The aviation industry plays a crucial role in Nigeria's economic development, connecting the country to the global market and facilitating trade and tourism. However, the industry's heavy reliance on fossil fuel has raised concerns about its environmental impact and long-term sustainability. In recent years, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as a potential game changer, offering a greener alternative to traditional jet A1 fuel. It is important at this very challenging period of Nigeria’s economic quagmire for both the public and private sectors to collaborate in the exploration of the future of SAF and its potential implications for Nigeria's aviation industry and future economic development, particularly in light of the country's vast availability of oil palm trees and the oil palm belt.

Oil palm grows in about 28 states in Nigeria. The states of Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa are the states with the highest number of oil palm

The future of sustainable aviation fuel holds great promise for Nigeria's aviation industry and future economic development. With the country's abundant oil palm trees and the presence of the oil palm belt, Nigeria has the potential to become a major producer of SAF. By shifting towards SAF, Nigeria can reduce its dependence on fossil oil, mitigate environmental concerns, and position itself as a leader in sustainable aviation.

Additionally, some of the short, medium and long term benefits of SAF to the overall economy and climate change of Nigeria include but are not limited to the following;

First, environmental sustainability:
The aviation industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. By transitioning to SAF, Nigeria's aviation industry can significantly reduce its carbon pollution footprint. SAF has lower levels of pollutants and particulate matter emissions compared to conventional jet fuels. This can lead to improved air quality around airports and in surrounding communities, reducing the negative health impacts associated with air pollution.
SAF is produced from renewable sources such as oil palm, which has a lower carbon intensity compared to fossil oil. This shift would align with global efforts to combat climate change and position Nigeria as an environmentally responsible nation.

Secondly, there are considerable economic opportunities:
Nigeria's vast availability of oil palm trees and plantations presents a unique opportunity for the country to become a major producer of SAF. By investing in the production and refining of SAF, Nigeria can create new economic opportunities, generate employment, and attract foreign investment. The demand for SAF is expected to increase in the coming years, providing a lucrative market for Nigeria to tap into.

Thirdly, energy security:
Nigeria's heavy dependence on fossil oil for its aviation industry poses risks to its energy security. Fluctuating oil prices and geopolitical tensions, as recently witnessed as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Israeli- Palestinian conflict in the Middle East can disrupt the supply chain and impact the industry's operations. By diversifying its energy sources and embracing SAF, Nigeria can enhance its energy security and reduce its vulnerability to external factors.

Fifthly, there is a case for technological innovation: The adoption of SAF in Nigeria can drive technological innovation and research in the renewable energy sector. This can lead to advancements in biofuel production techniques, feedstock cultivation, and conversion technologies, which can have broader applications beyond aviation.

Lastly, there would be opportunities for international collaboration:
The use of SAF aligns with global sustainability goals and can enhance Nigeria's international reputation as a responsible and environmentally conscious nation. It can facilitate collaboration with other countries, organizations, and airlines that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting sustainable aviation.

Though Nigeria would not be blazing a new trail in the use of SAF, as there are already a few examples of countries and airline carriers that have resorted and converted to the use of SAL. But it would one of the pioneering countries to embrace the technology.

Just on Friday, October 27, 2023, the Reuters news agency reported that the Indonesian airline launched its first use of palm oil- blended jet fuel to operate a flight. The prospect of the use of this cleaner source of aviation fuel is quite a welcome development in the industry.

Other airlines and countries that use SAF are:
The United Airlines Case:
In 2020, United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to make a long-term commitment to SAF. The airline signed a deal to purchase one billion gallons of SAF over the next decade. This demonstrates the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel and the potential for Nigeria to tap into this market.

The Success of Brazil:
Brazil has successfully implemented a biofuel program, utilizing its vast sugarcane resources to produce ethanol for aviation. This has not only reduced the country's carbon emissions but also created a thriving biofuel industry. Nigeria can draw inspiration from Brazil's success and leverage its oil palm resources to replicate a similar model.

