NYSC members

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called on communities in Lagos State to accept and offer necessary assistance to corps members posted to them to enable them serve them and the country effectively.

Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa,the State NYSC Coordinator, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos,

Baderinwa said that the NYSC had prioritised grassroots, health and education sectors in the deployment of corps members after the mandatory three-week orientation course.

According to her, the NYSC believes that the grassroots,education and health sectors are areas where corps members are most needed and can better impact the society .

We expect communities where our corps members are posted to embrace them and see them as their own.

They should support them in any way they can, irrespective of tribal or religious differences .

They need all encouragement to feel at home and have a sense of belonging to spur them to be committed and deliver services better in their host communities, she said

On deployment of corps members ,the coordinator said NYSC could deploy corps members based on requests by organisations.

According to her,letters of requests from such organisations are usually verified by NYSC before postings are made.

We receive letters from some organisations requesting corps members, as the case may be.

We verify the request letters and inform them(organisations) to pay them monthly stipends before posting, she said.

Baderinwa noted that a number of organisations had been working with the scheme in ensuring that corps members discharge their duties during the service year,commending them for their efforts.(NAN)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji

Source: NAN News

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has tasked relevant stakeholders to support the Humanitarian Mine Action with a view to tackle its devastating impact of land mines on victims.

Farouk who was represented by the Director, Humanitarian Affairs Mr Grema Ali, said the call also underscored the Federal Governments determination to grow capacity towards ensuring ownership of Humanitarian Mine Action Centre to be established soon.

The Minister spoke on Wednesday during a stakeholders meeting on the establishment of a National Humanitarian Mine Action Centre organised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in Abuja.

She said that, Nigeria is a party to the United Nations convention relating to explosive ordinance and humanitarian mine action.

According to Farouk, each of the conventions places certain responsibilities on the Federal Government and Nigeria as a responsible member of the international community.

Based on the Presidential directive, the Ministry has established the National Humanitarian Mine Action Committee.

The committee is to tackle issues associated with mine action by leading and coordinating all humanitarian mine action activities in Nigeria, she said.

The Minister said the Committee would provide neccessary advice, recommendations, plans and projects to ensure that Nigeria met its international obligations under the various conventions.

Farouk said that the ministry had identified mine action as one of the key strategic tasks that required involvement of all stakeholders to tackle.

She said this was by providing enabling environment through which personal security was guaranteed, especially in the North-East.

For instance, Explosive Ordinance mostly notably improvised explosive devices, cause deaths and severe injuries, impedes access to basic socio-economic activities.

It also hampers safe resettlement and movement of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Farouk said.

Also speaking at the event, the Coordinator of Humanitarian Mine Action Committee, a retired Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu, said, the threats posed by the explosive ordinance especially in the northeast been documented in several national and international document.

Sadeeq noted that, the Buhari administration made humanitarian mine action a priority area.

By identifying explosive ordinance risks as one of the challenges of return and prolonged displacement and had identified 38 targeted local government areas as directly affected by violent destructions and are contaminated by various types of explosive ordinances.

While many of the communities reclaimed from insurgents through the successful advancement of the Nigerian military have been identified as booby-trapped with land mines and unexploded bombs. he said.

In his goodwill message, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Mr Buki Ponle, represented by Dr. Razak Owolabi, assured the gathering of the determination of his Agency to provide effective media coverage of activities of the Ministry.

Ponle also commended the ministry for their efforts to address cases associated with mine action in Nigeria(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

AMU/ORO

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

Old and new naira notes

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reintroduction of the old N200 note as legal tender alongside the new N200 note until April 10.

The president gave the approval in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the approval was necessitated by the need to cushion the hardship experienced by citizens following the implementation of the new monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Nigerian leader revealed that the approval was also as a result of wide consultations with relevant stakeholders.

I similarly consulted widely with representatives of the State Governors as well as the Council of State. Above all, as an administration that respect the rule of law I have also noted that the subject matter is before the court of our land and some pronouncements had been made.

