By Ikenna Uwadileke

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has dismissed an online media report purporting that the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Simon Harry, is dead.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Ichedi Joel, Director, Communication and Public Relations Department, NBS, said the report was false.

The Bureau wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in what was published by an online medium and considers the publication as the height of irresponsible journalism and a figment of the imagination of the publisher.

The fact of the matter is that the Statistician-General was slightly indisposed on Saturday and following medication is now recuperating.

We are well certain that he would, in a matter of a few days, be back to his desk and continue his work in repositioning the NBS as the foremost national statistics agency in Africa and among the best globally.

The statement urged the public to completely discountenance the purported death of the Statistician- General. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

A Charity Organisation, Janeolive Foundation, on Saturday donated food items to 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The Co-founder of the organisation, Mrs Emilia Nwokoro, while presenting the food items to leaders of the IDPs said this was part of the organisations objectives by putting smiles on the faces of those displaced by the crisis in some parts of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated by the organisation include, 300 tubers of yam, 64 cartons of noodles, and four bags of 50kg rice.

Nwokoro said that the objectives were also to provide free education to the less privileged by sharing relief materials with the needy.

She said her family started the foundation out of love for charity, adding that so far, a lot of the less privileged children have benefited from this gesture.

A lot of people are hungry. People are unable to go to school; there are widows that nobody takes care of. They dont even have three square meals.

I am a widow too. I lost my husband 20 years ago. So, based on what I passed through, when I was in need then, very few people assisted me.

So I kept telling God that if you bless me, I will bless others. And that is the essence of setting up a charity organisation. If you are blessed, you should reciprocate, she said.

She said that the organisation was involved in women empowerment, and scholarships to the less privileged students in primary and secondary schools, just to put smiles on their faces.

Nwokoro expressed the hope that the project titled; feeding the displaced provide succor to over 3,000 persons made up of 250 households in the camp, especially during this fasting period would meet its set goals.

Nwokoro added that insecurity has also contributed to the problem of hunger and poverty facing the country, urging the government to enhance measures at addressing it.

I am appealing to the governments at all levels to beef up security. It is a problem for the country and to all of us.

You know the cause of hunger; farmers are unable to go to farm because they are not safe. And once we dont go to the farm, there is bound to be a food shortage. That is why we are having this problem.

If farmers are going to farm, there will be food, even if we are crying of other issues.

Insecurity is a very big issue. Look at these people in this IDP; it is insecurity that brought them to the camp. This can happen to any of us. It is not their fault.

So, we are begging the government to look into this, go back to the drawing board, look at where we got it wrong, try to amend it, and restore safety to the country, she said.

Nwokoro also urged all those perpetrating attacks on citizens and the country to have a repenting heart to allow peace to reign in Nigeria.

Receiving the food items, the Chairman of the Camp, Mr Ibrahim Ahmadu, appreciated the foundation for its gesture, adding that this was the first donation since the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

Ahmadu promised that the items would be distributed to all households in the camp.

The Camp Women Leader, Liasu Ayuba, also appreciating the gesture, said it had not been easy surviving in the camp, but to the glory of God and help from different groups and individuals.

Similarly, another group who visited the camp to celebrate Good Deeds Day commended the good gesture shown by the Janeolive Foundation, and urged more groups to emulate the good gesture.

According to the leader of the team and Executive Director, Kleo Foundation for Children, Mr Obi Emmanuel, said Good Deeds Day is being celebrated on April 9.

He said the day was an initiative of an Israeli woman, to celebrate the act of doing good to others.

Emmanuel said that the day has been celebrated by different organisations, cooperate, and individuals to encourage people to do good to others from the little that they have.

The Abuja coordinator of the team, Mr Chidiebere Obiagwu , said that the group was at the camp to donate items, medical outreach, and sensitisation program to the IDPs on their health and personal hygiene.

NAN reports that the group also presented Nwokoro the team-branded T-shirt in appreciation of her good deeds to Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

A group, Emefiele Mobilization Team (EMT), says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Dr Godwin Emefiele, represents a unique opportunity to achieve peace, unity and development in the country if he runs for president.

The EMT is a group under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Team Leader and National Coordinator of EMT, Dr Jacob Attah, spoke at a news conference on Saturday in Lokoja on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the group.

According to him, the EMT is made up of patriots who have come together to showcase the leadership qualities of the CBN governor.

For a man who was born in the South-West, schooled in the South-East and from the South-South, Dr. Emefiele represents a unique opportunity for peace, unity and development not just in Southern Nigeria but across Nigeria.

We call on all patriots to stand up and be counted in the all important task of who becomes the next president of Nigeria and support the call for Dr. Godwin Ifeanyinchukwu Emefiele to run for the highest office in our nation.

At a time when Nigeria is passing through a lot of economic and security challenges, we must bring in experience, dynamism, energy, equity and fairness in the choice of who becomes the next President of Nigeria.