The future of sustainable aviation fuel holds immense potential for Nigeria and indeed Africa’s aviation industry. By capitalizing on the country's abundant oil palm trees and the oil palm belt, Nigeria can become a major producer and exporter of SAF, reducing its dependence on fossil oil and mitigating environmental concerns. The shift towards SAF would not only position Nigeria as an environmentally responsible nation but also create new economic opportunities and enhance energy security. It is imperative for Nigeria to embrace this game-changing technology and pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.
This initiative should not be left alone to the federal government of Nigeria, but to the research institutes like NIFOR, Petroleum University and other universities, and the private sector.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately address the economic hardship currently bedeviling the nation.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, the coalition disclosed that since the 2023 presidential election litigations are over, it is time for the president to concentrate on finding solutions to the present economic crisis.

COSEYL argued that the plague of hunger has taken over the entire nation following some unfavorable policies of the current administration.

The coalition further lamented the continuous free fall of naira which has affected the prices of goods and services.

“The cozy environment of the Aso Rock Villa does not change the reality on ground in our markets.

“President Tinubu must, as a matter of urgency, address the high cost of goods and services in the country by bringing on board proactive economic measures that will bring the naira back to its feet.

“The president must act fast to save Nigerians from the present predicaments that Nigerians are currently facing”, the statement added.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the ongoing quick-fix project at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, KRPC, will be back on stream by the end of 2024.

The Minister disclosed this during an inspection tour of Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemicals while assessing the progress of work on the ongoing quick-fix project of the Refinery in Kaduna on Saturday.

He was accompanied on the inspection by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari; NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Adedapo Segun; Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; Managing Directors of the three refineries; and a host of other members of the Committee.

The inspection tour was preceded by the 14th Refineries Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting.

Lokpobiri said he is confident that the refinery will be restreamed by the end of 2024, considering the “significant level of progress” he has witnessed on the tour.

The Minister, who observed that he would continue to hold key players involved in the rehabilitation process of the nation’s refineries accountable, also pledged the Federal Government’s support in ensuring the timely delivery of the project.

According to the Minister, there is an urgent need to get the refinery back on stream for the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security, which are both paths to sustainable development.

Earlier in his remarks, Kyari, reassured the Minister that the fuel plant at the refinery will be delivered by the end of 2024.

Kyari said that all hands are on deck to bring the refinery back on stream, stressing that the contractor has since mobilized to the site and the needed equipment for the quick-fix activities is already in place.

“We are very confident that we will get the appropriate financing to get to the end of it, and ultimately, we will start to deliver value to Nigerians again.

“We plan the quick fix for 60,000 barrels per day so that we can start making money from this plant and we can continue the other part of the refinery to bring it up to its full-fledged capacity.

“This will also tally with the completion of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) on the pipeline so as to have a reliable pipeline delivery infrastructure,” the GCEO stated.

The Kaduna Refinery was commissioned in 1980 to supply petroleum products to Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 Barrels Per Day.

In 1983, the capacity was expanded to 100,000 BPD by adding a second 50,000 BPD crude train dedicated to the production of lubricating oils (lubes).

In 1986, the capacity of the first crude train was expanded to 60,000 B/D. The expansions have increased the current nameplate capacity of the refinery to 110,000 B/D

The Kano State House of Assembly has approved Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s request to access a loan of N4 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for the completion of Tiga and Challawa Hydro-electric power project.

The approval followed the adoption of a motion by Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini (NNPP- Dala) at plenary.

Presenting the motion, Hussaini said that the loan has a single-digit interest and therefore not harmful to the economy of the state.

He said that the project when completed would help in revving ailing industries in the state.

The Tiga Independent Power Plant project was initiated by the administration of the former Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, to generate 35MW, using Challawa and Tiga dams.

Gov Abdullahi Ganduje who came into power in 2015 continued with the project.

Kabir-Yusuf had sent a letter of request to the house seeking for its approval which was read by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore at plenary.

The governor said the loan would be used for the completion of the project aimed at boosting the economy of the state through reviving industries, irrigation farming and powering street lights around the city. (NAN)

At their summit in Nassau, The Bahamas, in 1985, the Commonwealth Heads of State and Governments (CHOGM) decided to establish an Eminent Persons Group to explore difficult dialogue with the Apartheid regime in South Africa. The EPG was to be led jointly by Australia’s former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser and Nigeria’s former military ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo. Emeka Anyaoku, the Nigerian diplomat who would later serve with considerable distinction as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, headed the secretariat of the EPG.

