IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Conservative leader Bart De Wever was sworn in on Monday as Belgium’s new prime minister, following a hard-fought coalition deal that marks a significant rightward shift in the country’s politics.

After seven months of negotiations, De Wever became the first nationalist from Dutch-speaking Flanders to hold the position. His coalition has pledged stricter measures on irregular migration, reinforcing his law-and-order stance.

The 54-year-old, who has moderated his previous calls for Flanders’ independence, took the oath of office before King Philippe in Brussels before heading to an EU leaders' meeting on defense and transatlantic relations.

De Wever reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to increasing its defense spending to NATO’s two-percent GDP target, up from the current 1.3 percent, stating that Europe had been complacent on security matters and that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “woken us up.”

Amid trade tariff threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump and pressure for increased military spending, De Wever stressed the importance of maintaining strong EU-U.S. ties.

His N-VA party is aligned with the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which includes parties led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Czech leader Petr Fiala. The ECR now has three prime ministers in the European Council and participates in the governments of seven countries.

Hard-right parties have gained traction in Europe, performing strongly in last year’s European Parliament elections and recent national and regional polls in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. 

To address the ongoing energy crisis, the European Union has announced a partnership with the Plateau State government to explore small hydropower generation.

The Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, revealed this on Monday during an assessment visit to Assop Falls, a site estimated to have the potential to generate around 2MW of electricity.

Stefanowicz emphasized the EU’s collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Power to diversify electricity generation by incorporating small hydropower solutions. This initiative aims to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy for Plateau State, supporting agro-processing activities and economic growth.

She also stated that the EU is working with the state government and relevant stakeholders to assess the technical, financial, and environmental feasibility of the project.

Managing Director of the Plateau State Energy Corporation, Ponzing Gamde, disclosed that the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), which is overseeing the project on behalf of the EU, is conducting a feasibility study. "Preliminary data collection has been completed, and a design plan is underway to determine the site’s full energy capacity," he noted.

Gamde further highlighted the broader impact of the project, stating that improved electricity supply would enhance cultural activities and prevent disruptions caused by power shortages.

A Plateau State House of Assembly member, Owen Dagogot, expressed strong support, stating that the site would be fully utilized to maximize its benefits.

Director of Technical Services at the Plateau State Energy Corporation, Sam Yakubu, noted that while hydropower projects typically take time, this one could be completed within two to three years due to the site’s favorable layout.

A representative of the Federal Ministry of Power, Dina Temitope, emphasized the project’s alignment with Nigeria’s Vision 30:30, which aims to generate 30 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, with 30% derived from renewable sources.

EU Programme Manager for Energy and Circular Economy, Godfrey Ogbemudia, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to sustainability, ensuring that the investment delivers long-term benefits.

Meanwhile, GIZ’s Head of Sustainable Energy Access, Eckhard Heine, stressed the importance of collaboration with Nigeria’s electricity regulatory authorities to effectively implement the project.

Technical Adviser at GIZ, Alexander Akolo, added that Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang recently enacted a State Electricity Law, which could be further refined with additional support, including the development of a mini-grid policy. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed a bill establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni, Rivers State.

The announcement was made on Monday by Bwala Daniel, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, who stated that the decision aligns with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda to address past inequalities and promote inclusive national development.

Daniel also noted that the move follows the recent approval of a federal university in Southern Kaduna. He emphasized Tinubu’s commitment to national unity, reaffirming that no ethnic group is considered a minority in Nigeria.

The decision was widely welcomed, with Daniel highlighting that the new university reflects the administration’s dedication to fostering education, development, and national integration. 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) intensified its efforts against fake legal practitioners on Monday, leading to the arrest of a suspected fake lawyer, Tega Ikupa, in Effurun, Delta State.

Ikupa was caught while preparing a Deed of Conveyance using the seal of a Sapele-based lawyer, Israel Onoge Esq. His sister-in-law, alleged to be an accomplice, was also arrested. Both suspects were taken into custody at the Ebrumede Police Station.