Over the past eight years at the helm of the affairs of the Nigeran apex bank, Emefiele has shown capacity, focus, courage and worked tirelessly with the economic team of President Mohammadu Buhari to keep the economy of our great country afloat above recession and outright collapse.

His policies in the area of education, health, agriculture, industry and social credits have brought about positive transformation in these sectors and strengthened the Nigerian economy, he said.

The coordinator stressed that Dr. Emefiele had done well as CBN governor, saying his policies have reflected in the growth of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and created lots of employment in all states of the federation.

The Anchor Borrowers Scheme as one of Dr. Emefieles many achievements that benefitted over 4.8 million Nigerians spread across the country.

Under the scheme, the CBN launched the brown revolution, an intervention aimed at boosting wheat value chain.

Wheat is the most widely consumed commodity, after rice, and only one per cent of it is produced in Nigeria with about billion spent annually on its importation.

With this brown revolution, the CBN cut about 60 per cent of this importation cost and brought about 22.35 per cent and 23.78 per cent growth in GDP in the first and second quarters of 2021 alone, Attah said.

He added that 150,000 farmers were beneficiaries cultivating 100,000 hectares, saying this had improved local production of wheat in line with the mandate of the government to produce what we eat and eat what we produce.

He explained that production of onions was another area where the people have benefitted immensely from the CBNs policies under Emefiele.

According to him, Nigeria needs 2.5 million tonnes of onions yearly to meet national demand, but only 1.4 million tonnes are produced.

Attah said that the provision of loans under the scheme had assisted onion farmers in the North-central to make up for the 1.1million tonnes shortage.

Cotton is the third commodity to join the Anchor Borrowers Scheme after rice and maize, with 15,000 cotton farmers securing loans to mention a few.

This has significantly improved cotton production in the Nigeria.

Rice farming has been supported and boosted by the ABP as well; over 1.8 million farmers in Nigeria received seedling, fertiliser, herbicides, pesticides, water pumps and more with beneficiaries from across the country.

For now, Emefiele is focused on his assignment as the governor of the CBN.

We use this opportunity to caution those who may wish to carry out actions or make statements capable of distracting him from delivering on his national assignment as the head of Nigerias apex bank.

He called on all patriots to stand up and be counted in the all-important task of who becomes the next President of Nigeria and support the call for Emefiele to run for the highest office in our nation.

The national coordinator said that the youth population would be adequately carried along in all the process. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Mr Shina Peller (APC), Oyo State, a member of the House of Representatives, wants the reinvigoration of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to raise the moral tone of the society.

Peller, member representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Federal Constituency of Oyo State, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

He stated that the reinvigoration of NOA would enable the agency sensitise and re-orientate the people on their obligations as responsible citizens of the country.

The lawmaker therefore advised the Federal Government to pay more attention and improve the budgetary allocation of NOA to consistently raise citizens awareness.

This, according to him, will enable the agency to accurately and adequately inform; and mobilise citizens to act in ways that promote peace, harmony; and national development.

At the level of the National Assembly, I will speak on this, As one of the members of the 9th Assembly, I personally moved a motion on the need to reinvigorate the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

We also have a bill that has passed the second reading to reinvigorate the NOA, because out of all the government parastatals, it is one of the agencies that has the spread across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

And the first obligation of NOA is to pay attention to the welfare of people, which definitely has to do with the culture and morals of the society.

So, I am sure if the government begins to give attention and allocate more funds to the NOA, it will enable the agency sensitise the people, re-orientate them on what is required of them as patriotic citizens, he said.

According to the lawmaker, all Nigerians should realise that the change they desire begins from everyone, adding that everybody must see themselves as problem solvers.

Leadership exist in every sphere of life; at home and within your family, try to be a leader by not just saying things, but by doing those things.

If everybody takes leadership responsibilities seriously at every level, then we will be able to build a safe and progressive country.

The country is suffering from system failure which did not just start today, people have been clamouring for change for over four decades now, he said.

He also said that in his constituency, he always organised town hall meetings, where role models at every level were identified to encourage people to do the right thing.

I have a network called Shina Peller Network, and people at the network are people that show the kind of leadership that Shina Peller stands for.

The network preaches that we are Nigerians first before we start to think about politics, religion and ethnicity.

And as a people, we must understand that there is a an undisputable relationship between Islam and Christianity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his 65th birthday.

In a congratulatory message issued by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja, Buhari joined family members, friends and associates to celebrate the milestone with the business magnate.

The president shared the memorable occasion with the Dangote Group, including management and members of staff, and the many visionary leaders that daily redefine the livelihood of Nigerians for the better.

He commended the Dangote Group for driving competitiveness in the economy with clear ranking of excellence in provision of goods and services.