In 1986, the Group undertook its first insertion into South Africa. In his memoirs, The Inside Story of the Modern Commonwealth, Chief Anyaoku narrates that the mission was underwritten by a bargain with the Apartheid regime that all persons whom it met would suffer no reprisals. However, in Cape Town, Chief Anyaoku recalls, Trevor Manuel, who was then one decade away from becoming Finance Minister in the post-liberation administration, ended up in a police cell the night after meeting with the delegation.

On the night of Trevor’s arrest, his lawyer called to notify Chief Anyaoku about the fate that had befallen his client. It was approaching midnight when Chief Anyaoku called Mr. van Heerden, the liaison between the delegation and the South African regime, to accuse them of breaching the understanding at the very heart of the mission. Mr. van Heerden promised to investigate. Less than one hour later, according to Chief Anyaoku, Mr. van Heerden called him back to confirm that Trevor Manuel was indeed detained in a police cell.

In response to Chief Anyaoku’s insistence that Trevor be promptly released, Mr. van Heerden volunteered that he would be granted bail overnight to appear “before Magistrate Court No. 13 the following morning.” According to Chief Anyaoku, “Mr. van Heerden then went on to tell me that, once the case was called, it would immediately be adjourned sine die…. I thereafter told him that I would make discreet use of the information he had given me. He interjected that I should please note that his ‘government and security services do not interfere with the judicial processes.’ I said, ‘of course, I know you don’t!’ and we both laughed.”

In a testament to Mr. van Heerden’s powers as a gifted clairvoyant, the court proceedings the following morning went exactly as he had predicted. His gods had engineered the courts.

Apartheid South Africa did not enjoy a monopoly on such gifts of judicial engineering. In November 1992, longtime trade Union leader Frederick Chiluba unseated independence ruler Kenneth Kaunda to emerge as the first president of a multi-party Zambia. His party was presciently named the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, MMD.

The year after President Chiluba’s ascent to power, the office of Chief Justice became vacant after the country’s first indigenous Chief Justice, Annel Musenga Silungwe, quit the office at the age of 57. To succeed him, Chiluba appointed Matthew Ngulube. At the time, Zambia’s judges were poorly paid, a legacy from the era of Kaunda’s one-party state. Chief Justice Ngulube quickly became a darling of the international conference circuit, travelling the world and delivering homilies on judicial independence.

As his second five-year term of office came to an end, President Chiluba contrived a plan to succeed himself. Armed with a judiciary which he believed to be in his pocket, Chiluba believed he could overcome a constitutionally imposed term limit and run for a third term. Zambians declined his move, turfing him out in 2001 in favour of a senior lawyer and Chiluba’s own former vice-president Levy Mwanawasa.

At the beginning of President Mwanawasa’s tenure, it emerged that Chief Justice Ngulube’s preferred habitation was in Chiluba’s pocket. Once there, he burrowed himself into the favours of the former president, festooning himself with choice goodies, which enabled him to afford an extraordinary mansion on the outskirts of the capital city, Lusaka, valued at the annual budget of major government departments. He also trousered a reported $168,000 to finance his tastes, including school fees for his children, in order to “buy his loyalty”. Decisions in all cases against Chiluba suddenly became fully engineered. When, for instance, the opposition sued Chiluba – suspected to have descended from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – over his nationality, the Chief Justice acted more like the president’s counsel than an impartial judge.

Zambia was not the only place where judges preached independence but failed to practice it. In Malawi, the government engineered judges with generous awards of sugar distribution quotas.

In Nigeria, the revolutionary decision by the Supreme Court in January 2020 to award the governor’s office in Imo State to a man who had been well beaten to fourth position in the election conducted the previous year was trailed a fortnight earlier by a grubby “man of god” with a nose for predicting only what the politicians pay him to.

Last year, as Zimbabwe headed towards elections conducted earlier this year, President Emerson Mnangagwa, overcome with unparalleled generosity, doled out $400,000 to each of the country’s judges claiming that it was a housing loan in a country in which a luxury home cost about 20 per cent of that sum or less. By coincidence, Priscilla Chigumba, chairperson of the electoral commission, which was to supervise the vote, just happened to also be a judge. The outcome was foregone.

