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House of Reps Endorses Okonjo-Iweala for WTO Job
By Adedapo Adesanya
**Urges Egypt, Kenya to Drop Candidates
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution, giving their support to former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as she aims for the post of Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO) next month.
The motion to back the former finance minister and one-time Managing Director of the World Bank was moved by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr Ndudi Godwin Elumelu (People’s Democratic Party – Delta State).
In his motion titled In Support for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), he stated that it was only right for Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to get the legislature’s backing after she had been formally nominated by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to “vie for the position of the Director-General of the WTO for the period of 2021 – 2025 and if successful will be the first female and first African to have occupied the office”.
He said, “President Buhari having put into consideration her outstanding academic and professional background, as well as, her long years of managerial experience at the top echelons of multilateral institutions, her reputation as a fearless reformer and excellent negotiator graciously endorsed her as the nation’s candidate for the WTO job”.
According to him, “With the COVID-19 pandemic at hand and many countries faced with difficult choices and critical moments, the WTO has a vital role to play in hunting for trade solutions and building trust amongst member states.
“Hence the need for a capable hand that can make the WTO fit to thrive in the 21st century, there is no gainsay that Dr Ngozi Okonjo-lweala has the requisite capacity and experience to handle the challenges of WTO at this critical moment”.
He said it was, “The perfect time for Africa to assume leadership at the WTO and all concerned stakeholders, must unanimously commit to achieving this”.
He then expressed concerns that apart from Mrs Okonjo-lweala, Africa has two other candidates from Egypt and Kenya also in the race for the plum job.
He said that with three candidates from Africa, the continent’s votes will be split, a move he said can cripple the prospect of a United African front for the WTO position.
He called on the House to urgently reach out to the governments of Egypt and Kenya on the need to rally round a single candidate for the continent in the person of Mrs Okonjo-lweala.
He recalled that, “In the past, Nigeria has staunchly supported the candidatures of other Africans to the leadership position at multilaterals, including the candidacy of late Boutros Boutros Ghali, an Egyptian national, to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” adding that, “A good turn deserves another and we must now unite the African continent and ensure cooperation amongst our countries to put the continent first”.
According to him, “Having a Nigerian as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, will further enhance the image of the country amongst the comity of Nations, hence the need to massively support this bid”.
The motion found support from the Speaker of the lower chamber, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, as the House resolved to unanimously endorse the candidature of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala for the position.
They commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s Authority of heads of states and governments for their strong endorsement and urge the President to further rally other African leaders to support her bid as the Director-General of WTO.
The lower legislative arm of government also urged the pan African parliament to follow suit, as it also urged the federal government to discuss with the governments of Egypt and Kenya to step down their candidates in the spirit of African oneness and reciprocity.
General
How Airports Can Reduce Ground Emissions Before Full Infrastructure Upgrades
Airport sustainability is no longer a separate environmental project. It is becoming part of daily operational planning, procurement, infrastructure development, and airline partnership discussions. For many airports, the main pressure is to reduce emissions on the ground, improve airside efficiency, and prepare for stricter environmental expectations, while continuing to support aircraft reliably every day.
The challenge is that infrastructure does not change overnight.
Full electrification remains an important direction for aviation ground operations. Fixed 400 Hz power, electric ground support equipment, charging infrastructure, energy management systems, and cleaner stand concepts are all part of the future airport. But in practical terms, many airports are still working through phased investment plans. Grid capacity may be limited. Charging points may not yet cover all operational areas. Remote stands, maintenance zones, cargo aprons, and temporary operating areas may still depend on mobile equipment.
This is where the sustainability conversation needs to become more realistic.
Airports do not have to wait for a complete infrastructure transformation before reducing emissions. There are practical steps that can be taken now, especially in aircraft ground power. The key is to look at emissions reduction as a staged process, not a single final destination.
One of the first areas to assess is the age and efficiency of existing diesel ground power units. In many operations, older GPUs continue to provide essential support because they are mobile, familiar, and independent from fixed power systems. But older diesel platforms may no longer fit the expectations of modern airport sustainability strategies. They can become harder to justify in procurement discussions, environmental reporting, and long-term fleet planning.