To further ease the supply pressure particularly to our citizens, I have given approval to the CBN that the old N200 bank note be released back into circulation and that should also be allowed to circulate as a legal tender with the new N200, N500 and N1,000 bank notes for 60 days from Feb. 10, 2023 to April 10, 2023 when the old N200 ceases to be legal tender.

In line section 20 sub-section 3 of the CBN Act 2007, all the existing old N1,000 and N500 notes remain redeemable at CBN and designated points.

The president, who listed the advantages of the ongoing financial reforms embarked upon by the apex bank, challenged the citizens to make their deposits of the old notes by taking advantage of the platforms and windows being provided by the CBN.

According to him, he has since directed the CBN to deploy all legitimate resources and legal means to ensure that citizens are adequately educated on the new policy, enjoy easy access to cash withdrawal through availability of appropriate amount of currency and ability to make deposits.

He also directed the CBN to intensify collaboration with anti- corruption agencies in checking the activities of those who were bent on sabotaging the smooth implementation of the new Naira redesign policy.

He reassured that government would continue to assess the implementation of the policy with a view to ensuring that Nigerians are not unnecessarily burdened while urging the CBN to ensure the availability of the new Naira notes across the country.

The president, who called for more understanding from the citizens, reiterated the commitment of his administration to handover a financially stable economy to the incoming administration on May 29, 2023. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government has urged the Chartered Institute for Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) to evolve measures that will transform and promote the countrys transport sector.

Prince Ademola Adegoroye, the Minister of State for Transportation, made the call during the inauguration of the 2nd Governing Council of CIOTA in Abuja.

Adegoroye commended achievements of the institute, adding that it had supported the ministry in policy formulation, development of initiative and development of local capacity in the country.

Prince Segun Obayendo, President, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), emphasised the need for synergy between relevant stakeholders and the government to advance the countrys transportation sector.

Obayendo said the collaboration would bring about the positive change desired in the nations transport sector.

Obayendo, Chairman of CIOTAs Governing Council, said the council was the highest decision making body of the institute, charged with providing policy guidelines for effective administration of the institute.

He said, the implementation of these key responsibilities is germane, particularly as the institute strives to implement its laws and ensure professionalism and efficient management and administration of transportation in Nigeria.

There is therefore, a greater need for synergy among the newly constituted governing board, relevant stakeholders and the government at all levels.

He said such synergy would strengthen public engagements, advocacy initiatives and ensure implementation of policies for the mutual advancement of the transport sector.

While commending the visionary founding fathers of the institute, Obayendo said the institute had made giant commendable strides since its inception.

According to him, CIOTA has the onerous responsibility of advancing the study, training and regulating the practice of transport management and administration in Nigeria, regardless of the specialisation within the industry.

He said it also provided professional opinion to government on current and proposed transport policies, whether as a result of prepared legislation or custom and practice.

The governing council chairperson pledged the commitment of members to work with well -meaning stakeholders to bequeath an institute that would take the transportation sector to greater heights.

Dr Anthonia Ekpa, former Transport Director, Ministry of Transport, expressed her wiliness to support CIOTA in achieving its desired goals.

Ekpa, a member of the World Road Safety Organisation, said she planned to introduce the organisation in Nigeria, and sought the collaboration of the institute to ensure this was realised.

The Director-General, Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute, Prof. Sampson Duna, reiterated the need for collaboration among relevant stakeholders to ensure safe and cheap means of transportation for Nigerians.

We are ready to partner with any stakeholder in the transport sector and fund their projects that is geared towards advancing the sector, Duna said.

The Chairman, Membership and Planning Committee of the CIOTA, Prof. Odewumi Samuel, expressed optimism that the recently inaugurated council would develop measures that would help tackle most challenges faced in the sector.

The Deputy President of CIOTA, Alhaji Umar Iya, said he had confidence that the committee would move the institute forward and drive its policies.

