By Solomon Asowata

Chinese technology company, Hauwei Technologies on Tuesday said it had developed an intelligent pipeline monitoring system to help tackle crude oil theft in Nigeria.

Mr Li Wei, Director of Huawei Nigeria Enterprise Business, made this known at a news briefing on the sidelines of the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Wei said: Huawei-developed fiber vibration intrusion warning system uses Artificial Intelligence to identify intrusion scenarios accurately.

With high identification precision, accurate positioning, and quick response, it will help to ensure pipeline safety and reduce theft and vandalism.

According to him, Huawei will continue to support the digital transformation of Nigerias oil and gas industry by developing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions.

Faced with the ongoing volatility of international oil prices, Huawei believes that the digital transformation of Nigerias upstream sector is a top priority.

In response to the strategy proposed by the Nigerian government and oil companies, Huawei promotes the digital oilfield Internet of Things and Exploration and Production storage solutions.

This will help oil and gas companies to achieve real-time visualised production, improve production efficiency, reduce production costs, and optimise production resource allocation to improve oilfield production.

Wei said in additionto providing high-quality ICT solutions and services, Huawei actively support the Nigerian government in building a talent ecosystem.

He said the company had signed ICT academy agreement with more than 110 universities and schools and had trained more than 1,000 civil servants and 40,000 young students in Nigeria.

We hope to build a strong talent base camp to promote Nigerias digital economy development, Wei added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has expressed concerns over the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, saying the development portends a bleak future for the country.

Ezekwesili was speaking at a zoom meeting on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of the UK-based charity, known as IA-Foundation.

She lamented that Nigerias future looked bad with about 13.2 million children currently out of school, saying that government must tackle the problem to forestall any fall out in the near future.

Recalling her tenure as a minister in 2006, Ezekwesili said that the number of out of school kids had doubled within a period of less than 16 years from 6.8 million to 13.2 million currently.

Quoting the 19th century French poet and essayist, Victor Hugo, she said that he who opens a school closes a prison door.

She said that the Federal Government ought to focus on meeting Sustainable Development Goal Four, which targets increasing access to education.

Speaking on Impacting Lives, Ezekwesili noted that Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two of Africas most richly endowed nations, have the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

She recalled that during her time as minister, she had involved the private sector in an initiative called Adopt-a-School, to get everyone involved in making school attractive for children.

Within one year 600,000 more children got enrolled in schools. But the initiative was short-lived, due to non-continuation in governance, she said.

According to her, the middle class should not leave the education of the populace to the government alone. Everyone should be involved.

Also speaking, a Cleric, Mr Itua Ighodalo, said that there was lack of commitment to pushing mass literacy in the country.

Ighodalo, however, cited what he described as serious efforts being made by the governments of Edo, Lagos, Anambra and Kaduna States to give education to the populace.

He also lauded IA-Foundation for its commitment to tackling the out-of-school problem, saying that posterity would remember current efforts of the group.

An education advocate, Ms Zuriel Oduwole, urged the Federal Government to adopt measures to open education access to every citizen.

Oduwole said that the fastest method to develop the country was to provide education for everyone, especially the girl-child.

She pleaded with stakeholders in the country to work assiduously to reduce the high number of out-of- school children in Africas most populous nation.

The annual IA-Foundation charity is an initiative of Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, a chartered accountant, based in London, England.

The foundation has been providing amenities in some communities in Southwestern Nigeria, including Makoko, a slum settlement in the Lagos heartland. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has inaugurated a 14-member team to serve as its Trade and Industrial Development Advisory Council.

A statement issued bythe AfCFTA secretariat on Tuesday said thatProf. Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu andMs Jane Ezirigweof Nigeria are part of the team.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka is the Special Advisor to the President of African Development Bank (AfDB) on Industrialisation.

He is a globally respected leader in the field of development economics, where he has contributed immensely to the social sciences of urbanisation and human settlement, industrialisation and economic development.

Dipeolu is the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Economic Matters, while Ezirigwe is a research fellow at the Nigerian institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) with research interests focused on food and agriculture, law, human rights and development.

According to the statement, one of the key mandates of the AfCFTA agreement is the promotion of industrial development through diversification and regional value chain development, agricultural development and food security.

This is imperative given the low levels of investments in industrial production, which is also a major contributor to the low percentage of intra-African trade.

Africa has 17 per cent of the global population and fastest-growing middle class but only accounts for 2.1 per cent of global trade and three per cent of the worlds Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It is against this background that Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene convened a brainstorming workshop to discuss the matters of trade and industrial development, which led to his proposal to constitute an Advisory Council.

The council is to provide advice on trade integration and transformative industrialisation as part of the implementation of the AfCFTA.

It added that the recent Summit of Heads of State and Government in February endorsed the proposal.

