We have no hand in Boko Haram insurgency, says French ambassador, Denys Gauer

http://ift.tt/2ms1mpz

Denys Gauer

We have no hand in Boko Haram insurgency, French Ambassador in Nigeria, Denys Gauer, declared yesterday. Speaking with The Guardian in Abuja, Gauer stated that a national newspaper, (not The Guardian) recently published a report and photograph of a white man, which it claimed is a French national arrested by the Nigerian military in its operation against Boko Haram.

The French envoy said the white man in the newspaper report is a German national, who was kidnapped by members of the Boko Haram sect but was later rescued by Cameroun security forces.

He said the report was capable of creating credibility issues for the newspaper.“When a newspaper makes such an enormous blunder, it loses its credibility. Who will trust them anymore?”

On the allegation of some foreigners providing welfare and logistics support to Boko Haram, the envoy wondered how France could become sympathetic to Boko Haram, having been at the forefront of the war against terrorism across the world.

He noted that though France has its internal crises with some of its radicalised citizens who left France to join terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq, he maintained that there has never been any reported case of a French national providing support for the Boko Haram.

Gauer disclosed that France has put in place a strong legislation to deter its citizens from joining terrorist organisations. “We now have a strong law that when those guys come back to France, they are immediately arrested, but concerning Boko Haram, I must say I am not aware of any case of a French national involved in the group,” the envoy said.

He explained that when the Boko Haram insurgency got to a peak in 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan approached President Francois Hollande of France who immediately convened a meeting of Nigeria neighbours, Chad, Niger and Cameroun in Paris where the Multi-national Joint Task Force, MJTF was established to deal with the situation. He added that although, Nigerian authorities had on several occasions blamed terrorism activities around the Lake Chad basin on nationals other than Nigerians, the diplomat stated that Nigeria’s Francophone neighbours believed otherwise.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2ms3f5J

Tinubu, Aregbesola, others urge political leaders to focus on development

http://ift.tt/2mgH9At

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that a nation that desires progress must have visionary leaders who are capable of translating their ideas into reality.‎

Tinubu, who was represented by Prof. Adebayo Williams at the first annual conference of the Nigerian Political Scientists Association (NPSA), held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State said leaders who have no objective could not be strategic leaders.‎

He lamented that most political office holders focus more on how to get power and control of government rather than what they can do to transform the society.‎ He advised politicians to focus more on development of the country and well-being of the people

He said: “A leader must have a coherent vision and work assiduously to translate it to reality.‎ There can hardly be strategic leadership where conscious objective is lacking. Conscious objective and coherent vision are some of the ingredients of nation building.‎ Often times, leadership here is short-sighted, focusing more on power and control of government rather than on result-oriented programmes.”‎

Speaking at the event, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, urged political office holders to ensure that they use the opportunity to lift society and tasked political scientists to place more priority on issues that promote development of the country.

In his paper, “Democracy, Nation-building and Development in Nigeria,” the keynote speaker and former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Dipo Kolawole, said Nigeria has been suffering from poor leadership since independence.‎

He argued that democracy would fail if there were no proper monitoring and evaluation of activities of politicians, adding that democracy still remains the best form of government anywhere in the world.

Also, the institution’s Head of Department of Political Science, Prof. Sat Obiyan, urged political players to embrace democratic ideals, principles and processes because they are critical to strengthening and consolidating democracy.

Citing the current level of poverty, inter-group tension and heightened insecurity in the country, he said something urgent must be done to address them.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mpFpWz

Yabatech Mass comm students organise photo exhibition

http://ift.tt/2mrV9tT

Dr. Taiwo Oyelola ( left) congratulating Mrs Funke Adesanya, Mr Olufemi Olagoke, at the Yabatech photo exhibition.

So much is working for Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) this year. The staff school is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The College itself is getting set for its 70th anniversary.

Perhaps the air of celebration around the campus compelled two of the lecturers in Mass Communication, Mrs. Funke Adesanya and Mr. Olufemi Olagoke, to rally the students to stage an exhibition tagged, “Recession: Help is Near.”

With 64 pieces on surrealism the students, like prophets, reassured Nigerians that recession was not entirely a bad thing but a guide to bring out the creativity in them. This was why the Rector, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, said she believed that the future of the country was on sound footing, going by the leverage displayed by youngsters from the college and other technical institutions in the country.

According to her, “It has been said elsewhere that out of babes mouth shall words of liberation began to be spoken. Today, these students are by dint of hard work and display of talents showing the nation, ways out of economic quagmire, and beyond, that no condition is permanent. It is a hope well confessed and which I hope the whole country would imbibe so that collectively, we can rescue our economy from import dependence and mono-cultural tendencies by embracing creativity.”

