By Tolu Aiyegbusi

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr Adepoju Sunday as the new Postmaster General (PMG)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

This is contained in a statement signed by Uwa Suleiman, the spokesperson to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Suleiman said: The appointment followed the recommendations made by Pantami.

She said that Sunday was appointed for an initial term of five years.

The new appointeeis a professional accountant and a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo state.

The appointment of the new PMG of NIPOST is with immediate effect. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, has solicited support for the Armed Forces Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Centre of the Defense and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA).

Irabor made the call at the ground-breaking and foundation stone laying ceremony of the PTSD Centre at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment Giri Abuja on Tuesday.

He commended DEPOWA for the initiative considering the involvement of military personnel in protracted operations across the country and other parts of the world to restore peace and security.

According to him, men and women of the armed forces remain the first beneficiaries of the establishment of this centre, saying the project would also be of high value to all Nigerians.

Having realised that for us to perform optimally in the frontline, there has to be the awareness of safety for the women.

Let me as Chief of Defence Staff appeal to you, our wives. We may have had several times been irrational in our homes and may have experienced some signs of PTSD.

I want to say that your understanding by virtue of this project as to what perhaps may have led us to act the way we did in the past is something that we will stand ready to support you, knowing that you are partners and ensuring that we play our roles even in the front lines.

I want to crave the indulgence of all invitees and those who may be watching to do well to support the armed forces of Nigeria and the police and other security agencies in reversing the security challenges in this country.

It is in this light that I also want to appeal to you to make generous donations towards the establishment of this centre, he said.

Irabor reiterated the loyalty of members of the armed forces to President Buhari in his quest to bequite a Nigeria that is safe to all Nigerians at the end of his tenure.

The Vice President of Liberia, Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor, commended the armed forces of Nigeria for the stabilization role they had continued to play in Africa especially the West African sub-region.

Howard-Taylor said the establishment of PTSD for the armed forces was a giant step toward addressing the enduring challenges of in-service and retired military personnel who experienced trauma.

She commended DEPOWA for taking the lead in addressing the effects of isolation that often manifested not only by the members of the armed forces but also among members of their families.

The Liberian vice president urged the Nigerian government to support the initiative and continue to be a leading example to African countries and beyond.

She also urged other African countries to take a cue from the wives of the Nigerian military officers and provide a safe place for armed forces to get the care that they deserve.

Former President of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda, said the establishment of a PTSD centre in Nigeria was an eye opener for her, challenging the entire Africa to learn from Nigeria for setting such an example.

Banda said that the countries in Africa had been in denial and ignored the fact that there was no PTSD on the continent which according to her had many young people suffer in silence.

According to her, the time is up, Nigeria has set an example today to do something about their sons and daughters who sacrificed so much for our safety and good life.

She commended the women for taking the lead, adding that women had always taken the lead in development in the continent and across the globe.

On her part, Baroness Sandy Verma, Member, U.K House of Lords, said the centre would be the first of its kind in the African continent, urging global leaders across the world to recognise it as a necessity.

Verma said that whenever a nation sent its military personnel to defend them, they sent them off knowing that they might not come back or might come back injured.

She said the world had failed to recognise for so long the visibility of mental health, trauma and being able to rehabilitate them back into life.

That is why I was so pleased and so honored to be amongst this incredibly important, precious gathering here today because this marks a real turning point in how we will view post-traumatic stress disorder.

It is incumbent on all of us who expect so much from our personnel that go out to defend our nation to ensure that this facility is going to be such a monumental reminder to the rest of the world on how much needs to be done around his traumatic stress disorder.

I have worked tirelessly to support women and girls across the globe and I know the UK government is a close partner and friend of Nigeria.

And I will reach out and ensure that those of us who have the position to be able to speak on this beyond the boundaries of Nigeria know that you need to be a sustainable, long-lasting institution, the world-class and State-of-the-art institution that will not just look after your personnel, but be an example for how other countries will need to do the same in their nations.

So I will pledge. Thats all I will take back on behalf of businesses that I work with on a regular basis to look at how they can be supportive of this initiative.

This requires a real long-term plan, it requires sustainable resources and the will of all of us who depend on all of our personnel to keep us safe, she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ground-breaking and foundation laying was performed by the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Vickie Irabor, has attributed the establishment of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Centre by the association to the harrowing experiences of military personnel and their families.

Irabor made this known at the ground-breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the PTSD Centre at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment at Giri in Abuja on Tuesday.

She said many military families had silently endured traumatic experiences after their husbands returned from the front lines.

Mrs Irabor said the experiences included insomnia, nightmares, substance abuse, violent outbursts on family members and society, and suicidal tendencies, among others.

The DEPOWA president, therefore, said the PTSD project was not only dear to her heart, but also all wives of military personnel across the country because of their experiences over the years.