Other members of the council include Dr Arkebe Oqubay, a Senior Minister and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia; Dr Rob Davies, former South African Minister of Trade and Industry; Dr Taffere Tesfachew, former director of the Division on Africa and Least Developed Countries, UNCTAD.

Prof. Carlos Lopes, former Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa; Dr Celestin Monga, visiting Professor of Public Policy at Harvards Kennedy School of Government; Amb. Magda Shahin and Prof. Caroline Ncube are also part of the team.

The council also has as members, Prof. Fiona Tregenna, Dr Stephen Karingi, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, and Prof. Faizel Ismail who served as Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and recently authored a book titled AfCFTA and Developmental Regionalism.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AfCFTA is the worlds largest free trade area and is expected to boost trade among African countries.

All African countries except Eritrea have signed on to the framework agreement, with 41 of them ratifying it. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yakubu Uba

The Chairman Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Alhaji Kashim Imam, has said that no fewer than 10,000 projects and over 30,000 trainings were done for staff of various tertiary institutions.

Imam, made this known on Monday in Maiduguri during a TETFund/FIRS Joint Interactive Forum with the theme: Improving Education Development Tax (EDT) Collection in the Post Pandemic Era.

According to Kashim, the projects are either completed or ongoing like auditoriums, laboratories, lecture theatres in 226 tertiary institutions across the country.

Last year alone, we designated 12 universities as centres of excellence and we funded those universities to the tune of N12 billion that is one billion each to fund research.

We replicated that with six polytechnics and six colleges of education. These are in addition to various other interventions, Kashim said.

Kashim said the interactive session was designed to put heads together with personnel of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) who are responsible for the collection of education tax and also an opportunity for the fund to give account of itself.

In his speech, the Chairman of FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami, who spoke on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected revenue generation affecting TETFund, assured that things have started improving.

Nami who was represented by Mr Kabir Abba, the Director Tax Operating Group, FIRS, spoke on major innovations to improve revenue collection and assured the service support to TETFund to deliver on its mandate.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Prof. Aliyu Shugaba, represented by Prof. Mohammed Laminu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, lauded TETFund for its support to tertiary institutions, adding that without the fund many institutions would have been crippled.

We dont know where we (institutions) we will be without TETund. We really thank government for TETFund, Shugaba said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the occasion included testimonies by some lecturers who benefitted from TETFUND training.

There was also the presentation of paper on TETFund activities by Mr Erivwo Innenne, the Director Strategic Planning and Development in TETFund who represented the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has released guidelines for the operationalisation of its R200 policy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the apex bank recently initiated the R200 policy in an effort to reduce exposure to volatile sources of foreign exchange and to earn more stable and sustainable inflows.

The policy is aimed at raising 200 billion dollars in Foreign Exchange (FX) earnings from non-oil proceeds over the next five years.

Ozoemena Nnaji, Director of Trade and Exchange Department of the CBN, in a circular on Monday, said that a major anchor of the programme was the Non-Oil Export proceeds repatriation Rebate Scheme.

Nnaji said that the rebate scheme was designed to incentivise exporters in the non-oil export sector to encourage repatriation and sale of export proceeds into the FX Market.

She said that only exporters of finished and semi-finished goods were eligible for the incentive.

It is borne out of the need to develop new strategies aimed at earning more stable and sustainable inflows of FX, in order to insulate the Nigerian economy from shocks and FX shortages.

Exporters shall qualify for the rebates only where repatriated export proceeds are sold at the Investors and Exporters (I

By Grace Alegba

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Monday appealed to Lagos residents to protect road drains and other infrastructure from all forms of abuse and damage.

Fashola made the appeal during an inspection tour of the ongoing Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway reconstruction project in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fashola had an interactive meeting with the leadership of theUnited Berger Motors Dealers Association near Mile 2.

After extensive deliberation, the car dealers agreed to the terms of relocation off the highway.

Fashola said to the dealers, the most important thing that has happened here today is an agreement that you will move, that is a big step forward. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje
Egypt-Nigeria Joint Military Cooperation Committee on Monday visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, in Abuja, to strengthen existing military cooperation between the two countries.

The visit was part of international collaboration towards routing insurgency and terrorism.

Maj.-Gen Mohammed Salah, Egyptian Assistant Minister of Defence for International Relations, who led the delegation, said the officials were in Nigeria for the second meeting of the committee.

He said the military cooperation would cover many fields, including training, production and co-production of military hardware by both militaries.

Salah said the two armed forces were also working towards enhancing trans-boundary military collaboration to deal with threat such as insurgency and terrorism.

According to him, the two countries are going to work together on trans-boundary cooperation, because the threats are mostly trans-border.

So our cooperation should also allow us follow suit; national security does not start and end at your borders, it extends way beyond your borders.

So this cooperation is going to be beneficial in enhancing the national security of both countries, he said.

The Director of Policy, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Usman Yusuf, said the Nigerian military was going to draw lessons from Egyptian experience in fighting insurgency.