Around Africa, the encounter with elective government has cratered assumptions about judicial integrity and independence. As a result, few are prepared these days to credit judges with virtues associated with Caesar’s wife. In many cases, judges now openly cavort with politicians and are unashamed about serving the interests of ruling parties rather than holding them to account. The consequences can be brutal.

In April 2020, Mali’s Constitutional Court overturned the results of more than two dozen parliamentary seats won by the opposition. Its decision to hand these seats over to the ruling party sparked an uprising that led to the government’s overthrow. When the court was busy robbing the opposition of its seats, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) looked complicitly on. After the uprising had been consummated in a coup, they got their institutional knickers in a proverbial twist, protesting the travails of non-existent democracy.

Judges who refuse to be so readily engineered can suffer intimidation. In Malawi, former president Peter Mutharika launched an unprecedented attack on the judiciary after the Supreme Court upheld a Constitutional Court decision annulling his re-election and ordering a re-run after finding the election to have been massively rigged. 

In what appeared to be an act of political reprisal, the president, himself a former law professor of considerable experience, moved to oust Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and another senior justice, Edward Twea, by ordering them to take compulsory leave ending in retirement. Tens of thousands of Malawians, led by hundreds of lawyers, protested in support of the judges. On 14 June 2020, the High Court suspended the presidential order, staying the ouster of Nyirenda and Twea. The people of Malawi did the rest seeing off the forgettable tenure of Peter Mutharika in the re-run that ensued.

Some judges may even pay with their lives. Such was the tragic fate of Congolese judge Raphael Yanyi, who presided over the unprecedented corruption trial of Vital Kamerhe, the chief of staff to the president. On May 26, 2020, Judge Yanyi, who was supposed to be under close protection from a team of six specially-trained police officers, died suddenly. The police initially claimed that the judge died of a heart attack, “but an autopsy report revealed that he died from knife-like injuries to the head” or what the justice minister described as “the blows of sharp points or knife-like objects, which were thrust into his head.” Far from dying of natural causes, it was clear that Judge Yanyi had been murdered.

Wise judges work hard to avoid this fate with benefits. In the past, judicial greatness was calibrated in the currency of jurisprudence. Today, many of Nigeria’s senior judges prefer to measure their success in terms of propinquity to power and impunity by planting their children and intimates on the bench. That is the local currency of judicial engineering.

SOUTH AFRICA secured a hard-fought 12-11 victory over New Zealand last night to clinch a record fourth Rugby World Cup title in France.

Handre Pollard kicked four penalties to help the Springboks to the historic success against their bitter rivals at a rain-soaked Stade de France in Paris.

It was a nerve-wracking, edgy battle where defence ruled and the All Blacks lost captain Sam Cane to a first-half red card for a high tackle.

But South Africa prevailed to win a third successive knockout match in this tournament by a point and add to their titles in 1995, 2007 and 2019.

“The last three games have been quite tough, each one we have played has been a final and each one we have won by one point,” player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit said in his post-match interview.

“As a team we like drama. It has helped us through the last few years, it shows the resilience of this team.

“We are honoured to play for the whole of South Africa and the Springboks. When we go back home it will be a warm welcome for us.”

The game drew a number of high-profile stars from other sports, including tennis stars Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic among the 80,000 spectators, and South Africa captain Siya Kolisi described how much this triumph meant to his people back home.

“Honestly, people who are not from South Africa don’t understand what this means for our country,” he said.

“It’s not just about the game on the field. Our country goes through such a lot. We are the hope they have.”

[NaijaTimes]

Jude Bellingham’s stunning double snatched Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in his first La Liga Clasico on Saturday.

The England international, who has started his Madrid career in remarkable goalscoring form, unleashed a rocket into the top corner from distance after Ilkay Gundogan had sent hosts Barcelona ahead at the Olympic Stadium.

Bellingham then fired home a second in stoppage time to silence Barcelona fans and reach 10 goals in the top flight this season.

Barcelona hit the woodwork twice and had the better of the game but Bellingham, La Liga’s top goalscorer, is in unstoppable form and inevitably made his mark in his first Clasico.

Bellingham’s brace sent Madrid to the top of La Liga, ahead of Girona on goal difference, with both teams four points ahead of Barcelona in third.

The Catalans were boosted by the returns of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha from injury, with Xavi naming them on the bench, but Frenkie de Jong and Pedri did not recover in time.