Buhari affirmed the footprints of the consummate businessman in key sectors of the economy, and the remarkable results achieved in production and supply of food items, making him a household name.

He particularly saluted Dangotes dynamism in buoying the nations economy through heavy investments in building Africas largest refinery, fertiliser manufacturing company and cement factories.

The president also appreciated the patriotism, simplicity and wisdom that Dangote has consistently displayed, making Nigeria and Nigerians his first priority.

He also lauded Dangote for setting example for many that charity truly begins from home.

Buhari wished Dangote greater service to God, country and humanity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government, in collaboration with World Bank, has launched the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, to address environmental challenges in Nigerias North.

Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of Environment, at the Pre-launch Mission of the World Bank on Sunday in Abuja, said that the project would last for five to six years.

Abdullahi assured Nigerians that the project would be effectively implemented, adding that all documentations on the project would get to the World Bank as soon as possible.

He said that with the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources and also the World Bank support, the objective of the project must be achieved.

According to him, the project is very important, as it will also address water stress system and restore the loss lands, thereby, making the lands reproductive for agriculture.

The project will as well tackle environmental challenges such as climate change, erosion system, biodiversity, among others.

We thank the world bank for initiating this project, and I am assuring you that from the Ministry of Environment, we will do all the best we can to implement the project.

We will ensure that the political will to drive this project, in accordance with the mandates and its objectives, are achieved.

We are going to make sure that various governors at the state levels deliver on the objectives of the project.

I have instructed the national project coordinator to ensure that all the documentations that are needed by the world bank to declare the effectiveness of the project, reach the world bank latest by April 15.

The minister said that the ministry had also established a project tracker system in the office, adding that the system would enhance the achievement of the project

He, however, urged all the governors, commissioners and other relevant stakeholders, to support in the implementation of the project through strong cooperation and commitment.

Chief Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment said that collective action in the implementation of the project, would bring positive result.

Ikeazor said if the project was implemented effectively, about 70 per cent of environmental issues would be solved in the states.

We are ready to implement the project, with the two ministers we are working with, I think it will enhance execution of the project.

This project is a big one and it is a project that Nigeria is privileged to have, I want to thank the world bank team and the three ministries, for their strong support and commitment to the implementation of the project, she said.

The World Bank Country Director to Nigeria, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri, said that the bank would continue to support Nigeria to ensure that the objective of the project was achieved.

The world bank team remained committed in this project, but I want to appeal to governments at all levels to ensure that the team and other people in the field are protected.

The government should ensure that all kinds of insecurity is tackled in the areas to enable people concentrate and do the job effectively.

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who spoke on behalf of other governors said that the project would benefit all the people in the states.

We are happy and grateful to have this laudable project that will curb poverty and address environmental challenges in our state.

We as governors, will ensure that we support the world bank team and the Federal Government in ensuring that insecurity is tackled efficiently in the states, Sule said.

Also speaking, Dr Mamood Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, explained that the project was initiated by the world bank when he was the minister of the environment.

I have great passion about this project because I know that it will change lives of many people and the various communities in the states for good.

This project will improve livelihoods of the people; therefore it requires careful planning, good management and commitment from everyone, Abubakar said.

Dr Suleman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources, urged all the states, local governments, and other beneficiaries of the project to claim ownership of the project for sustainability.

The state governors and the people of all the states should ensure that the efforts of the world bank and the Federal Government will not be a waste.

There is a need to secure the project and ensure that its benefits are realised, Adamu said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Raji Rasak

The Sme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 39,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol along the Badagry and Seme border creeks.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bello Jibo, said this in a statement issued by Mr Hussein Abdulahi, the spokesman for the Command, on Saturday in Seme, Lagos.

Jibo said the petrol was concealed in 30 litres jerrycans.

He said that the seized petroleum products has a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.54 million only.

Jibo noted that the continuous offensive patrol against the smuggling of petroleum product along the creeks within the Seme and Badagry axis by officers and men of the command had recorded yet another massive seizure of the product.

The arrest was made on April 6, the petrol was packaged in sacks.

The findings revealed that 1,300 jerry cans of petroleum products in 30 litres each, equivalent to 39,000 litres were discovered.

This arrest is coming at a time when government is spending huge resources to subside the products to ameliorate the plight of its citizens.

These unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements are bent on sabotaging the efforts of government.

It is on this premise that the officers and men of the command, redoubled their efforts with renewed vigour in the fight against smuggling of the petroleum product, he said.

Jibo attributed the successes recorded to consistency on the part of the management of the NCS in providing the needed logistics, adequate working tools, support and ensuring hard working officers were recognised and rewarded through promotions.

He said that the continuous monitoring and surveillance of the border axis had contributed in suppressing such illegal activities, sending right signal to people involved in such unfortunate act of smuggling to desist and face lawful business.