Mrs Chinwe Uwaegbute, National Publicity Secretary of CIOTA, said the committee would as a matter of urgency, hit the ground running to ensure it delivered on its campaign promises.

You will recall that the president, during his campaign, made a lot of promises; what we are looking at is that at the end of this inauguration, we want to hit the ground running.

We are looking forward to a very realistic roadmap and how we can easily achieve them in the remaining space of months that we have for this tenure, she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Niger Delta Development Commission, in collaboration with the Savannah Centre for Development and Training L.td., on Wednesday in Abuja trained over 70 staffers of the commission on policy formulation and security management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the training was: A management Implant on Policy Making in a Dynamic World and Security Management.

Speaking to newsmen during the training, the Executive Director of the centre, Amb. Sani Bala, said that the aim of the training was to enhance the performance of the commissions personnel.

Bala also said that the training would equip the staffers to have a better understanding of security issues in the Niger Delta, with a view to enabling them collaborate with the security agencies to ensure the security of the entire communities in the region.

He topics of the training centred on policy formulation, because all activities of organisations are largely dependent on the policies they produce to achieve our objectives and goals.

Bala said: So, if you dont have the right policy definitely you are going to have difficulties in attaining your goals and objectives and that is why we trained them on how to formulate policies.

If you look at the content of the presentation on policy formulation it is very rich, comprehensive and garmane. The other aspects is on management. There is going to be a presentation management.

How do you plan, organise, coordinate and also direct or implement the policy direction of the organisation? Then the third aspect is the issue of security because security is a very serious challenge, particularly in the Niger Delta region.

And for any organisation that is going to operate in the Niger Delta region must be conscious of the security. So it is very important we equip the staff of NDDC on the issues of security challenges. How do you management, prevent the situation that may challenge the security of the region.

Also, a Deputy Director at NDDC, Mr Chris Ekah, affirmed that the training was designed, among others, to equip the staffers with the relevant knowledge on policy making and assist them on how to deliver on the mandate of the NDDC.

The second aspect of the training is on security management. As you are aware Niger Delta is a very volatile area unlike Abuja here, so we are training our staffers to be very mindful of the environment.

It also focuses on how to guard themselves in the area as well as safeguard our information in terms of our work tools, information flow within the system and the commission, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, an Assistant Manager, Abuja Liaison Office of the commission, Mr Utin Archibong, said the training had been very incisive, educating and it brought to fore what policy formulation in context should look like.

He said: It simply means that our policy should be more domesticated here, within our environment, the Niger Delta region and the country at large.

And that it should be more inclusive because when we have a lots of inclusiveness, the outcome will be much more better than we see now. (NAN) ( www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari will make a national broadcast on Feb. 16, 2023 at 7.00a.m.

The Presidents spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this in a statement late Wednesday night.

Adesina, therefore, enjoined television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
edited by Sadiya Hamza

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

Youths voting during an election

2023 elections: Saying yes to our dream of a better Nigeria

A news analysis by Ismail Abdulaziz, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The 2023 general elections in Nigeria is no doubt another milestone in the journey of democratic rule in the country. Over the years since independence, Nigeria has had a long unbroken history of twenty four years of democratic administration since 1999 when the second republic come into existence.

From Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo to Umaru YarAdua to Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, it has been a long journey making Nigeria a top notch nation in democratic experience in Africa and across the globe.

Two major parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the amalgamation of parties that metamorphosed into the All Progressive Party (APC) have been on the saddle of leading the country in these twenty four years.

The ground norm is that Nigerians and the country have made progress in several fields including the economy, social and political spheres. The best take away is that the knowledge of democratic development has continued to expand and people are slowly getting into the rhythm of resolving challenges in a democratic manner.

The recourse to constitutional rule of solving issues is taking root in the country and Nigeria is becoming a reference point in the region over time.