Replacing outdated diesel equipment with lower-emission alternatives can be a meaningful step. A modern diesel GPU with Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine technology, for example, can help operators reduce the environmental impact of ground power while keeping the operational independence that many stands and service areas still require. This does not replace the need for electrification. It helps bridge the gap while infrastructure continues to develop.
That bridge matters because airside operations are rarely uniform.
A major hub may have fixed power at many contact stands, but still rely on mobile GPUs for remote aircraft positions, maintenance activities, irregular operations, or construction phases. A regional airport may not yet have the capital or grid capacity for large-scale electrification. An MRO facility may need mobile power that can move between aircraft, hangars, and outdoor working areas. A ground handler may need equipment that supports mixed aircraft types under high turnaround pressure.
For these environments, sustainability must work in real conditions. A solution that looks good in a strategy document but does not support the daily operating model will not last.
Decision-makers should therefore evaluate aircraft ground power through several practical questions. Where is fixed power available today? Where is it planned next? Which stands still require mobile equipment? How many hours do diesel GPUs operate per day? Which aircraft types are supported? Are units oversized, outdated, or difficult to position? Is the equipment aligned with current emissions standards? Can it support cleaner operation where grid power is available?
These questions often reveal that the best path is not a single equipment choice, but a balanced fleet strategy.
Fixed power should be used where infrastructure is mature and operationally reliable. Battery-powered equipment can be introduced where duty cycles, charging plans, and climate conditions are suitable. Lower-emission diesel and plug-in hybrid ground power units can support areas where independence, runtime, and flexibility remain critical. Together, these solutions allow airports to reduce emissions without weakening operational resilience.
Plug-in hybrid utility power functionality is especially relevant in this transition phase. When external utility power is available, the unit can operate with reduced fuel use. When it is not available, the same equipment can continue supporting aircraft independently. This gives airports and operators more flexibility as infrastructure develops stand by stand, rather than forcing a complete change before the airside environment is ready.
Compact design also plays a role in sustainable operations. Airports often focus on emissions, but space efficiency is part of the same discussion. Crowded aprons create movement challenges, increase operational friction, and affect safety. A compact mobile GPU that provides the required output without adding unnecessary equipment bulk can support cleaner, more organized, and more efficient aircraft servicing.
This is why modern ground power procurement should not be based only on output figures. Power rating matters, but so do emissions performance, footprint, maneuverability, serviceability, spare parts strategy, operating environment, and fit with future infrastructure plans. Airports need equipment that can serve today’s operation while remaining relevant as sustainability expectations continue to rise.
For a deeper look at how this transition applies to aircraft ground power, ElectroAir has outlined its view on lower-emission ground power and the practical role of modern mobile GPUs in supporting airport sustainability before full electrification is possible. The company’s ElectroAir APA-100 is one example of this approach, combining compact mobile design, Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine technology, and optional plug-in hybrid utility power for operators that need both reliability and a more future-conscious path.
The next stage of airport sustainability will be built through practical progress. Some changes will come from major infrastructure investment. Others will come from better equipment decisions, smarter fleet planning, and the replacement of outdated assets with more efficient alternatives.
For airports, the priority is not to choose between today’s operation and tomorrow’s goals. The priority is to connect them. Ground power is one of the places where that connection can already begin.
General
PFIPC Probe: ICPC Recommends Adeyemi’s Prosecution
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has submitted an interim report to President Bola Tinubu on its investigation into the alleged fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), recommending the prosecution of its alleged Director-General, Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi.
ICPC’s Chairman, Mr Musa Aliyu, disclosed this after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, exactly 30 days after his agency was directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the PFIPC.
According to Mr Aliyu, preliminary findings revealed that the federal government never appointed Adeyemi and that the purported appointment letter, gazette and other documents used to establish the agency were forged.
The case centres on an alleged corruption and forgery scandal involving the disputed government entity, PFIPC, which was not approved.
Speaking at the State House, Mr Aliyu said the commission’s investigation established that Mr Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the documents used to legitimise the agency were forged.
The ICPC boss said the investigation also revealed significant weaknesses in government verification and oversight processes, which were exploited to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate government agency.
“Our interim report found that there are weaknesses in verification, inter-agency oversight and government processes. We discovered that those weaknesses were exploited by Adeniyi, with some level of negligence.
“Our investigation found that no Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC,” the ICPC chairman stated.
