NEWS
UNGA78: Orelope-Adefulire, World Leaders Urge Acceleration Of SDGs Through INFFs
Several leaders and experts from around the world, including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SSAP-SDGs Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, have called for increased investments and alignments of resources from public, private, domestic, and other sources to accelerate progress on the delivery of the 2030 Agenda.
Biztellers reports that Princess Orelope-Adefulire made the call at a high-level event held at the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York tagged, “Accelerating SDGs Progress Through National Financing Strategies and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).”
It was gathered that the event was put together by the governments of Nigeria and Indonesia, in collaboration with key partners including the INFF Facility, UNDP, UNDESA, UNICEF, and the International Budget Partnership (IBP) with the aim of shedding light on the critical role of national financing strategies and INFFs in achieving SDGs.
It also provided a platform for countries to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions related to financing strategies, furthering the global conversation on how INFFs and national financing strategies can drive progress towards the SDGs in the second half of the timeline for achievement of the goals.
In her speech at the event, Princess Orelope-Adefulire acknowledged the transformative potential of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment of development partners, particularly the United Nations, in advancing this global agenda.
She noted that Nigeria, in alignment with its national development priorities, has integrated the SDGs into key policy documents, including the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the Economic Sustainability Plan, the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, and the National Development Plan.
On Nigeria’s pioneering role, Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted that the country made history with the launch of her INFF Report at the UNGA last year.
She emphasised that the INFF serves as a vital planning tool to enhance sustainable development financing at the national levels, in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
The SSA reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging the INFF framework, especially in light of global fiscal challenges.
According to Princess Orelope-Adefulire Nigeria intends to prioritise investments with multiplier effects on all the SDGs and to strengthen partnerships with the United Nations Development system, the private sector, and non-state actors with the aim of fostering a collaborative “whole of society” approach to implementing the INFF Roadmap in Nigeria.
On her part, Deputy Executive Director of Partnerships, UNICEF, Kitty van der Heijden, noted that the INFF was significant as an instrument for prioritising expenditures in favour of social and environmental sectors in an inclusive way.
She particularly lauded Nigeria’s efforts in exploring the possibility of aligning the national and sub-national budget allocations with the SDGs.
Kitty van der Heijden further stated that to deliver on the SDGs, countries need a strategic mix of public and private capital, in addition to the call by the UN Secretary-General for SDG stimulus, more ODA spending, more development lending, and more contingency finance at the same time.
Her position was re-echoed by Under Secretary-General and Associate Administrator, UNDP, Haoliang Xu, who added that the effort by Nigeria is a worthy example for other UN member-states to adopt.
A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi yencountered a “hard landing” on Sunday.
According to report, the incident took place near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
However, details regarding the incident were not disclosed.
The Associated Press noted uncertainty regarding whether bh Raisi was onboard the helicopter during the incident.
Despite rescue efforts, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hindered access to the site, according to state TV.
Before the helicopter incident, President Ebrahim Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
This dam marks the third joint construction project between the two nations on the Aras River.
Despite Iran’s diverse helicopter fleet, obtaining parts is hindered by international sanctions, with much of its military air fleet dating back to pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.
Raisi, aged 63, is known for his hard-line stance and previously served as the country’s judiciary leader.
Considered a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts speculate that Raisi could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the event of his resignation or demise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.
According to him, the plot, involving both foreigners and Congolese citizens, unfolded in the early hours outside the residence of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Gombe district, close to the president’s offices at the Palais de la Nation.
General Sylvain Ekenge announced on national television that the defence and security forces had successfully thwarted the coup attempt.
He said “An attempted coup d’etat has been stopped by the defence and security forces. The foreigners and Congolese…including their leader” would “all no longer cause any harm”.
Shots were heard near the Palais de la Nation during the attempted coup, as confirmed by various sources.
General Ekenge didn’t elaborate further on the incident, and AFP’s attempts to get additional information from official sources remain unanswered.
However by late morning, the city appeared calm.
Early social media reports suggested an armed attack on Kamerhe’s residence, with some assailants heading towards the Palais de la Nation.
“This morning, there was an armed attack at the residence of the economy minister,” wrote Japan’s ambassador Hidetoshi Ogawa on X.
He stated that Kamerhe “was not harmed, but two policemen and an assailant were killed according to sources.”
France’s ambassador reported hearing automatic weapons fire in the area and advised French nationals to steer clear of the location.
Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals in military attire at the Palais de la Nation, waving flags of Zaire, the former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the regime of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was ousted in 1997.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed all transition committee chairmen in the state’s 21 local government areas.
This decision was detailed in a letter titled “Expiration of Tenure and Handover to Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),” dated May 17, 2024, and signed by Collins Nwabunwanne, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs.
According to the letter, the directive will be effective starting Monday, May 20, 2024.
The letter read, “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to handover the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), in your respective Local Government Councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”
Lagos Pastor Suspends Offering Collection
JUST IN: Iranian President’s Helicopter Crashes In Azerbaijan
Shots Heard As DR Congo Military Thwarts Alleged Coup
Gov Soludo Dismisses All 21 Anambra Transition Committee Heads
Usyk Defeats Fury To Become Undisputed Champion
NCDMB’s Exec Sec, Ogbe Bags NSE’s Fellowship
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
Adeosun: We are investing in infrastructure to grow the private sector
Shell launches Nigeria campaign on energy efficiency
