“IPOB and ESN will not enforce the sit-at-home but Biafrans must not endanger their lives. For your safety, please sit at home on Thursday, May 30, 2024, and honour Biafran heroes and heroines. Do not endanger your lives,” the statement added.
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Geely secures $400m to accelerate green transformation
Geely Automobile Holdings has become the first Chinese automaker to secure an overseas sustainable club loan.
Information obtained by journalists during the week explained that the three-year $400 million facility will be used to support Geely Auto’s R&D of technologies and production of vehicles in the new energy segment, enabling the company to achieve its carbon neutrality goal by 2045.
The oversubscribed club loan — in which multiple lenders collaborate with the borrower on financing sustainable initiatives — had HSBC as the Sole Global Coordinator and Joint Sustainability Structuring Bank as well as participation by six other global banks, namely BOC Hong Kong, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, Nanyang Commercial Bank, Standard Charter and ANZ Bank. The oversubscription for the club loan reflects lenders’ confidence in Geely Auto’s growth prospects as well as the company’s strong capital markets appeal.
The loan agreement follows the launch by Geely Auto in May 2022 of its “Sustainable Finance Framework,” outlining the company’s future issuance of green and sustainable development bonds and loans. The issuance of the US$400 million sustainable club loan is a milestone achievement under this framework. The loan showcases the innovation and expansion of the company’s financing channels, pioneering a new way forward in the financing of green projects.
The diversification of financing will further improve the company’s financial efficiency, reduce debt financing costs, and provide strong financial support for Geely Auto’s development as it continues to expand in the new energy vehicle market.
Geely Auto aims to integrate sustainable development into its corporate governance. The company has set a goal to achieve a 25% reduction in whole vehicle lifecycle carbon emissions by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2045. To achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, carbon emissions reduction plans have been formulated for the supply, manufacturing and end-user elements of Geely Auto’s operations. To date, Geely has revealed a diversified technological development route to achieve carbon neutrality which includes pure electric EVs, hybrid powertrains, green methanol fuel power, and battery swapping.
This year, the company has released several new energy models including efficient hybrids (Xingyue L, Emgrand L Hi-P, Lynk & Co 01 EM-F, Lynk & Co 01 EM-P), pure EV (Geometry E, Geometry G6, Geometry M6, Zeekr 001ME), and methanol hybrids (Emgrand Methanol Hybrid). The introduction of new models has already had a positive impact on the company’s performance with new energy vehicle sales. From January to July 2022, Geely Auto’s new energy vehicle sales exceeded 140,000 units and in July, new energy vehicles by the company accounted for a record high 26.1% of all sales.
Geely Auto regards sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions as important strategic goals in its corporate development. The company’s ESG performance has been recognized by many around the world. To date, Geely Auto has been selected as a constituent of the “Hang Seng ESG 50 Index,” “Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index,” and the “FTSE Social Responsibility Index.”
Geely Auto will continue to focus on the electric and intelligent transformation in the automotive industry, cooperate with global partners to improve its sustainable competitiveness and contribute to global sustainability.
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IPOB declares May 30 sit-at-home in South-East to honour Biafran soldiers
The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.
The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.
This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.
Powerful cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.
The statement read, “We the global family of IPOB declare Thursday, May 30, 2024, a sit-at-home day in Biafra land for all Biafrans, friends of Biafra, lovers of freedom, and all residents in Biafra Land.
“Annually, we celebrate May 30 as our heroes and heroines day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the war against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.
“To honour our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one-day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today. Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit at home on this day and reflect on the danger of the forced unity called Nigeria that has taken millions of lives of Biafrans.
“Other Biafrans outside Biafra territory are also encouraged to honour our heroes by observing the sit-at-home if possible or by limiting their activities on this day.”
According to the group, all schools, government offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals should shut down all operations in honour of our it’s heroes and heroines.
They added that exceptions to these directives are institutions and individuals on special duties such as nurses, doctors, ambulance services, hospitals, and medical workers who are allowed to operate on that day.
“We call on Christians and traditional worshipers to use this day to pray to Chukwu Okike Abiama for the fallen heroes and also pray for Biafra Independence from this murderous contraption called Nigeria.
“Heroes Remembrance Day is a call to duty for Biafrans to remember and honour our fallen heroes who were brutally murdered between 1967 to 1970 during the genocidal war against Ndigbo before and beyond. Biafrans living in the Northern and Western parts of the zoo called, Nigeria will join and stay indoors for this commemoration and remembrance of our heroes and heroines who died so that we may live.
“At this special event, IPOB members must light candles in remembrance of our fallen heroes. Heroes like our eternal leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Retired General Phillip Efiong, Col. Achuzie (Air Raid), Frank Opigo, Okonkon Dem, Sam Mbakwe, Akanu Ibiam, and many others who contributed immensely to the survival of Biafrans from the extermination war led by Nigeria military.
IPOB in the statement directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.
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Lagos disburses N1.3bn to 11,386 households – Commissioner
Lagos State government has disbursed over N1,346,030,000.00 to 11,386 households through its bi-monthly Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said this at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing on Thursday at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
“We have 12 local governments that have benefitted from this programme and they are Apapa, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Agege, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Ifako-Ijaye and Alimosho.
“The implementation of the CCT programme has contributed to the improved livelihood of beneficiaries through savings group mobilisation activities.
“Also the unit implemented the NG cares programme where transfer of N343,200,000 million was made to 2,145 beneficiaries in Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Mainland, Iru, Victoria Island, Agboyi -Ketu, Ikosi Isheri and Yaba,” he said.
Ajigbotafe reiterated the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to wealth creation and employment for residents of the state.
“Under the visionary leadership of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, no stone is left unturned. Come July we’ll inaugurate our leather hub at Matori Mushin, a N4 billion leather industry in Lagos.
“We got our machine and equipment from Italy. This will create more employment for the good people of our dear state,” he said.
He also said Lagos State was particular about the growth and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with the initiative to assist start-ups, artisans and entrepreneurs in the state.
“The MSME loan programme in 2023 disbursed N859 million to 1,271 MSMEs in the state.
“Also Lagos Care supported 1,425 MSMEs with grants worth N358 million across the three disbursement linked indicators, which are credit, operation and IT enhancement,” he said.
Lagos Care is a World Bank sponsored intervention designed to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
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