travelling in a truck.
The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi,
has urged Christians to pray for the country to overcome its
security challenges as they celebrate the birth of
Christ.
Gen Magashi gave the charge in a Thursday statement felicitating
with Christians on the special Christmas occasion.
He urged Christians to be Christ-like in celebrating the birth
of Jesus Christ by showing compassion to fellow Nigerians
irrespective of religeous differences and to pray for peace in the
country.
READ ALSO: FG Declares December 25, 28 And
January 1 As Public Holidays
The Defence Minister harped on the need for peaceful
co-existence, unity and peace especially as the country is fighting
insurgency, banditry and kidnapping among other criminal
tendencies.
He said the season is the reason to turn to God in fervent
prayer to crown the sacrifices of our fighting forces to attain
maximum victory over the adversaries.
While giving kudos to the troops – who by reason of their call
to duty, which is primarily to defend the nation’s territorial
integrity, will not be able to celebrate Christmas with their
families and loved ones – he assured them that the
Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President
Muhammadu Buhari will not allow their sacrifices to go
unrewarded.
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Gen. Magashi noted that the least appreciation Nigerians can
show to the nation’s gallant soldiers who are fighting
patriotically so that the citizens can sleep with their eyes closed
(even when they themselves can’t afford to sleep) is to pray for
them and be security conscious at this auspicious time.
He thanked the leadership of the services and heads of security
agencies and their civilian counterparts for the recent feat
attained in the timely rescue and return of the kidnapped students
in Kankara, Katsina State.
The Minister described the successful operation that culminated
in bringing back the kidnapped children as unprecedented in denying
the kidnappers freedom of action, saying that such victory over the
adversaries is the most beautiful Christmas and New Year special
gift to the nation.
The Minister tasked the troops in various locations to be
focused in invigorating their firing power and to hold the ground
resolutely without allowing any crack on the walls of national
defence; adding that the support of all Nigerians is critical to
the attainment of security for the country for hitch free yuletide
celebrations and beyond.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/12/24/christmas-pray-for-troops-to-end-insecurity-defence-minister/
As the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) takes
off on January 1, 2021, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,
Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo has called on Nigerians, particularly
industrialists to take advantage of the inherent opportunities to
promote Made-in-Nigeria goods.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Ifedayo Sayo,
the minister said Nigeria cannot afford to be left out of the
emerging African economic block, stressing that AfCTA will form a
3.4 trillion dollar economic bloc, which Nigeria must play a
leading role.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area in terms of 54
participating countries, will commence on January 1, 2021.
The commencement date will signal the beginning of the
implementation of a single continental market for goods and
services, with free movement of business persons and investments
across Africa.
According to the minister, “The journey started on July 7, 2019,
when Nigeria became the 53rd African country to sign the AfCFTA
treaty. Long before then, it has always been the dream of Nigeria
and Africa’s founding fathers to unite the continent in one, shared
prosperity.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement will form a
$3.4 trillion economic bloc, which Nigeria cannot afford to be left
out of.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria not only
partakes as a signatory in name but become a major trade and
economic powerhouse, even more than we have been within the ECOWAS
region.”
Also speaking on readiness measures taken by the government
towards the effective implementation of AfCFTA, the Secretary,
National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Francis Anatogu said, “We are
effectively coordinating with all critical stakeholders to ensure a
smooth playing field for Nigerian traders and businessmen to
explore the vast markets that will be opened up come January 1st,
2021.
“We are set to commence a major communication campaign and have
tagged January 2021 as AfCFTA Awareness and Sensitisation month,
which would take place across the six geopolitical zones, and would
involve various stakeholder groups in public, private and civil
society sectors, as well as other critical traditional
institutions.”
Established on May 30, 2018, the agreement has been signed by 54
AU member countries and ratified by 31 AU member countries,
including Nigeria in July 2019 and November 2020 respectively.
AfCFTA is expected to help expand Nigeria’s inter-trade portfolio,
boost competitiveness, and increase GDP.