Egypt is having a good experience fighting Islamic jihadists in the Sinai and other parts of its country and we have been having crisis in the North Eastern part of the country for some time now.

On the part of Nigeria, we are looking forward to how to derive maximum benefit from Egypts experiences in fighting insurgency and other crimes.

So, we are going to be sharing experiences and training on how to surmount our problems, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Boboye Oyeyemis Impressive Strides in Road Safety Management

By Ibironke Ariyo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

To state that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has witnessed impressive strides under the leadership of its Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, would be stating the obvious.

His legacies, achieved through dint of hard work and ingenuity in management, would always remain a part of the soul of the FRSC.

His attitude has always echoed the spirit and ethos of the Corps in road safety management and this is exemplified in the laudable footprints he has made in the agency.

About 34 years ago, the founding fathers of the FRSC sat down and conceived the idea of a road safety lead agency for the country; an Organisation characterised with modernity to address road safety issues.

A situation where its personnel would be willing and ready to render selfless service that bring sanity on the road, reduce road traffic crash with its attendant fatalities and injuries as well as bring succour to all road users.

These are the ideals that the FRSC represents and to which the successive leaderships of the Corps have been committed in order to ensure its attainment and sustenance.

Today, though it might not yet be Uhuru, in terms of having a completely crash-free nation or fully realised the vision of creating a safe motoring environment, but every discerning Nigerian is convinced that FRSC has done a lot.

This is so, considering its modest achievements and Boboyes giant stride in the agency has contributed in bringing it to where it is today.

Amazingly, the Corps has been able to significantly scale down the number of road traffic crashes from 28, 215 in 1987 to 13, 027 as of 2021, representing a 54 per cent reduction.

Taking over the daunting task of steering the agency towards greater heights seven and a half years ago, Oyeyemi had brought a lot of innovations to bear.

From the deployment of body and vehicle cameras for officers, to the establishment of a control room for operations and the efforts toward the introduction of digital drivers license to curb theft and other related crimes, among others, the Corps Marshal has continued to strive to ensure a transformation of the agency for better.

Speaking at the unveiling of body cameras, operation monitoring and control platform, to improve the Corps field operations across the country late last year, Oyeyemi had said that the platform would improve transparency and accountability in the activities of the Corps nationwide.

He added that it was designed with the needs for the public uppermost in mind, as the Corps goes about the task of making the operation of FRSC more responsive.

Oyeyemi also said that it was evidence of a fostered innovation to tackle challenges in patrol operations and its strong commitment to surmount all obstacles in delivering on its mandate.

According to him, the platform is significant, due to its multiplier values to the corps and by extension, national security.

Also during a recent dinner to mark the 34th Anniversary of the Corps, he had assured that the Corps would remain focused to the attainment of its mandate of creating a safe motoring environment and achieve a country where road traffic crashes results in no death.

The Corps Marshal has never been about just talking as anyone who has ever worked with him can tell that he is more about action.

He had said as one of the pioneer staff who witnessed the emergence of the FRSC from scratch, I have worked with others as a team since I came on board in not only keeping it on course but have taken it to greater heights as is evident from the successful completion of all projects.

This feat remains the most credible affirmation that FRSC has come to stay and a testimonial that the Corps will justify the confidence reposed on it by Nigerians, he said.

Oyeyemi used the opportunity to pay tribute to the founding fathers of the FRSC and all relevant stakeholders for toiling day and night to give Nigeria an Organisation that has today not only transformed, but become the reference point in quality service delivery to the people.

This he said has made the Corps a best example of a Lead Agency in Africa as declared by the World Bank.

We must acknowledge their foresight for setting a goal that has showcased Nigeria with a world class organisation from which other nations takes a cue in matters of road safety management and traffic administration.

I must equally appreciate all successive leadership of the Corps for working hard to sustain the ideals upon which the Corps is anchored, he said,

The Corps became one of the few public service organisations in Nigeria to attain ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2013 and upgraded to ISO 9001:2015 in 2019.

In line with its commitment to continually improving its mode of operation, the Corps has just been re-certified on ISO 9001:2015 in January 2022.

The re-certification, back to back, among other strides, Oyeyemi said was a testament of a highly motivated workforce.

In its contribution to road safety management in Africa, the Corps championed the establishment of the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO). The Corps will continue to support other African countries to achieve their set objectives, he said.

Highlighting other developmental strides of which he played a major part, he said, The Corps also activated volunteerism in road safety administration through its arm of volunteers.

This he said today, has about 15,000 volunteer Special Marshals, excluding other variants such as Celebrity and Honorary Special Marshals.

Oyeyemi said that the Corps successfully sought for the infusion of Road Safety studies in the curricula of primary and post-primary schools in Nigeria.

He added that the Corps also introduced the concept of Road Safety Clubs in Primary and Secondary schools, as well as among members of the National Youth Service Corps.