Jibo said the command remained committed to ensuring such illegal and unlawful business were suppressed and discouraged at Seme borders.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited his Security Aide, Inspector Gambo Joseph, who was injured in the Wednesdays road crash at the vicinity of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

Jonathan expressed joy that the injured officer, Joseph was responding to treatment and recovering fast.

He also stated that the second officer, Inspector Michael Ebute, who sustained injury during the accident was discharged on Friday.

Thank God Gambo is recovering so fast. I am pleased to inform you that the second officer, Michael has been discharged and returned to his family, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two police officers were reported dead during the accident which involved a car conveying them from the airport. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Mr Bashir Ahmed, has described as fake the social media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on 20-day vacation to London on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some online media outfits, including Sahara Reporters and summitpostnews, reported that the president departed Abuja on April 9, for another three weeks vacation in London.

NAN observed that the summitpostnews quoted a statement issued by one of the presidents spokesmen allegedly saying that the Nigerian leader would be back in Abuja on May 10.

However, Ahmed on his verified twitter account on Saturday dismissed the reports, saying:The news going round that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on a 20-day vacation trip to London is fake.

The president is in Abuja and he is not planning to embark on any trip to London.

NAN also reports that there is no statement from the presidency, as at the time of filing this report, confirming the presidents trip to London as being speculated by the online media. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Saturday elected Dr Kenneth Opara as the 22nd President/Chairman of Council of the institute.

Opara, who was elected alongside seven other members during the institutes 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, would run the affairs of the institute for the next two years.

He will be succeeding Dr Bayo Olugbemi, whose two-year tenure will end on May 21.

The other elected officers are: Prof. Pius Oladeji Olanrewaju, FCIB, 1st Vice President; Mr Oladele Alabi, FCIB, 2nd Vice President and Mrs Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, FCIB, National Treasurer.

Other elected positions in the Governing Council are: Dr Victor Aguwah, FCIB; Mr Olayinka Odutola, FCIB; Mrs Mary Aina, ACIB and Mr Segun Oshadare, FCIB.

In his acceptance speech, Opara said, I wholeheartedly accept the mandate to serve as the 22nd President and Chairman of Council of CIBN.

I am mindful of the fact that you have high expectations for me and my colleagues. Let me assure you that we shall collectively do our best to deliver on your mandate as an obligatory, innovator and implementer.

We will leverage what the past president has done and also look on how to build capacity, collaborate with the stakeholders, and work with other regulators and the banks to ensure that we make a perfect and meaningful competition.

I thank the electoral officer and I congratulate all the candidates. I want to say that we are all winners, no victor no vanquish, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Institute also reviewed the 2021 financial and operational reports.

The CIBN National Treasurer, Mr Oladele Alabi, while giving the financial highlights, said the Institute recorded an improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.77 billion in 202.

Alabi said that the IGR represented an increase of 20.3 per cent when compared with N1.47 billion recorded in 2020.

He said the growth was an indication that the CIBN was strategically moving toward its aspiration of becoming financially independent.

Alabi added the institute closed the year with a net operating surplus of N800.14 million from N570.26 million recorded in 2020, an increase of 40.31 per cent.

The Chairman of the CIBN Audit Committee, Mr Babatunde Oduwaye, affirmed that the accounting and reporting policies of the institute were in accordance with legal requirements and ethical practices.

Speaking on the 2021 operations, the outgoing President of CIBN, Olugbemi, said that the institute stood tall as a vanguard for the promotion of banking education and professionalism in Nigeria and the world at large.

Olugbemi said that the number of individual members grew from 144,922 as of April 30, 2021 to 149,967 as of March 24, 2022, representing an increase of 3.5 per cent over the previous year.

Mr Seye Awojobi, CIBN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, said that a total of 291 graduates were conferred with MCIB, 380 candidates with the ACIB and 320 candidates via the regular ACIB Examination route.

Awojobi also said that 41 candidates were conferred via the Chartered Banker MBA route and 19 candidates via the MSc/ACIB Linkage Programme route.

Members in their remarks commended Olugbemi for his two-year leadership and suggested that there was the need to improve on its membership drive.

Source: NAN News

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) on Friday announced the suspension of the state local government election earlier scheduled for April 19, over a court judgement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the crisis in the party dragged the commission to a Federal High Court in Abuja for not giving the mandatory 90 days notice of election.

The decision to suspend the election is contained in a statement signed by Emmanuel Abebe on behalf of the chairman of the commission, retired Justice James Oyomire, and made available to newsmen in Benin.

The statement reads; It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that due to the content of the publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of 7th April 2022.

By which the Federal High Court Abuja restrained the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission from conducting the Local Government Elections in the State scheduled for 19th April 2022,

All processes leading to the conduct of the said elections are hereby suspended, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice, the statement said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Patience Omoha

A Non-Governmental Organisation, One Nigeria Group (ONG), has called on Nigerians to eschew ethnic and religious sentiments and vote for a patriotic Nigerian for president during the 2023 general elections.