His counterpart Carlo Ancelotti selected Ferland Mendy at left back over Eduardo Camavinga and Fran Garcia, once again deploying Bellingham in the number 10 role as he got his first taste of arguably the world’s biggest club football match.

However it was another midfielder playing for the first time in the Clasico who broke the deadlock — Barcelona’s summer arrival Gundogan.

The former Manchester City man was sharpest when Aurelien Tchouameni intercepted Ferran Torres’ pass, diverting it back into his own area.

Centre-back David Alaba tried to clear but was thoroughly unconvincing and Gundogan read his intentions, hopped onto the ball and swept past Kepa Arrizabalaga in the sixth minute.

– Post denies Barca –

Fermin Lopez, one of the emerging young Barcelona La Masia academy products who has broken into the first team, slapped a shot against the post after the intense Gavi pressed high to win the ball back.

Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger hammered wide from nearly 40 yards out as Madrid were held off by the hosts, with winger Vinicius Junior getting into tangles with Gavi and Ronald Araujo, deployed at right-back to try and shackle him.

Gavi, Gundogan and Lopez controlled the midfield, with Joao Cancelo’s more advanced position allowing Barcelona additional defensive security.

Barcelona struck the woodwork again when Inigo Martinez headed Lopez’s inch-perfect cross against the post early in the second half, with Arrizabalaga thwarting Araujo on the follow-up.

Madrid were reduced to long-range efforts but eventually one ripped into the net to level the score, with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved a Tchouameni piledriver but he could not keep out Bellingham’s blast, pulling Madrid level in a game they had struggled to find a foothold in.

With the game heading towards an unsatisfying draw for both sides, Bellingham intervened decisively — in the right place at the right time to shoot through Ter Stegen’s legs after Luka Modric diverted Dani Carvajal’s cross into his path.

[OpinionNigeria]

The Israeli military appears to have begun an invasion of Gaza without announcing it, sending troops into the enclave in what appears to be its longest and most ambitious ground incursion since Hamas carried out cross-border attacks on October 7, New York Times reports.

Troops advanced into the northern part of the enclave on Friday evening, accompanied by a massive aerial and artillery bombardment and remained there on Saturday evening, according to military officials.

However, the military has not publicly described the operation as an invasion. But its army posted videos showing Israeli forces targeting Hamas anti-tank positions.

“Starting early last night, the Israeli military, led by combined combat teams of armoured, engineering and infantry forces, is operating on the ground in the northern Gaza Strip,” the post stated.

The announcement came more than 24 hours after entering the Palestinian territory as the military expanded its war on Hamas.

As Israel presses a ground operation and continues to bombard Gaza, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has warned that there is the potential for thousands more civilians to die.

“Given the manner in which military operations have been conducted until now, in the context of the 56-year-old occupation, I am raising the alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die,” he stated.

Saudi, Oman condemn invasion On its part, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning Israeli ground operations that threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians.

“The Kingdom warns of the danger of continuing to carry out these blatant and unjustified violations of international law against our brotherly Palestinians,” the statement noted after Israel announced expanded military operations in Gaza.

Oman has also voiced concern over the full Israeli incursion into Gaza, cautioning that it will have a ‘catastrophic consequences.’

Its foreign ministry warned that an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza would have “serious catastrophic consequences on the region and the world, and the prospects of achieving peace and stability.”

He called on the international community to immediately intervene to stop the Israel-Palestine war and to speed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

The ministry added that Israel’s siege and bombardment of Gaza amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Int’l media, aid agencies lose contact with staff

Gazan internet connections and phone lines were down and the cutoff of most communications made it difficult to assess the extent of the military action.  Hamas’s armed wing confirmed on Friday night and Saturday afternoon that its forces were fighting with Israeli soldiers inside Gaza.

Palestinian telecommunication networks blamed Israel’s bombardment for the wide-scale blackout, which left most people in Gaza unreachable by phone.

The blackout sparked fear and panic, according to residents who were able to reach the outside world as people struggled to get information or check on family and friends.

“The explosions were happening to our left, to our right – from all directions,” said Helmi Mousa, a Gaza City resident, who was able to use his cellphone, possibly because he had a foreign SIM card. “The anxiety has been devastating ever since the communications went black,” he added.