The Corps has over 160,000 members of the Road Safety Club nationwide.

Also with the support of the Federal and some State Governments, Nigerian Road Safety Partnership (NRSP), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), local and international donor agencies and individuals, the Corps has improved on its critical infrastructure and operational equipment.

From a modest five bedroom storey building at Bodija, Ibadan at inception of the Corps in 1988 and few staff, the Corps has rapidly grown with its Headquarters in Wuse, Abuja, he said.

The FRSC boss said that the Corps had expanded its operation with 12 Zonal Commands nationwide, 37 Sector Commands in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT for operational and administrative presence.

He said the Corps similarly has 7 Corridor Commands, 245 Unit Commands, additional 54 Outposts and 764 Station Offices (LGA offices) across the country to widen its operational, rescue and data coverage to enhance its service delivery.

The Corps has established four training institutions: FRSC Academy, Udi in Enugu State for the training of Officers, FRSC Marshal Inspectorate School, Owa-Alero in Delta State for the training of middle cadre manpower.

FRSC Training School Jos in Plateau State for the training of the Road Marshal Assistant Cadre and FRSC Command and Staff College (FCSC), temporarily located in Enugu State.

Some of the training institutions were built through partnership with some State Governments, while others were fully delivered by individual State Governments.

The institutions are designed to cater for the training needs of staff, State Traffic Agencies and other clients, he said.

Oyeyemi said that it was worthy of mention that FRSC Academy had received approval of the National Universities Commission to commence post-graduate degree programmes in affiliation with the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, in Imo State.

He said that the Corp was also partnering with African Development Bank (AfDB) to establish a Center of Excellence in Road Safety studies in Africa at the Academy.

In pursuit and sustenance of a world class status, permit me to mention that the Corps has established a functional 24hour ultra-modern FRSC Call Center.

This is to receive and route emergency calls through 122 Toll-free numbers for easy communication to the Call Center especially by first responders.

In addition, the Corps has established Field Operations Monitoring and Control Center (FOMCC) for real time monitoring of activities of our field operatives via body worn cameras deployed with field operatives.

In the same vein, Oyeyemi said that the Emergency Ambulance Service Scheme was established with 51 life-support ambulances for prompt emergency rescue services, reducing response time to 15 minutes.

He said that the Corps also had three (3) Main Number Plate Production Centers and six (6) Mini Number Plate Plants; one (1) Print Farm for printing of Drivers License and 225 Drivers License Center nationwide for capturing of Drivers license applicants.

Other installations of the Corps are: One (1) Signage Plant for production of road signs; 21 Staff Clinic, 28 Road Side Clinics and Medical Centers to service staff, road traffic crash victims and general public, Officers Mess; National Traffic Radio (NTR) on 107.1 FM for promoting better driving culture, he said.

The FRSC boss also expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the Corps, saying that the President in 2016 approved an intervention fund that led to the procurement of about 343 vehicles.

Oyeyemi added that there was yet another approval in 2020 to inject more vehicles to support the operations of the Corps which was currently being worked on.

He added that within the past seven and half years of his administration, the Corps had constructed, inaugurated and equipped 16 State Sector Commands and fully completed all uncompleted projects through the support of the Federal Government.

Oyeyemi had also shown good working relationships with sister agencies comprising the Military and Paramilitary organisations, which was part of efforts that had put the FRSC in good standing today.

According to him, for the 34 years of the Corps existence, they have extended good hands of fellowship in varied forms and stood by the Corps in molding and shaping an agency that today is the best example of the Lead Agency in Africa.

Oyeyemi had a fulfilling working career that has seen him operating in various capacities for the Corps.

They include O/C Comm. Corps Marshals Office, FRSC National Headquarters; Zonal Commanding Officer, RS2HQ Lagos; Area Commander (Plant

By Deborah Coker

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Dan Orbih, has charged politicians to play by the rules now that the Amended Electoral Act has been signed into law.

Orbih, National Vice-Chairman, PDP South-South, said in Benin on Sunday that it was the political actors that would determine whether or not the Act would impact on the 2023 general elections.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there is no Constitution that is totally bad.

It is the operators that can be bad. The same applies to the Electoral Act when you think about it positively or negatively.

What is important actually is the politicians; the political actors. They must learn to play by the rules.

The PDP stalwart stressed that it was not what was in the Act that would determine the behaviour of people.

We have a whole lot that must be done by political actors themselves.

They must learn to take defeat in good faith. They must allow the process to take its course. Nobody should make any attempt to interfere with due process in the conduct of the elections, he said.

The PDP leader added that apart from signing the Electoral Act into law, the president should ensure adequate security of lives and property during and after elections.

Orbih also told NAN that the president must ensure that elections are conducted under very peaceful and secure atmosphere and equally ensure continuous improvement in the economy.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the amended Electoral Act into law on Feb. 25. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, Mr Peter Esele, on Sunday in Benin advocated permanent, irreversible dates for elections in the nations calendar.