The arrest took place at the premises of Magistrate Court 1, Effurun, following the intervention of lawyers from the Warri, Effurun, and Udu branches of the NBA. Upon discovery of the forged seal, the lawyers contacted Onoge, who confirmed he had not authorized its use.

During interrogation, Ikupa admitted that the documents were provided by his sister-in-law, who later confessed that a surveyor in Adeje Community, Okpe, prepared them for ₦80,000. The police have since launched an investigation, with the Ebrumede Divisional Police Officer, CSP Iwok Ndifereke, ordering the arrest of the alleged surveyor.

This latest crackdown follows the recent arrest of two other fake lawyers in Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a budget of N4.8 billion on Monday for the treatment of HIV patients in Nigeria.

This decision comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent move to suspend financial aid to countries for HIV treatment, among other issues.

Ali Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, made the announcement while briefing journalists following the Council meeting, which was chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Pate explained that the approved funds would be disbursed over four months to ensure the continued care of individuals living with HIV, even with the support of international partners.

Regarding the U.S. policy shift on HIV and tuberculosis aid, Pate noted that the Nigerian government is focusing on transforming the health sector through domestic financing. He added that a committee has been established, with representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Budget, Defense, Environment, and the Nigeria Governors Forum, to develop a sustainability plan. 

Coming on the heels of last Wednesday's colourless and fiercely fought barren draw against oriental neighbours, Abia Angels on home soil, Heartland Queens will challenge for the first points of the season at two-season topflight experiencers, Remo Stars Ladies in the NWFL Premiership matchday 4 game on Wednesday, February 05 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun state.

The topflight matchday 4 matchup will be the very first time ever both premier leaguers are meeting themselves in an elite league clash. The first time ever both sides met in any competition was at the 2023 Federation Cup Round of 16 game then the Blue Sky ladies who campaigned as Lakeside Queens actually stunned the Owerri mainstreams on that occasion and thereby denied them a historic back to back quarterfinals performance in the oldest and glamorous Cup competition in the land.

Thereafter, both sides narrowly missed meeting again with some whiskers at the 2024 Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) in Benin City as well as the 2024 Sheroes Cup preseason showpiece in FCT, Abuja where the Ikenne side went ahead to emerge champions in their maiden of the annual football event that witnessed its uninterrupted seven-year running.

On current form, Remo Stars Ladies are princely placed joint top on points with the reigning champions, Edo Queens in the eight-team Group A log while the Owerri mainstreams are yet to come to terms on what she wants in the ongoing season given her poorly placed seventh position on the pecking order. 

Heading into the Wednesday's showdown, both topflights were contented sharing the spoils with their opponents in matchday 3 clashes but the Ikenne side were far better off with the road trip point at the champions, Edo Queens in Benin City compared with the Owerri landladies who laboured effortlessly for a point on home soil against the oriental neighbours, Abia Angels.

The saying that hell knows no fury than a woman jilted is apt with the Owerri side and a most likely definer of the attitudes they will be bringing into the game on Wednesday in Ikenne. 

The timely return from injury of the side's hitherto first choice netminder, Uchenna Chukwu to the dugout in the barren draw against nextdoor neighbours, Abia Angels, the mien, calmness and stability she brought to bear in the game will be huge this time around in the Ikenne showdown. The other trusted regulars, Oluomachi Onwere, Henry Chisom, Prisca Nwachukwu, Faith Samson, Monica Matthew, Oluchi Okwara, Chimebere Opara, Emmanuella James, and other new breeds, Oluebeube Umejiaku, Olaronke Ola, Mary Popoola, et cetera are going to keep their shirts in the battle for the first points of the season.

The gaffer of the Owerri side, Obi Ogbala, not the happiest person at the moment, and not one known to runs away from difficult tasks, knows he must come up with or conjure a lineup that will grind or squeeze out any manner of victory in the potentially fierce faceoff in Ikenne, Ogun state.

After the Ikenne showdown, the Owerri mainstreams will come back home to play host to another two-season experiencers, Dannaz Ladies in the NWFL Premiership matchday 05 game.