DAILY RENDEZVOUS

Daily Rendezvous  President Touray discussed areas of existing and new cooperation with the envoys with regards to the four strategic objectives of the present administration after accrediting them to ECO-WAS The accredited envoys were H.E. Ms. Annika HAHN-ENGLUND, Ambassador of Sweden to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Ms. Cristian MUNDUATE, Country Representative UNICEF to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ms Joanna Tarnawska, Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni-potentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Annett GUNTHER, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Wouter PLOMP, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and H.E. Amedi CAMARA, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Touray discussed areas of existing and new cooperation with the envoys with regards to the four strategic objectives o...

Daily Rendezvous  The High Commissioner of Nigeria to Australia and the Pacific Region ,Amb. Anderson N.Madubike,has again noted the need for African countries to deepen trade engagements with Australia. This, he added, would make for a win-win situation in relations between the countries of the two regions. Amb. Madubike, who stated the above in Canberra, Australia,on Monday during a dinner he organised for the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Nigerian-born Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and members of her delegation,who were on an official visit to Australia,added that Africa and Australia must strive to realize the potential each of the regions possessed in trade,raw materials and in other areas like education and cultural exchange. The Nigerian Envoy also noted that Africa still lags behind in both trade relations and in other areas of foreign policy engagements,hence the need to close the yawning gap to realize better results. Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-...

Daily Rendezvous Public Health Advisory following declaration of Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Uganda  The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has been aware of the ongoing outbreak of the Sudan strain Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Uganda since it was first officially declared on 20th September 2022. As of 29th October 2022, the Uganda Ministry of Health had reported 128 confirmed cases and 34 deaths.    The NCDC, through the National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Disease Technical Working Group, met on the 26th of September 2022 to assess the risk of importation of EVD to Nigeria and the potential impact to inform in-country preparedness activities. Based on available data and risk assessment conducted, Nigeria is at HIGH risk of importation of the virus. This risk is due to the large volume of air travel between Nigeria and Uganda and the mixing of passengers, especially at the regional travel hubs of Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Kigali airp...

Daily Rendezvous Political,Trade, Economic as Well as Security and Consular Issues Highlighted Nigeria and India agree to increase engagement to boost volume of trade and economic activities between the two countries.The two countries also agree to pursue diversification with innovative suggestions for achieving the boost via such areas as mineral lease for infrastructure development and financing for term periods, including the establishment of special economic zones for production,manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and agriculture,while seeking the setting-up of Indian firms in Nigeria. The above was part of the outcome of the second round of Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries, held, Thursday, in New Delhi. According to a release by the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi, the Nigeria delegation was led to the meeting by Amb.Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria,while the India side was led by Shri Damu Ravi...

Daily Rendezvous  Buhari's Independent speech was a huge disappoitmentas usual, it was ladened with all manners of excuses and phantom claim to successes.he said every ward and community has been touched by his NSIP but could not state any statistics numbers to substantiate his false claims. He also said he is implementing projects aimed at addressing literacy and education in the country, how is that true when ASUU has been on strike seven months! And many more.  Below for the full text of speech: INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF NIGERIA’S 62ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON 1ST OCTOBER, 2022 Fellow Nigerians, I address you today, with a deep sense of gratitude to God and a high level of appreciation to all Nigerians whose tremendous goodwill gave me the opportunity to provide leadership for our great country at one of the trying tim...

Daily Rendezvous  Nigeria, a Promised land, from North to South is blessed. The East and South of it are unharnessed minerals and human resources. My country is the bible's description of a land that flows milk and honey. It's my country with vested interest from world powers. UK, USA, China, Germany, and France inclusive. Their interest is because of what we have and who we are. Nigerians are brave and brainy, with egghead of hard work. No wonder anywhere they are the excel. They are productive and succeed beyond measures. But it pains me that our enemies seem to gain access to divide us. The divisions along religion, regional and tribal inclination is no doubt the tornadoes, tsunamis, and Armageddon that will consume us all. These are misfortunes that tend to wage war against God's plans, created by whims and caprice of poor leadership. It has all befallen us, the rich are not getting away with it any longer, and they also cry.  The poor are not at ease in Zio...