Esele, one-time governorship aspirant in Edo and former President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, said like Independence Day, marked every Oct. 1, election dates should be made permanent.

INEC rolled out a new timetable for the 2023 general elections on Feb. 26; hours after President Muhammadu Buhari signed a long-awaited Amended Electoral Bill into law.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, announced in the timetable that Presidential and National Assembly elections would take place on Feb. 25, 2023, instead of Feb. 18 announced earlier by the Commission.

Reacting to the new date, Esele declared: we cant be having elections dates tampered with. No.

If we have fixed dates, then political parties will also follow suit concerning delegates conferences and primaries. Everyone works and plans with such dates.

When you start playing with dates, you create room for distrust; you create room for lack of transparency and also manipulation of the process.

Esele also commended Buhari for signing the Electoral Act as amended into law and stressed that INEC should regard the new Act as an opportunity to improve on its processes.

He noted that areas of contentions had been addressed.

I think gradually with the Electoral Act, we are raising the bar for a fair electoral process.

Hopefully, we will no longer have cases in court for years and courts will no longer decide our elections, he said.

Speaking on amendments to the Constitution at the National Assembly, Esele opined that personal interests were involved.

He decried any attempt by the National Assembly to include immunity clause for its principals in the Constitution as enjoyed by presidents, governors and their deputies.

Esele said while the Executive has fixed tenure of maximum of eight years at a stretch, lawmakers could remain in office for as long as they kept winning elections and should, therefore, not be entitled to Constitutional immunity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nathan Nwakamma

An environmentalist, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, has urged oil firms in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted onshore sites before moving their activities offshore.

Bassey made the call in Yenegoa, on Friday at an oilfield dialogue with the theme, Building Community Resilience against Fossils Extraction.

The event which was organsied by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) for oil communities in Bayelsa was held at the banks of Taylor Creek, Agbia, Yenagoa.

The environmentalist noted that the Niger Delta region enjoyed clean and natural environment before the discovery of oil about 60 years ago.

He said oil firms gradual shift to offshore posed greater danger to the fishing vocation of people.

Bassey said Niger Deltas rich biodiversity with freshwater and marine ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, streams and creeks had become more threatened.

According to him, no fewer than six million persons may be pushed out of their fishing occupation due to the activities of the oil firms in the region.

It is of national interest to protect the artisanal fishing industry. It is, however, regrettable that most fresh water bodies have been lost to oil pollution, he said.

Bassey further expressed worries that many international oil firms were already divesting from their onshore assets and moving their operations offshore.

Their claim is that the Niger Delta no longer suits their business model. They are trying to avoid responsibilities arising from their environmental misbehaviour.

They are leaving after sucking the region dry and destroying the environment, if this pollution is replicated offshore, the impact will be very tragic, he said.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs Alas Talani, described the damage on the freshwater bodies as colossal.

I started fishing at the Taylor Creeks as a young girl, I got married and continued fishing with my husband, we used to have bountiful catches.

Fishing was rewarding before the oil pipelines were laid, all one needed was to throw the net and tie it across, a few hours later you have a full net.

Things have changed, as the oil leaks continued, fishing activities here at Taylor Creeks produced little or no catch, we are endangered, Talani said.

Also speaking, Chief Washington Odoyibo, a community leader and fisherman, accused oil firms of indulging in unfriendly environmental practices.

Oil spills have rendered us unproductive, the pollutions from oil exploration and production did not also spare our farmlands, Odoyibo said.

In her contribution, Chief Ayibakoro Warder, a woman leader, commended HOMEF for organising the dialogue, describing it as well intended.

We commend you for organsing this event, it has educated us on how to deal with the environmental challenges that have been affecting us for a long time.

The call for the cleanup of polluted sites on the land and the need for stiffer penalties to conserve the environment is in order, Warder said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State on Friday matriculated 1, 376 students for the 2020/2021 Academic Session.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Institute, Prof. William Qurix, who administered the Oath of Matriculation on the students, noted that the event was the 16th since the inception of the school.

Qurix said that a total of 2, 364 candidates applied to the university to study various courses out of which 1, 376 were granted admission.

In the same vein, today (Friday) also marks the matriculation of 387 of our postgraduate students into various postgraduate programmes offered by the university, he said

He said that since the commencement of academic activities in 2006, the university had maintained a steady academic calendar and continued to churn out high-quality graduates into the nation and world labour market.

The vice-chancellor said that the institution currently operated 64 academic programmes with 46 established in the last three years.

On the rate of insecurity in the country, Qurix called on the Federal Government to pay special attention to schools to curb the menace of kidnappings.

We pray that they will pay special attention to schools to enable normal academic life to continue.

Security measures are not measures you tout around in the open. We are conscious of the happenings around society. We are also doing our best to secure the students, he said.