She recalled her experience of more than 20 years when her husband was deployed to Liberia and later Sierra Leone under the auspices of ECOMOG to intervene in their civil wars and stabilise the two countries.

According to her, some of the personnel who participated in the missions never returned alive while some returned wounded or traumatised.

I was also confronted with stories from wives of personnel who had faced much worse and could not speak out about the challenges and the traumatic experiences.

Uniting our voices as mothers and wives, we decided not to remain silent.

In our review of research conducted, we have identified the extraordinary challenges being faced by officers and soldiers on the frontlines in securing our nation by fighting terrorism, banditry and other societal ills.

Some of these challenges range from physical injuries, mental health issues, and sometimes, sadly paying the supreme price in the defence of our dear nation, Nigeria.

While we have hospitals to take care of physical injuries, we have realized that there is a huge gap in mental health responses globally, including Nigeria.

Especially in the treatment, management and rehabilitation of PTSD faced by families in the armed forces.

In response to these issues, DEPOWA under my leadership, decided to pursue the implementation of a novel, first-of-its-kind legacy-based Armed Forces PTSD Centre, she said.

Mrs Irabor said that the centre when completed, would help evaluate, counsel, and provide adequate support to personnel and by extension, their families, before reintegration from conflict zones.

She said the centre would also help to enhance national, regional and global stability, as well as boost the militarys capability to deal with all forms of insecurity.

According to her, establishing the facility will ensure the stability of military families post-conflict engagements and give encouragement to officers and soldiers that help is available should they need it after assignments.

She said the facility would also serve as a repository for future research on mental health challenges in the armed forces of Nigeria.

This is a project borne out of deep love and appreciation for our husbands, the Nigerian armed forces and the protectors and defenders of the peace in our society.

It is a thank you project for the contributions and huge sacrifices of our personnel to the hard-earned peace and security we enjoy today.

It is not just a brick and mortar project but a symbol of hope for present and future generations of our people and not just the military, she added.

Mrs Irabor called on well meaning individuals, government and private sector to support the project through donations to boost the morale of troops on the front lines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ground-breaking and foundation laying was performed by the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari.

Mrs Buhari promised to ensure that the project was fully supported by the government, adding that theres no need for a fund raising.

She said that since the armed forces worked for Nigeria, it was the responsibility of Nigeria to provide such facility for its personnel. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

Mr Akin Adesina, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Interior, says gospel music can help combat crimes among youths and enhance national development.

Adesina, who was guest during the Apostolic Faith Church 2022 Regional Youth Concert, said gospel music also nourished the soul and enhanced spirituality.

The concert with the theme, The Anchor Holds, was held in Abuja on Sunday night.

He added that it was also an opportunity for the youth to learn new skills related to music and be able to earn decent living.

Acquiring such skills can never leave you jobless or idle, Adesina added.

Mr Idowu Noah, District Head, Youth Development Directorate, who represented the Regional Youth Head, said the main aim of the concert was to encourage the youth to be focused in life.

We want to let the world know that God still answers prayers through praise.

No mater the challenges the youth face, God can still turn them around, he added.

Also, Bomanam Isaiah, Youth Minister and Regional Head, Care and Empowerment CFC, said the concert would improve youths spiritual life and eliminate negative vices in the society.

God inhibits in our praises; it draws us closer to Him, she said.

She decried the rate at which secular music drew youths away from praising God, saying the concert was to address that.

The official advised youths not to see singing as stressful, but an opportunity to supplicate to God, adding that praise would lead us to Christ.

Mr Mayowa Ayoade, the Regional Youth Leader of the Church, said the annual event was to channel the energy of the youth away from restiveness and open new door of employment to them.

The concert reminds us of our call to serve God and humanity, he added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By George Odok

A group, Biase Unity Forum, has commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, for appointing Mr Joseph Odum as the new Bursar of the institution.

Chairman of the Forum, Mr Uno Ogban, who led members of the forum on a courtesy call on the VC in Calabar, said that the choice of Odum was worthy and timely.

The group expressed confidence that the appointment of Odum as the financial officer of the institution would boost the transparency and accountability of the university.

Dear VC, we are here to thank you and the entire management of UNICAL for appointing our illustrious son as the new Bursar of the University of Calabar.

We appreciate the gesture and we wish to state that he wont disappoint the management of UNICAL because he is a seasoned accountant with good conduct and character.

The appointment of Odum will no doubt boost the administrations performance given the new Bursars antecedents and pedigree, the Chairman said.

He commended the VC for her infrastructural development in the institution, adding that within a period of two years, she has attracted massive structures to the institution.