Daily Rendezvous - Both Countries Reiterate the Need to Ratify Pending Trade Agreement as Prelude for the Establishment of a Joint Commission - Direct Flights between Both Countries in the Offing Through Planned Implementation of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) Political Consultations aimed at improving relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Israel,Thursday,ended in Tel Aviv, Israel, with an agreement to advance several partnerships and strengthen co-operation in different socio-economic sectors in both countries. According to a release by the Embassy of Nigeria in Tel Aviv monitored in Abuja,Friday, the meeting,which was held between the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Amb. Gabriel Tanimu Aduda and his Israeli counterpart,Amb.Alon Ushpiz,Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel,deliberated extensively on several wide-ranging issues like Bilateral Air Service Agreement,Direct Flights betwe...

Daily Rendezvous The 9th Round of Annual Process of Political Consultations between the Governments of Nigeria and the Swiss Confederation, ends in Bern,the Switzerland capital city with discussions focused on matters of mutual interests. The meeting,which is also known as "Nigeria-Switzerland Days 2022" discussed the long- standing bilateral and multilateral co-operation between Nigeria and the European country. The meeting brought into sharp focus and examined indepth issues of mutual interests bordering on migration and development,peace and security in Nigeria and the African continent, as well as, asset-recovery,trade and investment. In addition to the above,the meeting also discussed the fight against trafficking in persons, capacity-building,youth employment and job creation, assistance, human rights, as well as, co-operation in legal matters among other important subjects-matter. According to a release by  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitored in Abuja...

Daily Rendezvous The Nigeria-Japan Special Partnership Forum has met and resolved to up commitment for the development of natural gas resources in an effort to boost boost Foreign Direct Investment. This is the outcome of the 9th Virtual Session of Nigeria-Japan held Wednesday. The forum in it virtual session agreed to strengthen commitment for the development of Nigeria's natural gas resources in the quest for Foreign Direct Investment. The meeting also resolved that all parties involved would work for better butcomes in the next TICAD session scheduled for Tunisia in August this Year. The Nigeria-Japan Special Partnership Forum, ended in Abuja with a commitment to vigorously pursue the development of Nigeria's natural gas resources in the bid to attract Foreign Direct Investment in the sector. Participants at the forum also agreed to work ahead to achieve better outcomes in the next Tokyo International Conference on African Development ( TICAD) session...

Daily Rendezvous - Nigeria Blessed with Human and Natural Resources-Madubike Nigeria's High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of Australia,, Amb. Anderson Madubike,  has described Nigeria as a country blessed with both human and natural resources and that Nigeria has the potential to be a world leader in many fields of human endeavour. The nation's Envoy to Australia, made this known in Suva, Republic of Fiji,when he presented his credentials to President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the President of the Republic of Fiji, Tuesday, 22 March 2022. Madubike, said Nigerians are highly educated, enterprising and mobile people who love to travel around the world and leave positive footprints wherever they find themselves.  While paying glowing tributes to the people of Fiji, whom he described as peace-loving,orderly and quite proud of their cultural heritage, said that this could be a veritable tool for engagement and relations with the people of Nigeria, apart fr...

Daily Rendezvous Discusses Prospects of Nigeria-India Joint Commission, Other Areas of Mutual Interest  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb Gabriel Tanimu Aduda  accompanied his counterpart, Nigeria's high Commissioner to India, Amb. Ahmed Sule, have met with the Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India , Shri Muraleedharan at New Delhi in India where they discussed issues pertaining to bilateral relations and mutual interest to both countries. The Nigerian delegation led by Amb. Gabriel Aduda discussed issues of strengthening bilateral relations, particularly the Nigeria-India Joint Commission, a meeting which Nigeria is expected to host in the next around of talks.  Also at the meeting, the two countries discussed the terms of the Second Nigeria/India Consular Dialogue  scheduled to hold in the second quarter of 2022 in Abuja.  Speaking at the meeting, Aduda praIsed the efforts of the Indian governme...

Daily Rendezvous Nigeria has been drawn to play Ghana in the third round of FIFA Qatar 2022 world cup draw. Of the ten African countries in the qualifiers the fixtures Dr as Follows: Egypt Vs Senegal Cameroon vs Algeria Ghana vs Nigeria DR Congo VS Morocco Mali VS Tunisia All the matches were to be played between 24th-29th March, 2022. The draw was held at 22nd January, 2022 at Douala, Cameroon. The seedings were based on the November 2021 FIFA World Rankings.