According to him, investigators also uncovered two additional agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (PIPA-PPP).
Mr Aliyu said the disputed DG “used forged legislative instruments styled as enabling acts, and used them to support opening of bank accounts.”
The ICPC chairman said the commission recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution, administrative sanctions against public officers whose negligence enabled the operation of the fake agency, and institutional reforms to strengthen internal controls across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“Our recommendation is that Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi should be prosecuted. Administrative sanctions should also be imposed on public officers whose acts of omission and negligence facilitated the illegal operation of PFIPC/PEAC.
“There is also a need for institutional reforms so that the internal controls of MDAs can be strengthened to prevent this kind of illegal activity,” he stated.
The chief investigator noted that the report submitted to the President is only an interim one, adding that investigations are continuing to identify other collaborators and build a stronger criminal case.
“We have continued with the investigation of the activities of Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi and his collaborators so that we can unravel more facts and file criminal charges that can stand the test of time before a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
The PFIPC scandal came to light after the Presidency disowned the council, describing it as a non-existent government agency despite its appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a N1.3 billion budget allocation.
The federal government has since filed criminal charges against Mr Adeyemi over allegations including forgery, impersonation and fraudulent misrepresentation, while separate investigations by the House of Representatives and the ICPC continue into how the fake agency operated within government institutions.
General
Work-From-Home Parents: Practical Ways to Manage Focus and Infant Care
Remote work has expanded opportunities for many households, but it has also blurred the boundary between professional focus and caregiving. Parents juggling calls, deadlines, and newborn needs often look for supervised soothing tools that create short, predictable windows of calm. A well-chosen baby swing chair can help during those windows—especially when used safely, briefly, and as a complement to responsive holding rather than a replacement for it.
This article outlines practical routines for work-from-home families, safety basics for infant seating, and how to protect both productivity and parental wellbeing.
Design Work Blocks Around Real Baby Rhythms
Instead of forcing an office-style schedule, map your day to wake windows and feeds. Place deep-focus tasks in the most reliable calm periods. Keep shallow tasks for unpredictable stretches. A short supervised swing session after a feed and cuddle can sometimes create ten to twenty minutes for email triage or meeting prep.
Safety First With Any Soothing Seat
- Use only for awake, supervised time.
- Follow age and weight limits precisely.
- Secure harnesses every session.
- If your baby falls asleep, move them to a firm, flat sleep surface when practical.
- Keep the area clear of cords and soft clutter.
Choose Features That Support Real Homes
Look for smooth motion, easy cleaning, stable bases, and settings you can adjust as preferences change. Product options such as the Momcozy CocoSway 3D-Motion Electric Baby Swing are often discussed for multidirectional motion that resembles parental swaying, but the best choice is still the one that matches your baby’s cues and your home layout.
Protect Caregiver Bandwidth
Tag-team with a partner when possible. Batch chores. Use noise-canceling headphones carefully so you can still monitor your baby. Remember that needing tools does not mean you are less attentive—it means you are designing a sustainable system.
FAQ
Can a swing replace holding during work hours?
No. Holding and responsive care remain essential. A swing is a short, supervised helper.
How long should sessions last?
Keep sessions brief and watch comfort cues. Follow product guidance and stay nearby.
Conclusion
Work-from-home parenting works best with flexible blocks, clear safety habits, and realistic expectations. Used thoughtfully, a baby swing chair can support calm transitions while you protect both focus and connection.
Over weeks, refine what works: preferred motion speed, best meeting times, and shared rules with partners or helpers. Revisit the setup after growth spurts and schedule changes. The goal is not perfect productivity; it is a home rhythm where infant comfort and caregiver capacity can coexist. Keep notes, stay flexible, and treat equipment as support rather than a scorecard. When plans slip—as they will—return to fundamentals: feed, comfort, closeness, then supervised motion if needed. That sequence keeps both work and care more humane. Communicate boundaries with colleagues when possible, and protect recovery time after demanding days. Small systems compound: a consistent afternoon reset, a clear harness checklist, and a shared calendar of feeds can reduce friction more than any single gadget. In the end, sustainable remote parenting is less about doing everything and more about designing a few reliable loops that leave room for love, rest, and enough professional progress to keep life moving forward.