In a paper presentation, Prof. Raymond Bako, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria urged the students to reflect on their lives and make a renewed commitment to serve God and make the right decisions that would make them succeed in life.

He spoke on the topic Balancing your academic, social and spiritual life on campus.

Bako also called on the students to shun all social vices including sexual immortality and get-rich-quick activities.

One of the students, Tuta Joseph, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) appreciated God for leading him through primary, secondary and now university.

At 17 years, I feel honoured. Its a great privilege to be in Bingham University, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Onyegbula

Some prominent Nigerians attending a Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) organised symposium in Abuja have called for the resolution of the recurring indigene-settler crisis in the country, while reiterating that the unity of the nation was non-negotiable.

They made the call on Friday, at a two-day symposium jointly organised with the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) and Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI), under the theme: Threat to the unity of the Ummah and the future of Nigeria, citizenship and nationhood.

The NSCIA President and Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Muhammad Saad Abubakar III, represented by the Emir of Keffi, Nasarawa State, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, said that the unity and peace of the nation was important for its survival and the wellbeing of its citizens.

All deliberations must be harmonised without bias. All conflicting factors must be addressed and resolved. We must contribute in such a way that it would be positive for the development of the country, he said.

Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Baze University, Abuja, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spoke on The Nigerian Federation and the management of our diversity: A critical evaluation.

Baba-Ahmed said that any responsible discussion on basic identity in Nigeria was bound to stumble around the irony that it is the one issue which today represents a major impediment to the nations progress beyond the precarious stage where it seemed to be stuck.

Which is that, virtually none of Nigerians chose his faith, ethnicity or region, is also the basis of much of the most damaging conflicts in which the citizens are engaged.

Violence and threats remind us that our politics have failed to engineer a citizen, and leaders who benefitted from exploiting identity politics are incapable of containing its expanding influence.

Indeed, they are riding harder on our weak points, and they leave many of us to wonder how they plan to govern a wrecked country, assuming that they even manage to keep the country together enough to have elections in 2023, he said.

Elder statesman and the candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, urged Nigerians to elect the right people in forthcoming elections.

Tofa, who was the chairman of the event, said, We have polluted ambitions, you know the ordinary Nigerian wants to live a life quietly and pursue their daily bread.

But politicians and elites are the problems of the country. We have to realise that and do something about it. Next time, elect the right people, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhamamdu Buhari says membership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick into the FIFA Council will provide benefits that will lead to the advancement of football in Africa.

The president stated this on Friday in Abuja, when he had an audience with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare and Pinnick, at the State House.

He, once again, congratulated the NFF boss on his election victory into the strategic body that sets the vision for global football, assuring him of Nigerias support in his new position.

The position on the Council of the worlds football governing body, FIFA, comes at a time when Nigeria is determined to turn the fortunes of her sports development around through better infrastructure, more investment both public and private government incentives.

Without prejudice to the continental nature of your assignment at the Council, I urge you to use your position to ensure Nigerias sporting image receives a boost.

I know this position will assist Nigeria get technical and financial support from FIFA; and your position should create a platform for other Nigerians to enter into the FIFA family and other international Sports Federations, he said.

While emphasising his belief in the potential of sports to promote peace, unity, enhance good health and stimulate the economy, Buhari said: One of the greatest sports is football and Nigeria is a great football nation.

I am myself a keen follower of football.

On his vision for Nigerian football, the President told the minister and the NFF President:

I want to see Nigerias football develop and move in a more dynamic trajectory from football administration to youth and grassroots football, talent hunt and use of Nigerias home based talents.

Nigeria also needs a more privatized and better organised football regime that can rival others in Europe and America, he said.

The president, therefore, urged the NFF to work with the Sport ministry and football stakeholders to provide Nigeria with a 10-year Football Master Plan that would ensure youth football development, in line with FIFAs commitment.

He urged corporate organisations to invest in sports development, and pledged his administrations commitment to turn sports into business.

He added that the expected reviewed Sport Industry Policy will be the catalyst that turns football activities associated with it into key contributors to the national economy.

In his remarks, Dare thanked the President for his support for sports development in the country, and for approving the reclassification of sports as business, instead of mere recreation.

He promised that a new draft policy on the sports industry was almost ready, as well as a 10-year master plan for football at all levels.

The new FIFA Council member, Pinnick, equally lauded President Buhari for his support for football, saying: without you, I couldnt have won election into the FIFA Council. Your name is highly respected across the continent.

Pinnick pledged to be a worthy Ambassador of the country, adding I will use the office to build Nigerian football, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

He was on March 12, elected into the FIFA Council after a landslide victory, defeating Malawian FA President Walter Nyamilandu by 43 votes to eight at the CAF General Assembly held in Rabat, Morocco.

He becomes the third Nigerian elected into the prestigious council after Oyo Orok Oyo (1980-1988) and Amos Adamu (2006-2010). (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

A Nigerian-born FIFA Badge Football Referee, Ndidi Madu, on Friday urged Nigerian youths to be focused and dedicated to the pursuit of their goals in life.