The President of the group, Alhaji Muhammad Saleh-Hassan, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Saleh-Hassan urged Nigerians to vote for a president, who should be a pan-Nigerian president, irrespective of which part of the country he or she comes from.

He urged patriotic Nigerians to get their permanent voters cards ready, ahead of the 2023 General Elections, so as to vote for a patriotic, pan-Nigerian president from any zone of the country.

I, therefore, call on all Nigerians, as the 2023 Elections is around the corner, as patriotic Nigerians, go, get your PVCs and vote for a pan-Nigerian president from any zone in the country.

It is important to note that ethnic and religious sentiments are faster killers of our country than corruption.

Today, ethnic sentiments have given birth to IPOB, Boko Haram, bandits and other criminal elements across the country.

In the South-South in particular, these elements engage in economic sabotage, thereby, stealing millions of barrels of crude oil, he said.

The groups president, called on all patriotic Nigerians to join forces with the organisation and rise above hate, ethnic and religious sentiments, adding that Nigerias strength is in its diversity.

Lets all rise in unity against the criminal elements and enemies of Nigeria, who are trying to cripple our economy, divide us and set our country ablaze.

Elections will come in peace without pre or post-election violence and the enemies of our country will bury their heads in shame.

We should learn from the Ukrainian crisis and begin to love our country, defend our country with all our might as we have always pledged, he said.

Saleh-Hassan noted that, over the years, ethnic and religious sentiments and attendant criminality had only culminated in pain and misery upon the country and its citizens.

These have brought nothing to this country but pains and all manner of evil that has produced widows, orphans and out-of-school children.

We have no other country than Nigeria, we must also remember that no country in the entire world will be able to contain 200 million refugees who may seek shelter if the unexpected happens, he warned.

The group also condemned all banditry attacks in the country, and called on security agencies to continue to do their best to bring all criminals and separatists to book.

The statement also quoted Sunday Attah, the groups projectcoordinator as calling on Nigerian artists and musicians to condemn the activities of kidnapping, Boko Haram through their music and work.

They must rise and speak against every activity that would give the country a bad name, the statement added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Augustine Eguavoen, former Super Eagles Technical Adviser/Interim Coach, on Friday in Abuja called for a long-term contract for whoever will be the teams new chief coach.

Eguavoen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) needs to do this to ensure the new coach gets the Super Eagles to fly high again.

I will just say anybody coming in should be given a long-term contract, just like a long-time project, he said on the sidelines of the presentation of Certificates of Occupancy of houses to members of the victorious Super Eagles team which won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.

Eguavoen said it was going to be difficult to lead the team to success without having a long time to prepare it.

But he noted that the new coach would still have to rely on the present crop of players.

You cant just raise a new team. Its always going to be difficult. Any coach that is coming in now will still work with 90 per cent of these players we have now, the former Super Eagles full-back said.

Eguavoen who apologised for his inability to lead the Super Eagles to qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup said the team he handled was still a good side.

First of all I will like to apologise for our inability to qualify for the World Cup. Its very painful that we didnt qualify and I know how much we love football in this country.

But we didnt lose the game. We only lost the ticket, and the fact that its a World Cup ticket makes it more painful.

He said the fact that lack of time did not allow him to impose his football philosophy on the team was partly responsible for the failure to pick the World Cup ticket.

I think we didnt have enough time. If we had enough time to bring in new players and see them in friendly games and the coach is able to establish his DNA, I think it would have been better. But we need to move on, the coach added.

Eguavoen, who is still the NFF Technical Director said all attention should now be on getting a new coach who would ensure qualification for the 2023 AFCON in Cote dIvoire.

Already, 46 countries including Nigeria have lined up to compete in the group stage of the 2023 AFCON qualifying competition which begins in June.

NAN reports that the NFF Executive Committee had on Tuesday mandated the federations Technical and Development Sub-Committee to within the next five days recommend a new coaching crew for the Super Eagles. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has started the training for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) managers and officers to enhance their capacity.

Speaking at a two-day capacity building workshop in Abuja, Team Lead of the programme, Aishatu Digil said that the purpose of the training was to ensure effective service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the training were programme managers and officers of school feeding programme across the states.

The school feeding programme is an initiative of the Federal Government to provide one free nutritious meal to pupils from primary one to three in public schools.

Digil further encouraged the participants to participate actively to enable them gain the actual knowledge that was expected of them for better service delivery.

She said that the participants would be looking at the critical aspect of the school feeding programme that they needed to learn more to ensure they further improved their skills.

According to her, the overall programme will be strengthened.

The school feeding programme is such a unique intervention among all government interventions.