The 2023 general elections for another round of electing leaders from the grassroots to the states and national level have presented itself again. Democracy is supposed to be the rule of the people by the people and for the people.

The electorate again have the chance to further consolidate on the gains of twenty years of democratic rule in the country by choosing the right leader to lead them for the next four years.

President Buhari has demonstrated in various for the readiness of his administration to make the votes of the people count in the elections. The electoral act 2022 took cognisance of the many challenges that come with elections in the country and aptly address them.

Various groups, locally, regionally and internationally have also contributed their quota in consolidating the various gains of the democratic years in the country.

During the February and March general elections, Nigeria are expected to show their readiness to move the country forward through the ballot box by voting the leaders that would address the myriad challenges confronting them daily in their personal and national lives.

Smooth transition is a norm that must be imbibed by all Nigerians to ensure a better future for the young and aged alike. No doubt each leader at the all levels have contributed one way or the other in what has become Nigeria of today and more is still needed to correct some of the lapses that arose due to sincere policies and programmes that had been put in place.

This is with the sound reasoning that no leader comes to use his administration to see the downfall of a country; although misconceptions and interest may have come to play in taking such decisions.

From 1999 up to this period, Nigeria has achieved progress that is unprecedented in the life of a country. We only need to patriotically scrutinise such decisions in our in personal and national lives as patriotic citizens. Development in a country comes with its various challenges.

In transiting from one national development to the other, an administration may have the luck of starting and completing a policy or programme. In democracy, what is most required is for the citizens to be cautions of the short and long term benefit of policies and programmes.

This will allow for the needed decision to vote accordingly the leaders required to either change them or continue with them.

The ballot box is definitely the better option of attain development in a democracy. The fact that an electoral umpire has been put in place and given the necessary rules and regulations of conduct is a way to go and it serves as a way for holding leaders accountable to the people and the nation.

Nigeria has gone through a lot in arriving at where it is today, the elections would continue to be used by all patriotic citizens to answer the call of history that a decision had been taken. History, they said, would forgive you for taking a decision but it would never forgive you for not taking a decision at all.

The 2023 general elections is a litmus test of saying yes to our dreams of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. A dream for us now, and our present as well as our future.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

**If used please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

***This article is with support from Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), a pro-peace and good governance initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting democratic principles as a prerequisite for peace and prosperity in Africa.

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

Old and new naira notes

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has dismissed as false the assertion that the Federal Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had refused to recognise old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes as legal tender in spite of the Supreme Court ruling.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zamfara, Kaduna and Kogi had approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria for reliefs on behalf of their citizens to challenge the Feb. 10, CBN deadline for old naira notes to cease to be legal tender.

The Supreme Court in its ruling on Feb. 8, directed all parties to maintain the status quo abd quashed the Feb.10, 2023 deadline till the determination of the case which was adjourned to Feb. 15, 2023.

However, financial institutions including banks as well as filing stations, supermarkets and other business owners have continued to reject the old Naira notes despite the Supreme Court ruling.

Some banks were reported to have based their decision of rejecting the old notes on a circulation emanating from the CBN.

The Governor of the CBN was also quoted at a meeting with diplomats in Abuja on Tuesday as saying that the old notes were no longer legal tender from Feb. 10, 2023.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents spokesman, late Tuesday night in a statement, however, said:

We wish to state that it is not true that the Federal Government or the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN have taken a preemptive action on the legality of currency as a legal tender in view of the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court.

The position of the government and the CBN will be made known upon the determination of the suit coming up tomorrow. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Head of Website/Solutions Journalism desk.

Source: NAN News

Training of NAN staff on countering fake news

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) on Wednesday commenced training of 35 journalists of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on how to detect and counter fake news during and after the general elections.

The two-day fact checking training held in Abuja was to sensitise participants on the danger posed by fake news and the tools to counter it.

Addressing participants at the training, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, urged them to take advantage of the training to excel on the job.