Following a widespread communication blackout in Gaza and a night of intensive bombing, UN chief, Antonio Guterres, said the ongoing situation “must be reversed” and repeated his calls for a ceasefire. He added that he was extremely concerned about UN staff in Gaza given the Israeli military’s blockade of communications, and that he was surprised by Israel’s unprecedented escalation of its bombardments in Gaza.

The UN chief added that he was encouraged by a growing international consensus for a humanitarian pause in the strip, where thousands of people have already been killed since October 7.

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on X that the blackout was “making it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured,” and international aid agencies said they had lost contact with their staff there.

A spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry said on Al Jazeera that Israeli strikes had killed nearly 400 Palestinians in the past several hours, raising its death toll in the Strip to over 7,700.

Previously, its updates came every few hours to their social media channels, but they have been silent since phone and internet connections were cut off.

Juliette Touma, the director of communication of UNRWA, said the blackout in Gaza had complicated an already difficult humanitarian operation for the UN agency.

“Today, we have only one line of communication with our director, who continues to be in southern Gaza, in Rafah. We have just been able to establish some communication with five of our area officers spread across the Gaza Strip. They are using satellite phones to communicate. But it is patchy and not always reliable.

“We received reports that the bombardments last night were believed to be some of the heaviest since the war started three weeks ago. We have already lost 53 of our colleagues in Gaza,” she told Al Jazeera, adding that it is highly likely that UNRWA could have lost more colleagues during the bombardments last night.

Touma stressed that right now, it is really important for the world to remember that across the Gaza Strip there are about 2.3million people who are very kind.

A Qatar broadcaster, Al Jazeera, said its correspondents in the Gaza Strip were able to provide sporadic updates via satellite but direct communication is often hampered due to the near-total communications blackout in the bombarded enclave.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent, in Khan Younis saïd the blackout had sent people into a devastating emotional state as some have family members in the northern part of Gaza; and are not able to get hold of them up to this moment.

“I also have family members at a hospital in Gaza, who are taking care of a patient but have not been able to reach them.

“The situation in the hospitals is still very difficult. One truck brought medical supplies to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis but that was just a drop in the ocean as the needs here are massive.

“Meanwhile, the hospital is keeping its gates open for people if they want to evacuate. It has been forced, however, to shut down major departments as it has only one power generator working due to the lack of fuel,” he added.

The United Arab Emirates asked the UN Security Council on Saturday to meet “as soon as possible” following Israel’s communication blackout across Gaza and its expanded ground operation.

The 15-member council could meet as early as Sunday, diplomats said, and the UAE has asked for UN aid chief Martin Griffiths and Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the UN agency providing aid to Palestinians, to brief, Reuters reports.

Nigeria, clerics urge end to killings

Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria is reiterating its call for a quick de-escalation of hostilities by Israel against Palestine and a return to the negotiating table to continue the search for peaceful resolutions.

It also called for the implementation of the two-state solution as a permanent settlement of the inter-generational cycle of violence.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar, made the call in a statement he personally signed on Saturday.

The Nigerian government also called for an immediate durable and sustained humanitarian truce between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza and asked for the opening of a humanitarian corridor.

While noting that the situation in Gaza is dire and requires immediate attention as a result of the recent uptick in violence, he said women, children and other vulnerable groups were among innocent civilians who have suffered greatly as a result of the indiscriminate violence and are currently bearing the consequences.

Similarly, Nigerian Muslims and Christian clerics have jointly appealed to the international community to halt the killing of civilians in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes.

The clerics also expressed their concern about the number of civilian casualties in Gaza, which includes both Muslims and Christians.

This call for action was made during an interactive session with the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh, organised by a Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Shaikh Ahmad Gumi.

Speaking at the forum, Pastor Yohanna Buru pleaded with religious leaders in Nigeria to understand the Palestine-Israel conflict to avoid speaking out of ignorance. He emphasized the existence of different interpretations and misinformation about the conflict that has led some individuals to overlook the atrocities being committed against the people in Gaza.

In his remarks, Nafiu Baba Ahmed, secretary to the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, noted that many Nigerian Christians did not fully understand the situation in Israel due to Western media propaganda.

[DailyTrust]