of natural gas has reduced industries’fuel bills drastically and lower equipment maintenance cost being the cleanest fuel,” he stated.

According to Verma, NIPCO Gas in partnership with NNPC Gas Marketing Limited is also expanding AutoCNG stations across Nigeria under Presidential CNG initiative.

“NIPCO Gas is sure that with support of supply of piped natural gas to industries, NGML-NIPCO Gas JV will be able to keep and maintain lower AutoCNG prices.

“Also, the increased usage of domestic gas in industrial and automobile sector will certainly help the Federal Government in reduction in fuel importation bill and fuel subsidy burden,” he stated.

Managing Director, Managing Director of LFZDC, Dai Shunfa, expressed his happiness that the gas supply would further boost operations in the free trade zone and reduce the energy cost incurred by the companies.

“By providing a reliable and affordable source of energy, we are helping to create a more competitive and sustainable business environment,” he added.