Ponle, who was represented by Mr Silas Nwoha, Editor-in- Chief of the agency, expressed concern over the wave of fake news and the consequences in the society.

I want you to give it your all because no training is a waste.

So let us pay attention to the rich experiences we can gain from the training.

Sometimes we want to go overseas for one training or the other, meanwhile we have the experts here.

So, whatever they are giving us today is also a different kind of knowledge you can get anywhere in the world.

Please, I urge you to pay attention and get the best you can from this training so that we come back to the newsroom as better journalists, Ponle said.

While commending the resource persons over the initiative, Ponle said that NAN was looking forward to having other training programmes for the agencys journalists in different zones.

Speaking on the fake news ecosystem, Ms Caroline Anipah, Deputy Director in CJID, emphasised the need to deploy journalism tools and technology to promote democratic accountability.

According to her, one of the cardinal objectives of Dubawa is to address information disorder also called fake news.

One way of tackling fake news, she said, was through fact checking.

We recognise as an organisation that we are not able to do that by ourselves alone and that we need to partner with relevant institutions.

And we also recognise that we can achieve our goal by training people who interface with the public to help us achieve our mandate, Anipah said.

Ms Temilade Onilede, Programme Officer of Dubawa Nigeria, said that the 21st century had seen the weaponisation of information on an unprecedented scale.

Onilede said that misinformation distorts reality and changes peoples perception of things.

She, however, urged that while reporting election processes, participants must be non-partisan, fair, objective, adhere to standards and ensure transparency of sources.

Kabir Muhammed, one of the participants and an Assistant Editor-in-Chief, described the training programme as a welcome development.

It can help them to develop their skills. With this training NAN staff can excel and take the agency to greater heights by giving out their best through credible and qualitative information, Muhammed said.

Participants were trained on information disorder ecosystem, fact-checking practice, methodology and ethics as well as digital verification tools. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
IK/OJO

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Source: NAN News

By Zainab Oyekan

Some Nigerians have identified infidelity, lack of trust and barrenness as some of the major factors contributing to high rate of divorce in the country.

They stated this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Wednesday.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau chapter, Mr Polycarp Lubo, said that mutual suspicion, irresponsibility and lack of mutual respect could also be part of the reasons for divorce.

According to him, sin is now the order of the day while lots of people no longer value their marriage oaths.

He said that the countrys economic situation might also be a contributory factor to divorce rate.

The family as the smallest unit has lots to do in grooming young adults for marriages and if that is ignored, the foundation can be affected.

Parents should instill moral values in their children.

God is the solution to all problems, including divorce and so doing things in His way is the solution, he said.

Justice Yahaya Mohammed, of Plateau Sharia Court of Appeal, said that some of the causes of divorce could be finance and high expectation that could not be met.

He also said that neglect, poor communication and lack of love in the marriage could lead to infidelity and divorce.

Mohammed advised intended couples to possess good communication skill and love in order to tackle the challenges that could lead to divorce.

Some women went into marriage with very high expectations while some menconcealed their true economic status from women to gain acceptance, he said.

The appeal court justice advised couples to ensure transparency in marriage and be honest in their relationship with their spouses.

Also, Mrs Vivian Abara, of Peace Advancement Action against Violence and Rape Foundation, an NGO, said it was regrettable that infidelity had been twisted.

In those days, infidelity was a taboo but now, it is celebrated by some people, as they give reasons for cheating on their partners, she said.

Abara urged married people to becontented with their partners, practise what would promote love and help them bond better.

She added that couples should be matured enough before going into marriage.

Also, Mrs Ngozi Eze, a divorcee, claimed that she divorced her husband because he was allegedly cheating on her.

In her view, a housewife, Mrs Mary Utah,said that Nigerians believed that only men could be unfaithful.

Utah added that society should frown at infidelity, regardless of who might be involved in the act, adding that it was a sin against God and man. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Wale Sadeeq

Source: NAN News