Madu gave the advice when she paid a courtesy call on CSP Ebere Amaraizu, National Coordinator of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) at the POCACOV Resource Centre in Enugu.

According to her, hard work, dedication, discipline, focus and defining your goals early in life have a lot to do for one to be a champion in his or her field of endeavour.

Madu, who is a POCACOV Ambassador, urged youths to shun cultism, substance and drug abuse as well as other negative tendencies that usually derail them from remaining focused and making it as champions.

Becoming a champion has a lot to do with adequate discipline, dedication and focus.

As a person, you must marshal out and define your goals in life and pursue them with the right mindset to become a champion, she said.

Madu, who recounted her sojourn into the football referee duties as an athlete, said that today, her exploits had made Nigeria and indeed African proud.

She urged all to join hands with the Nigeria Police through POCACOV to stand against cultism and other vices in the country for strategic leadership direction and self-discovery for youths.

This is a nice programme by the Nigeria Police Force for the youths and we need to fully support it, she added.

Responding, Amaraizu, who also doubles as the South-East Director of Nigeria National League One, appreciatedMadu for her hard work and dedication which had taken her to the FIFA level.

He encouraged her to maintain the tempo as it is not easy to get to the top and to remain there.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Madu is an Enugu-based female referee of the Nigerian Football Referee Association that has made marks for Nigeria and Africa in football officiating hence her badging by FIFA.

She has also been appointed by FIFA as a football referee to officiate at the up-coming Tokyo 2021 Olympic in Japan. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The North Central Zone of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has congratulated the newly-elected executive members of the FCT chapter of the association for emerging victorious at its elective congress held on Friday in Abuja.

The message was communicated in a statement jointly signed by the Zonal Vice President, Danmusa Mohammed, and Secretary, Abubakar Hassan.

They applauded members of the FCT SWAN for the maturity exhibited throughout the process and for reelecting Ndubueze Chidoka and Ikenna Okonkwo as Chairman and Secretary respectively.

The statement added that the reelection of the two Full Council members by Members of the chapter was an indication that they have performed well in their first tenure which paved the way for their emergence.

The Leadership of the North Central zone of the Association called on the new executive members to carry all members along and to also intensify efforts to reach out to the aggrieved members of the association who were misled to bring them back on track, but with caution.

It also urged members of the chapter to support the newly-elected officials to move the association to greater heights, as they can hardly achieve meaningful progress in the chapter without the support of all members.

The statement also called on all stakeholders and partners of SWAN in FCT to give the FCT SWAN leadership every necessary support and cooperation that would enable them to succeed.

It would be recalled that Ndubueze Chidoka, a sports manager with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), was re-elected the chairman of Sports SWAN FCT chapter.

The election which was supervised by the SWAN national body, led by Honour Sirawo, saw Chidoka defeating his opponent, Bumi Haruna of Nigeria Info, by 76-4 votes.

Also reelected was an Online Editor with Blueprint Newspapers, Ikenna Okonkwo, who returned as the Secretary.

Okonkwo polled 78 votes to defeat his rival Chris Onokpegu of The Hunters Magazine, who garnered only one vote, while Muhyideen Jimoh, a Sports Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), emerged the Financial Secretary.

Jimoh got 77 votes to beat Omo Unubun of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) who picked three votes.

For the post of Vice Chairman, Salifu Usman of the Leadership Newspapers secured 78 votes to defeat Maxwell Nwachukwu who secured only two votes, while Albert Akota of Peoples Daily polled 76 votes to snatch the Assistant Secretary seat from Remi Solula of the Cable.

The Treasurer position went to Ayomide Makinde of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) who defeated Uche Nwudoh of Kiss FM 75-4.

Busayo Olowokere of the Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN) was elected unopposed with 80 votes to occupy the seat of Welfare Officer.

The newly-elected executive members were immediately sworn-in for a three-year tenure.

SWAN Vice President, South South, Bonny Nyong, Vice President North Central, Danmusa Mohammed, and Foster Chima, an ex officio, were the SWAN national officers who supervised the election.

However, a faction of SWAN members that abandoned the electoral process, organised themselves at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and elected Bumi Haruna as Chairman, while all the failed contestants at the other election were elected.

NAN reports that the group, led by former Chairman of FCT SWAN, Kayode Adeniyi, protested the involvement of the Sirawo-led national SWAN leadership in the FCT election.

They also claimed that the SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO), led by Ezeocha Nze, was not transparent in the conduct of the election. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ologunagba
Facebook has suspended former U.S. President Donald Trump on Facebook and Instagram platforms for two years effective Jan. 7.

Facebook, in a statement by Nick Clegg, Vice-President of Global Affairs, cited severe violation after Capitol Hill riots of January 6 and that Trumps accounts would only be reinstated if conditions permitted.