It is collaboration the Federal Government provides the funding, set the template and the guideline on how the programme should be implemented and the state government is responsible for the actual implementation.

We want to use this opportunity to get back at the same page with the implementers because it is important as the programme is implemented, it is done according the necessary rules and regulations, she said.

One of the participants, Mr Ifeanyi Onah, School Feeding Programme Manager, Enugu State, while commending the ministry for the initiative said that the capacity building workshop was apt.

Onah said that some materials and equipment were given to the programme managers and officers to aid their coordination in the states.

He said that the tools would help them to do an on the spot reporting of what is happening at the state level.

According to him, this will help the ministry to get feedback on the programme timely and do the necessary coordination for proper decision and further planning.

Another participant, Mr Gidado Abubakar, Team Lead, NHGSFP, Bauchi State, said that the training would enable the stakeholders brainstorm on critical areas of the programme for further improvement.

We are here to look at the challenges, level of implementation and a way forward for a viable programme, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Nigerias Super Falcons lost 0-2 to their Canadian counterparts on Friday in the first of a two-game encounter between both sides.

The friendly game at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver saw Nigerias goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and later Tochukwu Oluehi, making good saves to limit the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champions.

Falcons did their best to keep the hosts at bay in the first half but, five minutes into the second half,Jessie Fleming broke the deadlock for the Canadians.

In the 72nd minute, Vanessa Gilles doubled the hosts lead with another goal to finish the game with a 20 victory against the nine-time African champions.

Both teams will meet again on Monday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Moses Omorogieva

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has urged the governors, as the Chief Security Officers, to take charge of their states, stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot be in every state to ensure security of lives and property.

Bello, an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, who said that he did not expect the President to secure his state as a governor, added that he had put so much in place to bring crime to almost zero in Kogi.

The Kogi governor, stated this on Friday in Abuja at his Second Annual GYB Seminar for Nigerias Political and Crime Editors and Correspondents, said that the bulk of securing the states was on them as chief executives.

The presidential hopeful said he would not tolerate buck- passing concerning insecurity in Nigeria, when he becomes the President of the nation in 2023.

He promised to ensure that all governors in Nigeria take responsibility for security in their states, stressing that he would hold them responsible for breaches when elected as president of Nigeria in 2023.

Bello, however, assured that states would be empowered to rise to the security challenges.

As a president, I will supervise and ensure that all security agencies carry out their duties as expected. I will punish those not doing well.

The whole world will bow for Nigeria after 365 days as president as security issue will be fixed. However, I am not a governor that will expect the President to secure my state, he said.

Bello insisted that he would not play politics with the security challenges in the country because it was as a result of the failure of various administrations in the past.

He said, I refused to politicise insecurity. Buhari is a man who loves truth and reality. I will let you know that the President loves this country.

This insecurity is not a thing of the President though we shouldnt pass buck because that is why we came on board. It is a successive failure of various administrations.

Let me remind us once again that certain military and police hardware were nonexistent or was last purchased in the administration of former President Shehu Shagari.

Bello pointed out that after the bomb blast incident in Ikeja cantonment in Lagos State in 2001, Nigerians never asked whether the arms and ammunition that detonated and killed some people were ever replaced since then.

After the various decays, the foundation was shaky and the President spent a lot of money to buy equipment. The President will not sit in the Villa and hold AK-47 to come and secure my schools and roads.

Some of these crimes that we see today is more than what we see on the surface. I will never come out here and point out the flaws. Whatever I observe, in terms of loopholes and lapses, it is between myself and the President to let him know.

I will never be that governor who will come out and tell that the President did not secure my schools and roads. That is why as the Chief Security Officer of Kogi, I I brought the rate of crime from the zenith down to the floor and the President is assisting me to succeed in that area, he said.

The governor said that he was sincere about fighting crimes and criminality, stressing that If all states governors would do what they were supposed to do, the Presidents job would have been made easy.

But if I become the President, I will ensure that every chief executive of the various federating units sit up and do their jobs. I will not tolerate any lackadaisical attitude or passing of buck to the center. I will ensure that various federating units are strengthened.

Majority of some of these crimes are politically motivated, especially the recent ones we are witnessing. However, the issue of security can never be brought out to the public so you will not expose your country to danger, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has urged participants of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to develop ideas and Knowledge-based solutions that could help in surmounting the nations security challenges.

Yahaya made the call during the inauguration of AWCN Course 6/2022 on Friday in Abuja.

He said the war course was a critical learning curve in military career, adding that the knowledge acquired on the course would determine how well the officers could contribute to the ongoing and future operations.

You must therefore learn to think out of the box not forgetting that contemporary security challenges of the 21st century submit only to knowledge based and specialized efforts.

Hence seize this opportunity to hone your skills accordingly and endeavour to be creative with novel ideas on how best to surmount our challenges.