The Rector, represented by the Deputy Rector (ACAD), Dr. Taiwo Oyelola insisted that skills development is the in-thing the world over and enjoined Nigerians to join the throng.

“Current realities have shown that paper certificate is as worthless as a paper tiger, and as the students themselves have proven through their messages and images, Nigerians should be ready to explore innate abilities fine tuned by superior knowledge.”

Ladipo challenged other departments and schools within the College to emulate the Mass Communication Department by showcasing their students’ productivity as a way of motivating these students to compete creatively among themselves positively.

The exhibition, displayed works by both the full time and part time students and was attended by the College Registrar, and top officials of the institution.
The Deputy Rector (ACAD), Dr. Taiwo Oyelola signing the visitors’ Register
Dr. Oyelola congratulating Mrs. Funke Adesanya. Standing far right is Mr. Adefemi Adegoke

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mrZiOx

Carmakers rev up emissions cuts as tough rules loom

http://ift.tt/2n4o04T

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 30, 2016 shows a technician operating a car pollution control in Paris on August 30, 2016. Automobile companies say they fight hard to reduce pollutant emissions.<br />PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP

Global carmakers, stung by emissions scandals, are racing to hunt down every gram of harmful CO2 spewed out on the roads as tougher pollution rules kick in.

Auto manufacturers gearing up for Europe’s biggest annual car show in Geneva are celebrating the end of the sector’s crisis. European sales have returned to levels last seen in 2008 before a global financial meltdown inflicted deep dents on their business.

But a dark cloud has gathered over the outlook because of emissions scandals, especially involving European market leader Volkswagen, and the road to recovery will be paved with unprecedented efforts to fight auto pollution, involving equally unprecedented costs.

– Accelerating costs –
“Solutions are more and more expensive,” said Marc Charlet, at Mov’eo, an automotive and mobility research network. “There is much at stake here, and the competition is fierce.”

European rules for combustion engines were always going to become more stringent, but Volkswagen’s emissions cheating, the industry’s biggest pollution scandal to date, has turbo-charged regulators’ eagerness to crack down on pollution.

Sales of cars with cleaner alternative technologies are still only marginal, with electric cars accounting for just 1.2 percent of new car sales in the EU in 2015, according to the European Environmental Agency.

Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to having installed software in 11 million diesel engines worldwide to circumvent emissions tests.

Carmakers are now having to steer toward engines that emit no more than 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2021 to meet European requirements, compared to 130 grams in 2015.

But as diesel cars have been getting a bad rap because of emissions scandals, that target looks harder to meet.

“Diesel cars emit 15 percent less CO2 per kilometre” than gasoline-fuelled models, said Christophe Aufrere, a technology strategist at car parts maker Faurecia.

That means gasoline-powered cars have to take up the slack, requiring the industry to squeeze more efficiency out of engines and to reduce vehicles’ weight.

– Every gram counts –
If they don’t manage, the bill will be high.

Automakers failing to meet the CO2 targets — capping petrol consumption to 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres and diesel to 3.6 litres — will have to pay 95 euros ($100) for every extra CO2 gram emitted by each car — potentially adding up to tens of millions of euros of fines.

“We will have to look for grams to save in every part of the car, particularly in components,” said Guillaume Devauchelle, head of innovation and research and parts maker Valeo.

This includes air conditioning, second only to the engine for energy use, electric compressors, self starters, right down to lightbulbs. Every weight gain of 12 kilos, meanwhile, translates into one gram of CO2 saved.

Better electronics and aerodynamic designs will also help.

Research and development costs “have practically doubled in the past decade” said Remi Cornubert at AT Kearney, a consulting firm, adding that half the increase was forced on carmakers by regulators.

“The car of the future will be significantly more expensive to design and to build,” said Guillaume Crunelle, auto expert at the Deloitte consulting group.

– There’s always the glitz –
Executives needing a break from nagging worries about rules and money can always take time to enjoy the glamour for which the Geneva show is famous.

The legendary Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, McLaren and Bentley have picked Lake Geneva’s shore to present new models. Renault will showcase the final version of its Alpine A110 sports car.

“Geneva has always been the show of beautiful automobiles and prestigious racing cars,” said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer at the CAR institute.

But the greatest buzz may come from so-called “crossover” vehicles (CUVs), which combine features taken from sports utility vehicles (SUVs) with those of passenger cars.

The segment, including fashionable urban four-wheel drive vehicles, now makes up nearly 30 percent of the European car market and features the Volvo XC60, the Citroen C-Aircross, the DS7 Crossback and the Land Rover Velar.

Some 180 companies will be present at the 10-day show which opens to the public on March 9 after two press days during which most major corporate announcements are expected. Last year’s show attracted 687,000 visitors.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lN1UTm