Last month, the Oversight Board upheld Facebooks suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts following his praise for people engaged in violence at the Capitol on January 6.

But in doing so, the board criticised the open-ended nature of the suspension, stating that it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension.

The board instructed us to review the decision and respond in a way that is clear and proportionate, and made a number of recommendations on how to improve our policies and processes, it said.

We are today announcing new enforcement protocols to be applied in exceptional cases such as this, and we are confirming the time-bound penalty consistent with those protocols which we are applying to Mr. Trumps accounts.

Given the gravity of the circumstances that led to Trumps suspension, we believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols, Facebook stated.

We are suspending his accounts for two years, effective from the date of the initial suspension on January 7 this year.

At the end of this period, we will look to experts to assess whether the risk to public safety has receded.

We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest.

Facebook stated that if the Oversight Board determined that there was still a serious risk to public safety, Facebook would extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk had receded.

When the suspension is eventually lifted, there will be a strict set of rapidly escalating sanctions that will be triggered if Trump commits further violations in future, up to and including permanent removal of his pages and accounts, it added.

In establishing the two year sanction for severe violations, we considered the need for it to be long enough to allow a safe period of time after the acts of incitement, to be significant enough to be a deterrent to Mr. Trump and others from committing such severe violations in future, and to be proportionate to the gravity of the violation itself.

We are grateful that the Oversight Board acknowledged that our original decision to suspend Trump was right and necessary, in the exceptional circumstances at the time.

But we absolutely accept that we did not have enforcement protocols in place adequate to respond to such unusual events. Now that we have them, we hope and expect they will only be applicable in the rarest circumstances.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the military qualities of late Lt.-Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro, a one-time Chief of Defence Staff, days after describing him as one of the finest soldiers the Nigerian Army has ever produced.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents spokesman in a statement, said Buhari made his feelings in a funeral oration read on his behalf by the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, at the burial ceremony of the late Dogonyaro in Lantang, Plateau, on Friday.

Buhari said Dogonyaro was an icon of professionalism, bravery and discipline as amply demonstrated in the attributes he displayed in his national and international military assignments.

The late general was a reference point for us and will remain a source of inspiration for several officers, serving and retired.

He was a great son of Nigeria, widely known for his uncommon loyalty to his country, a virtue which at this critical period of nationhood, Nigeria needs from all of us.

In a letter of condolence delivered by the Presidential delegation to Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Buhari said:

Laying down ones life for the country is one of the greatest sacrifices any citizen can make to his country.

His (Dogonyaros) many contributions will be remembered for years to come.

I pray that Almighty God will grant his family and the entire people of Plateau State the fortitude to bear the loss.

Speaking on behalf of the family, one of the late Generals children, Ibrahim thanked the President for his love and care for the Dogonyaro family.

Accompanying the Minister of Defence in the Presidents delegation were the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

Twitter had removed a post by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for violating its rules.

The tweet referred to the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War and to treating those misbehaving today in the language they will understand.

It follows a recent spate of attacks on offices, mainly in the south-east, blamed on regional secessionists.

Nigerias information minister called Twitters move unfair, labelling it double standards.

This is the first time a tweet from the president was deleted.

Buhari tweet on Tuesday reads:Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War.

Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.

A Twitter spokesperson said the post was in violation of the Twitter Rules.

The account owner will be required to delete the violative Tweet and spend 12 hours with their account in read-only mode.

The statement gave no further details.

The minister of information had said that Twitter may have its own rules; its not the universal rule, adding that if the president felt concerned about a situation, he is free to express such views.

He said Twitter had not banned incitement tweets from other groups.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George
Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, former Director-General of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Friday assumed office as the Federal-Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that her assumption of office followed the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27, that she should swap with the former head of NCFRMI, Sen. Basheer Mohammed.

The President had in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Shehu Garba, approved the movement.

The statement read: President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the swapping of positions by two heads of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

This is to realise and sustain the governments abiding desire for effective and efficient service delivery in the two organisations.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, speaking while being received by management and other staff of the commission in Abuja, promised to compliment all efforts that had been put in place to move the commission forward.

The Federal Commissioner also pledged to work as a team and family to achieve the goals of the commission.

I will work in peace and harmony, equity and justice to achieve our mandate as a team and as individuals.

My expectation is to compliment the efforts of those I met on the ground to ensure we strengthen our effort as commission, on behalf of the country.

Expect equity and fairness from me, we will work with stability and we will double up effort, she said.

Princess Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator, New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD), who was at the event, described Sulaiman-Ibrahim as a good team player.

Akobundu called on the management and staff of the organisation to play their role to make her stay successful.

She also described the refugees commission as a friendship organisation, adding that her experience with it had been pleasant.

Everybody must play their role, refugees commission is a strategic department, challenges must be identified promptly for us to solve, the Federal Commissioners stay will be a comfort for all of us, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News