This is indeed my expectation of you all and that of your Services, Ministries, Agencies and Departments, he said.

The Army chief commended the resilience, dedication, commitment and doggedness of the troops deployed in various trouble spots across the country, adding that the sacrifices of the troops had continued to yields successes.

These successes, according to him, are results of the renewed focus and determination of the armed forces to operate jointly in restoring peace and ensuring security of lives and property in Nigeria.

Yahaya commended the college for its capacity as the premier institution of learning in the Nigerian army and fast becoming a destination of choice for armed forces of several countries in Africa and beyond.

He said that AWCN had since inception in 2017, successfully played its primary role of grooming operational level military officers and a select few from relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies in Nigeria for the onerous task of conflict management and defence.

According to him, the college has shown a defining character in its training and research activities as seen in the sterling performances of its alumni.

The former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Gen. Alexander Ogomudia, in his lecture titled, Military Leadership in a Joint Environment, said that military leadership entailed commanding, motivating and directing others to accomplish desired goals.

Ogomudia said that military leadership was an act that could be learnt in the same way as other endeavours while outlining attributes of a military leader.

He also said that operational commanders must know their men and look out for their welfare as well as ensuring that their task was clearly understood.

Train your men as a team because you must prepare for the battle as well make sound and timely decisions, have a sense of responsibility and employ command capabilities to achieve responsibility.

Successful military leaders must possess enduring personal competence and courage to achieve the responsibility in a complex operational environment, he said.

Ogomudia also urged strategic military leaders to discourage rivalry and jealousy among the various components of the joint operations so as to achieve the desired goals.

The Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi, said the college was established to bridge the knowledge gap between the tactical and strategic levels of leadership in the Nigerian army.

Alabi said the current security environment in the country gave impetus for the need to train professional level leaders to enhance their effectiveness in meeting the operational needs of the military.

He said the college had successfully conducted five war courses since inception, adding that the course 6/2022 was designed to equip participants with the requisite ability to provide answers to problems at operational level.

According to him, participants must know that the task before them on the course is enormous and the stakes are high.

I encourage you to exert yourselves cognitively and think outside the box to add value to the solutions being sought to the many problems which we have been confronted with at operational level, he said.

Alabi said his vision for the college was to institutionalise the college as a centre of excellence through enhancement of robust academic programmes, partnership and collaboration, infrastructure and staff welfare.

He assured that the college under his command would ensure effective delivery of course content, attainment of full structural and academic capacity and contribution to army operational capacity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AWCN Course 6/2022 has 73 participants comprising of 58 army officers, two officers each from the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, five from four allied countries of Gambia, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville and Rwanda.

There are also six participants, one each from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo/Lizzy Okoji

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday called on media practitioners to set the agenda ahead of 2023 General Elections and continue to put politicians on their toes forgood leadership.

Bello made the call at the Second Annual GYB Seminar for Nigerias Political and Crime Correspondents in Abuja.

He said that the category of media practitioners were chosen to engage in the awareness campaign because nomeaningful development would be made without partnering with the media.

The governor said that the nation was in a very critical period because she was at the threshold of either getting on the right trackorreturningback to where she was in the past.

He said that this was what necessitated the seminar to continue to educate, sensitise and evaluate the electoral environmental situation and give proper reportage.

No government or country can succeed without the media, however good the government may be, if the media does not carry out fair and just reportage we wont make any headway.

All we are asking is to ensure that we have a society that is free of crimes, criminality, and it isgood for all Nigerians.

So, continue to put us on our toes at all times but be fair in your reportage , we are in political season, a transition system and we crave for good leadership.

How you set the narrative, how you set the agenda will depend on the kind of leadership you will get at the end of the day.

I know surely that myself and several others may have thrown our hats in the ring.

So, weneed you to be fair to each and every one of us ,and to Nigerians to be able to select those who will lead the country after Muhammadu Buhari for another four to eight years and beyond, he said.

Bello urged the media to report situations with wisdom and not be sensational, adding that although Nigeria was faced with some challenges, there were other countries that werefacing even more challenges.

He also urged the media to curb fake news and misinformation to stall harm .

So please, I crave your indulgence, let us continue to be patriotic, Nigeriais the only country we have with good leadership , Nigeria will be the best country .

However, you are the ones who is going to set the tone and the agenda for us to have that kind of leadership becauseyou are a critical stakeholder.

We need you to partner with us in this journey ahead in order that we have the kind of leadership we deserve, he said

The Commissioner for Information, Kogi , Kingsley Fanwo, in his remarks said that Bello pledged to make the event an annual one to equip media practitioners with requisite skillsfor national development .

Fanwo said that this years edition was aimed at setting the agenda for the 2023 Elections, adding that it was the responsibility of the Nigerian media to do that ahead of the elections.

