Extreme heat has caused several deaths across the states in Victoria on Friday, January 19 2018, emergency services said, as five of the eight states and territories sweltered above 40 degrees Celsius.

Since Thursday, emergency workers responded to more than 30 cardiac arrest calls, a significant spike, and several of them had died, Ambulance Victoria’s state commander, Paul Holman, said.

“That will be due to the heat. The vulnerable in our community die as a result of this heat. Heat kills,” he said.

He did not say give an exact number of fatalities.

Police rescued four children from locked vehicles, including a 15-month-old baby, who was taken to a hospital due to heat distress.

Firefighters also had to battle about 10 fires across the state, but no communities were threatened.

Local newspaper The Age reported several Melbourne city hospitals enacted a “Code Yellow” and switched off all non-essential lights and equipment to conserve energy amid searing heat on Friday that topped 42 degrees Celsius, the hottest day for the past two years.

At the ongoing Australian Open tennis, several players suffered heat stress, including Frenchwoman, Alize Cornet, who needed medical attention in her third-round encounter with Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

In neighbouring South Australia, hospitals treated more than 50 people for heat-related illnesses, as temperatures soared above 46 degrees Celsius – the state’s third day of extreme heat.

No deaths were reported.

Organisers were forced to cancel a local cycling championship called Bupa Challenge involving thousands of non-professional cyclists.

The Network of Nigeria Civil Society Organisations said on Thursday, January 18, 2018 that it was in support of the Federal Government’s move to establish cattle colonies across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Network is a coalition of civil society groups.

Mr Slendour Agbonkpolor, the Director-General of the organisation, told newsmen in Abuja that he was disturbed over recent attacks on the Federal Government over its proposal to establish cattle colonies in the country.

According to the Federal Government, the proposed establishment of colonies will put an end to the herdsmen/farmers clashes in Nigeria.

Agbonkpolor said that the need to modernise cattle rearing had become more pressing, following perennial and persistent clashes across the nation.

He urged Nigerians to look beyond the ethnic, religious and politicisation of the issue and embrace it as it would benefit Nigeria.

“Nigeria will gain a lot from these cattle colonies because it will lead to more milk, more meat and the fact that Nigeria alone can feed the world with the protein demands.

“This can also create more than six million jobs for Nigerian youths.

“The organisation decided to chart the way forward with a nationwide forum that will reach out to all the wards across the 774 local government areas.

“This is to bring together stakeholders to discuss the economic benefits that abound in the cattle colonies initiative,” he said.

Agbonkpolor said that state to state town hall meetings would also be adopted by the organisation to sensitise the citizenry on the benefits of  cattle colonies and provoke deliberations and risk management opinions.

He said that the group would also establish orientation centres designed to train volunteers and equip them for massive sensitisation.

According to him, the group is a collaborative platform for all stakeholders aimed at fostering institutional mechanisms and concerted efforts that will deliver on strategic programmes .

Also speaking, Mr Dominic Ogakwu, the group’s Public Relations Officer, urged Nigerians to support the government’s cattle colonies initiative to curb incessant herdsmen attacks.

Ogakwu said that it was not every government initiative that should be politicised, adding that Nigerians should not bring religion or ethnicity into  the cattle colonies.

“We are tired of the crisis and if the cattle colonies will mark an end to herdsmen attacks, then I think we need to embrace it.

“This is because we are tired of the killings across the nation, so we are supporting the colonies at least it will stop the crisis,” he said.

By Angela Atabo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, January 18, 2018 inaugurated the Country Office of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and hailed the bank’s $6 billion portfolio in Nigeria which he said enhanced job creation.

Osinbajo said he was particularly delighted that the bank was working closely with the administration in addressing the challenges caused the people emerging from insurgency in the North East and militancy in the Niger Delta.

According to him, the bank’s portfolio was spread across 73 projects across the country.

“The bank’s inclusive basic delivery and livelihood empowerment integrated programme aimed at addressing the challenges in the North East in particular is commendable.

“The project will support youth, women and IDPs who have returned to their communities.

“An estimated population of more than 10 million affected people are expected to directly benefit from this project.

“More specifically, I thank the President and Board of the AFDB for their support to Nigeria at a very difficult time, during the 2015/2016 economic recession.

“When we requested support from the bank, the response was swift; the Bank approved the budget support loan of $1billion in Nov. 2016.

“The first tranche of $600 million has been fully disbursed and utilised and in my discussions with the President of the bank we will be getting the remainder in form of sector loans.

“So we are looking forward to the remaining $400 million.’’

According to the Vice President, the approval by AfDB sent a much needed positive signal to the markets at a critical time for Nigeria and the country will remain grateful.

Osinbajo said that as the people celebrated the inauguration of the banks world class edifice he would reiterate the commitment of the Buhari administration to the bank’s strategy in Nigeria.

It is the first time the bank has built a building outside it’s head offices structure in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

He said the strategy fully aligned with the country’s economic and growth plan of 2018 to 2020.

The Vice President congratulated the management, board of AfDB and their staff members for making the completion of the office a reality.

He said that the building was an important symbol of the special relationship between the bank and Nigeria, its founding member and its largest shareholder since inception.

He said that, since 1971, the Nigeria country office had served as the convening point between the bank, federal government, state governments and the private sector, adding that Nigeria had been instrumental to AfDB’s growth.

“As a major shareholder, a donor and a borrower at the same time we have through the years shared the bank’s  vision and objectives,’’ he stated.

Osinbajo recalled that since its founding in 1964, the AfDB had evolved as one of the most efficient vehicles for the economic development and integration of the continent.

He observed that it had faithfully played its role as a trusted adviser and an honest broker in the region and had earned its place as Africa’s voice on development issues.

“As the continent’s premier financial institution, it is at the centre of Africa’s transformation to bring real and lasting progress to the lives of African people.

“While Africa has made significant strides in economic growth and in poverty reduction, much remains to be done.

“The goal is clear: to eradicate poverty, create more inclusive social economic development and integrate the continent.

“To do this the continent needs to promote growth that creates jobs and provides economic opportunities for all.’’
Osinbajo recalled that when the bank’s President , Akinwumi Adesina, assumed office, he introduced the “High-Fives” by investing more in infrastructure as agriculture, water, power, education and healthcare and increased access to affordable energy.

The Vice President commended the AfDB for its efforts to close the gender gaps, empower women and youth and also to strengthen and expand social safety nets for the vulnerable populations.

He gave the assurance that, with its large population, the country would continue to play active role in the bank’s efforts in regional integration and the entire continent.

He said the country would be strong and committed partner which it already demonstrated by supporting the establishment of the $500 million Nigeria trust fund in 1976.

According to him, the trust fund had helped to transform the economies and improved the standards of millions of people in other African countries.

By Donald Ugwu