Responding, Prof. Obi thanked the Forum for the visit, urging them to always pray to God to grant the new Bursar the wisdom to discharge his duties creditably.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of an award of Excellent Leadership Qualities by the Forum to the Vice Chancellor for her outstanding achievement in the growth of the institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odum, who was appointed on Sept. 19, is an accountant by profession and also the Chairman of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Cross River branch.

He is also a member of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, with three publications on national journals to his credit among others. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has declared a profit after tax of N674 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2021.

The profit represented a growth of 134.84 per cent when compared with N287 billion profit in 2020 which was recorded under the old Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd. said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

NNPC progressed to a new performance level, from N287 billion profit in 2020 to a N674 billion profit after tax in 2021 climbing higher by 134.8 per cent year on year profit growth, he said.

Kyari also said that it recorded an increase in total assets from N15.86 trillion in 2020 to N16.27 trillion in 2021.

Speaking on the Groups financial position, Kyari said the corporations total liabilities decreased by 8.3 per cent to N13.46 trillion during the review period from N14.68 trillion in 2020.

The GCEO said its shareholders funds position rose N2.81 trillion representing 144 per cent year-on-year.

The performance would have been greater if the operations in the year under review were free from incessant vandalism, crude oil and products theft, among others.

Details of the performance of NNPC and the respective subsidiaries as well as that of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) will be published on our website www.nnpcgroup.com for stakeholders perusal.

We look forward to achieving greater performance to support our growth aspirations and to create more value for our stakeholders as we drive full commercial operations under NNPC Ltd., he said.

He recalled that in Sept. 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the publication of the 2020 NNPC Group Audited Financial Statement, in which NNPC declared a profit after tax of N287 billion for the first time in 44 years.

Kyari said that in spite of the challenging operating environment, it strongly believed that the corporation had the potential to sustainably deliver better value to it esteemed shareholders.

He said it sought to become a dynamic global energy company of choice to its customers, partners and over 200 million shareholders comprising of all Nigerians.

Kyarinoted that the corporation in 2019 rolled out deliberate policies and initiatives aimed at reducing costs and eliminating losses while adopting technology to entrench transparency, accountability and performance excellence (TAPE) across its various functions.

He said the NNPC had recorded significant improvement over the past three years, turning up the curve from losses to profits. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
ELLA/JNC

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Douglas Okoro

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has tasked security agencies to ensure adequate security for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election.

Dr Joseph Chukwu, the Ebonyi INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said this at a meeting under the auspices of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

Chukwu, also co-chairman of the ICCES, said that peace and security were very paramount in ensuring credible, free, fair and transparent election in the state.

He said that the meeting was aimed at strengthening collaboration among the various security agencies as the country inched closer to the 2023 election.

The REC said that the police and other security agencies have crucial roles to play in political campaigns, rallies, processions and meetings as provided for in Section 91 of the Electoral Act.

He said that the commission in its determined effort to achieve peaceful rallies, campaigns and other pre-election activities met with the leadership of the various registered political parties in the state for a roundtable discussion.

At the said meeting, we implored the party leaders to warn their members, candidates and supporters against the use of provocative languages and indulging in other actions that may likely provoke violent reactions or emotions during campaigns and rallies, he said.

Chukwu stated that the commission in its quest to achieve a credible election has scheduled a series of meetings with key stakeholders in the electoral process including the media, civil society organisations and traditional rulers among others.

These are all aimed at ensuring the peaceful, secured and orderly conduct of political campaigns; rallies, processions and meetings in the state.

On our part in INEC, we shall ensure neutrality and a level playing field to all political parties and candidates and we are also poised to conduct a free; fair credible, transparent and inclusive election in Ebonyi in 2023,he said.

Mr Garba Aliyu, the Ebonyi Commissioner of Police, assured that the police would spare no effort in ensuring adequate security in every part of the state during the electioneering campaigns and other political activities.

The CP said that peace was very paramount in the conduct of the 2023 general election and therefore urged the citizenry to be law abiding in expressing their political beliefs and opinions while carrying out their political obligations to their political parties.

If the citizenry is very law-abiding, rights and expectations of the individuals must be respected and in so doing, INEC and security agencies are ready to articulate this together to achieve peace and security in 2023 election.

We want to assure members of the public that by the grace of the Almighty we will do the best we can to the best of our ability and responsibility as security agencies to secure lives and ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and credible manner, he said.

The CP, also the co-chairman of the ICCES assured that the police and sister security agencies would do their best in providing adequate security during the conduct of the general election.

Present at the meeting were heads of the Department of State Security; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Correctional Service and the National Orientation Agency. (NAN)(www.nannwws.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

An Oil and Gas Expert, Mr Olabode Sowunmi, has called for continuity and consistency on the Nigeria Gas Master Plan to ensure infrastructure development and availability of gas in the country.

The expert called for continuity in projects that matter, for example the on-going construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Natural Gas Pipeline (AKK), Trans Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) and West African Gas Pipeline.