Daily Rendezvous A Niger Delta rights activist, Israel Joe, has asked the Federal Government not to make real its proposed increase in prices of petroleum products. He warned that civil society organisations would not hesitate to shut down Nigeria if the Federal Government went ahead with such plan. Joe, who stated this in a statement in Warri, said Nigerians would no longer tolerate the hardship brought upon them by the present regime at the centre. He said, “Nigerians will no longer tolerate the hardship brought upon us by this government. We listened gleefully to the speech of the President and it wasn’t clear if the subsidy would be removed or not. “However, we have got from reliable source that the Federal Government of Nigeria planned to remove subsidy on petrol products towards the end of February. “Let it be on record that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not put forth any superior logical argument about the advantages of removing subsidy, as it has...

Daily Rendezvous The Chairman, Governor Fintiri Transition Committee and former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defense, Ismaila Aliyu, has tasked Nigerians to take the beginning of the year 2022 as an opportunity for the "Making of a New Beginning." Ismaila Aliyu, addressing Nigerians in his new year speech said, as individuals and as a nation, we must learn to take stock of the previous years and used it as stepping stone for progress for ourselves and our country. Ismaila said the challenges we faced in the ravaging Pandemic of COVID-19 with its crippling effects on our personal and collective economy, leading to Job losses, lost of lives and the shattering of global economies should not deter our resolve in embracing the possibilities of a great and beautiful 2022. Ismaila made this known in a a press statement issued to Daily Rendezvous, Thursday. Ismaila quoting Nelson Mandela said before leaving prison He had said, "As I stand before the door to my fre...

Daily Rendezvous Rivers state governor Nyesome Wike and the North's most influential power brokers in Nigeria, Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has once again snubbed Atiku, Tinubu, and other presidential hopefuls, and has thrown the weight of its support on Sen. Bala Mohammed, the executive Governor of Bauchi state saying, he remains the best candidate to move Nigeria out of its current economic and security challenges. Comrade Elliot Afiyo, the national Chairman of NYLF said, the group's earlier endorsement of Bala Mohammed, has been justified and strengthened by the New Year message of the Rivers state governor, Nyesome Wike, who said PDP has the brightest chance of reclaiming power in 2023 only if the party fields Bala Mohammed as its candidate. Comrade Elliot Afiyo made this known at a World Press Conference held Wednesday in Lagos, Nigeria. Speaking on the reasons for the forum's endorsement of Bala Mohammed, Elliot said, "You may recal...

Daily Rendezvous The Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has called on Adamawa citizens to use the occasion of the new year to renew their commitment to the Adamawa growth and development projects saying his government is poised to usher in more infrastructural, human development and to improve on the welfare of the entire residents of the state. While thanking the people for their support that creates a condusive atmosphere for economic and developmental progress to be possible, the governor reiterates his government's determination to make Adamawa great again. This is contained in a press statement issued by his press secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, and made available to Daily Sun, over the weekend. Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri while addressing the citizens in his new year statement called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, love, reconciliation and re-dedication to the service of God and humanity in the year 2022. "The end of the year and the...

Daily Rendezvous The Federal Government has declared Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th December 2021 and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day celebrations respectively. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, felicitates with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations. Ogbeni Aregbesola enjoins Christians to practice the doctrines of Christ, which include but not limited to these – faith, hope and love. “We must emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on Humility, Service, Compassion, Patience, Peace and Righteousness, that His birth signifies. This will be the best way to portray Christ and celebrate his birth”, he noted. He emphasizes that peace and security are two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity. He urges Christians and Nigeri...

Daily Rendezvous Nigeria's permanent secretary, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda has met with his counterpart from Algeria,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramtane Lamamra and the Minister of Transport, Mr. Bekai Aissa where they discussed strategies for deepening bilateral relations between the two countries. The top government officials noted that it has become imparative to strengthen intra-African economic integration through road, air and rail transport systems connectivity across African countries. This was made known in a joint press statement issued by Nigeria-Algeria embassies, Wednesday. The press statement reads, "In continuation of his official visit to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for the third Session of Bilateral Consultations, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ambassador Gabriel T. Aduda, separately met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, H.E. Mr. ...

Daily Rendezvous The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed three (3) more cases of COVID-19 with the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, i.e., the Omicron variant, in Nigeria. In addition to the three cases announced earlier on 1st December 2021, this brings the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant detected in Nigeria to six (6).  All the Omicron cases so far were detected in persons with recent travel history to South Africa in November.   The NCDC through the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) continues to coordinate genomic surveillance activities across the country to sequence all positive COVID-19 samples from international travellers arriving in Nigeria. This includes sequencing of positive samples from international travellers from October 2021 to date.  The Delta variant remains the dominant variant and so far, we have not seen the replacement of this variant by the new Omicron variant as observed elsewhe...