This is in terms of whatwill bethe talking points as we approach 2023, what are the issues that are challenging our nationhood ,what are the demons we need to defeat for Nigeria to remain one even after the elections?

These and others, shall be discussed extensively during the course of the seminar, he said

The President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),Mr Chris Isiguzo, commended Bello for the initiative, adding that the annual GYB seminar for the nations politics and crime reporters and editors was apt.

As we match into the 2023 Elections, two issues will occupy the frontline, politics and insecurity that is why it becomes highly imperative to gather this crop of professionals to build their capacity.

This is because the kind of language and reports put together will substantially shape the discussions we have as we move towards 2023 .

With this, you are eliminatingpoison for Nigerias political landscape by bringing all of us together for this two days seminar .

Also speaking, Mallam Mustapha Isa, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, thanked Bello for sustaining the seminar.

Isa said that Bellos choice of the seminar Setting Agenda for 2023 given the challenge the country was facing.

He said that Bellos achievement had shown that he had what to offer, adding that it is a season of promises ,so if you are a sitting politician and you what to rule, you have to show how you have done in your present capacity.

So, instead of coming to promise us, we want Nigerians to know your precedents and what to offer ,and if you cannot answer these questions ,you will lose the opportunity, he said (NAN)(nannews.ng)

ATAB/LIZ/IAA

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo /Lizzy Okoji
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi says he will nominate the first female vice president if emerged the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023 General Elections.

Bello, who said this at the Second Annual GYB Seminar for Nigerias Political and Crime Correspondents in Abuja, said he would give consideration to women if given approval to choose his running mate.

The governor said that he was committed to running an inclusive government carrying women, youths and Persons With Disabilities along as he did in Kogi, ensuring that no one was left behind.

If given the opportunity, if my political party will give me the opportunity and free hand to choose who will run with me, come 2023, surely I will not leave the constituency of my mother, which is women.

I assure you that if ever I will be given that opportunity, I will wish to have the first female vice president from 2023, he said

Bello said that his administration, if given the mandate to lead Nigeria, would focus on empowerment and capacity building to foster the smooth running of the Nigerian economy.

He said that his administration as governor of Kogi raised 2,000 millionaires, stressing that if elected president, he would lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

In my presidential declaration speech, I promised that I would build on what Mr President promised of ensuring that nothing less than 100 million Nigerians are pulled out of poverty by the year 2030.

The question will be, what have you done in Kogi State, how many millionaires have you made?

I will tell you that within the limit of our resources, coupled with various challenges and demands on our resources we have been able to make nothing less than 2,000 millionaires in Kogi State, within this short period.

Our government created an enabling environment that if you have N1 million you should be able to turn it around and multiply it.

He said that his achievement so far would make him win the partys ticket irrespective of the method adopted by the party to select the candidate.

According to him, his party will still produce the next president of Nigeria, APC is very strategic.

Forget about zoning or no zoning; it is about who is a leader and will put the party together.

The party knows the body language of the nation. APC knows the clamour for a young President who will build on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party knows who will turn the fortunes of this country around.

If consensus is going to be the option, so be it. Whether its direct or indirect primary, Yahaya Bello is the man to beat.

We must jettison sentiments, it is time to bridge the religious gap and cement the relationship, he said.

Bello said that he was the man that would champion a new Nigeria where sentiments would no longer matter.

We want to make sure that the language you speak, your religion and where you come from does not matter again in our presidency, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Action Health Incorporated (AHI), through its Girls Voices programme, has trained 1,200 in-school adolescent girls on equality issues, girls rights and adolescent health and wellbeing in Lagos.

Co-Founder of AHI, Uwemedimo Esiet, disclosed this during the closing of leadership and mentoring sessions with students of Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School, on Friday in Lagos.

Esiet noted that AHI, with the support of CUMMINS, had assisted in training girl-leaders to advance their advocacy through activities that would improve equity and equality issues, girls rights, adolescent health and wellbeing of Lagos girls.

He said that the girl-leaders had led a mentoring and leadership forum for eight weeks for students in Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School.

According to him, the forum serves as a platform to influence the girls on life skills and social networks as well as menstrual hygiene management.

Esiet noted that the skills acquired had enhanced the girls self-awareness, negotiation, goal-setting, decision-making and leadership capacity.

Some of the girls are eager to start implementing what they had learnt. Some even want to create girls clubs in their churches, mosques and schools.

The platform has exposed the capacity of the girls to become leaders and change agents in their respective communities, he said.

According to him, positive outcomes have been achieved from the projects, assuring that the influence of the girls on their peers will lead to a transformed society.

Also, Principal of the school, Mrs Olaitan Fasuyi, commended AHI and CUMMINS for the support given to the students.

Fasuyi expressed optimism that the students would begin to manifest the skills they had acquired for the transformation of the society. (NAN)

Source: NAN News