Sowunmi, Senior Legislative Aid to the Senate President on Gas and Power made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the AAK project which spans a length of 614km is being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta, Kogi through states and urban centres in Nigeria.

The project, which is expected to be completed the first quarter of 2023, is a segment of the Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline (TNGP) and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline projects.

The AKK, when completed would provide enough gas for both domestic and export purposes, revive industries along the AKK corridor.

Speaking on the Nigerias attainment to 62nd independence, he said that consistency on the projects should be considered greatly to fast track completion and energy sufficiency.

Governance is a continual thing and the real things that matter sometimes take decades or half a century to be achieved.

So one government must do it well and pass on to another government which will equally do it well till we get to the end, the expert advised.

Sowunmi said the projects would ensure that the power sector became the major consumer of gas while there would be availability of gas to industries like the methanol plants and fertiliser plants.

He further said the AKK and the Trans Saharan gas pipelines projects were birthed by the policies of the gas master plan.

He said that the only way the EU would get alternative gas supply to EU countries from Nigeria would be through the Trans Saharan Gas pipeline.

According to him, EU could as well become ultimate beneficiary through the support in the building of the pipeline.

The oil and gas industry, particularly the gas sector offers Nigeria a very clear road to a genuine industrialisation in every Local Government we should take advantage of this, he said.

The expert however expressed satisfaction that some reforms have started in the industry in view of the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA). (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

Mr Olabode Sowunmi, an oil and gas expert, has observed that the country requires a collective responsibility of stakeholders in the sector to tackle the global energy crisis.

Sowunmi, a senior legislative aid to the Senate President on Gas and Power, expressed this observation on Monday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the ongoing global energy crisis was not peculiar to Nigeria which had attained 62nd of being an independent country.

It would be recalled that the EU, in partnership with the Federal Government had expressed renewed interest to put mechanism in place to fund gas projects in the country to guarantee energy security in Africa and Europe.

According to Sowunmi, the development will hasten the desire of EU to guarantee alternative gas to that of Russia.

He observed further that for the country to take advantage of the crisis, there should be a collective responsibility of industry players.

The players will include the restive oil communities, regulatory authorities and civil servants in the industry.

The whole world is in crisis when it comes to the global energy sector, renewable energy is proven not to be satisfactory and oil prices are increasing to an all-time high.

There is crisis all over Europe and riots in a number of places.

Governments are changing in virtually every country in Europe, even in the U.S., the Democratic Party is going to most likely lose the forthcoming mid-term elections, all of these are because of oil and gas power.

The only thing is that Nigeria should be in a position to take advantage of the crisis, which we are not and partly that is a responsibility for all of us, he said.

He said that everyone had a responsibility to play, especially the restive communities that could, in a way, get back to government to disrupt infrastructure and civil servants in the industry who connived with others to steal crude.

He said that the responsibilities of people in government were actually paramount and needed to ensure and see to proper governance system within the oil and gas industry.

Everybody has a responsibility and what basically needs to happen is not so much of new things but persistency in doing the right things, he said.

The legislative aide also decried the issue of Messiah Complex which he said needed to end in the country.

Messiah Complex means the idea and belief by Nigerians that one man, like a superstar, will suddenly come in and solve all our problems, is not going to happen.

Rather it is institution system that build the nation; there must be a system against corruption and for governance.

One man cannot stop corruption or make good governance happen, rather there must be a right system in place continually, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Dr Henrik Pedersen, a Danish Climate Change and Environmental expert has advised Nigerians to embrace the use of electric bicycles to reduce the effect of climate change in the country.

Pedersen, is senior consultant and project manager at the NIRAS Group, a leading consulting engineering company in Denmark told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Copenhagen.

The climate expert who lamented the growing effect of climate change across the world, stressed the need for countries to cut down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

He said the use of bicycles (electric bicycles) could be a cheaper, faster and more eco-friendly way of commuting in cities.

If you move on a bicycle rather than a car, then you have no emissions, even if it is electric bicycle, the emission would be very low at least.

Also if you look at producing bicycles does not take a lot of resources or emit a lot of CO2(cabon dioxide) compared to cars.

So this singular measure can go a long way in addressing some of the climate issues, apart from the fact that riding a bicycle keeps you heathy.

It will amaze you that the electric bicycles will even be faster, because of the traffic in our cities, he said.

Pedersen said virtually every house hold in Denmark has a bike while abouttwo thirds of Danes in Copenhagen take bicycles to school or work.

He explained that the hybrid-electtric bicycles can still be pedalled even while the batteries are down due to epileptic power supply, noting that the the charging just gives it more speed.

He however stressed the need for the government to have properly marked out lanes for bikes and also have partnerships for the production of the electric bikes in Nigeria like its done in some part of east/southern Africa. (NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News