By Adenike Ayodele

Embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha , accused of defiling a 14-year-old minor has closed his defence before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baba Ijesha is facing a six-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.

The charges were proffered against him by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

During Fridays proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr Dada Awosika (SAN), notified the court that the fourth defence witness, Mr Olukayode Ogunbanjo, was the last witness in the trial.

I wish to appeal to the court for the possible date of adoption of final written address, Awosika said.

Earlier, Ogunbanjo who goes by the alias, Pastor Jerosi, in his evidence claimed that Baba Ijesha and the minors foster mother, Ms Damilola Adekoya, alias Princess, werein a relationship.

Led in evidence by a co-defence counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran, Ogunbanjo told the court that he had worked with Baba Ijesha for over 15-years in the entertainment industry.

The witness, an actor and a comedian, told the court that Baba Ijesha was his friend and a colleague.

He revealed that Baba Ijesha got in contact with Princess during one of the shows he anchored called Orisun.

We were about five persons that used to do the show together. On that day, while the show was going on, Princess called on the hotline that she wanted to join our programme.

There was a day she called Baba Ijesha that he should come over to her place in Iwaya. I drove the car to her house in Iwaya.

When we got there, Ijesha prostrated to her mother and the woman said take good care of my daughter.

Baba Ijesha at that point revealed to me that he was dating Princess but she was taking the relationship too far, the witness said.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, the witness, however, said he did not have any knowledge of what transpired inside the comediennes house.

On April 19, 2021, I will be correct to say that you were not at No. 13 Wellbow St., Iwaya, as a result, you do not know what transpired inside Princesss house?, Sule asked.

On April 19, 2021, I did not know what transpired inside the house as I was in Aguda in Surulere.

All I know is what I have said. I was not inside the house. I do not have any knowledge of what happened in the house, Ogunbanjo responded.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo adjourned the case until June 6 for the adoption of final written address.

NAN reports that the defendant was arraigned on June 24, 2021. During the trial, six prosecution witnesses testified against him.

They are actress and comedienne, Princess, the 14-year-old minor, a child expert, Mrs Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, a medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola, the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Wahab Kareem and a policewoman, Insp Abigail Omane.

The DPP closed its case against the defendant on Dec. 15, 2021 while Baba Ijesha opened his defence on Feb. 17.

Source: NAN News

Ruth Oketunde

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), says it is working with relevant agencies to ascertain the proximate cause of the fire incident at Karmo Market, located in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The Director-General, FEMA, Mr Abbas Idriss, said this in a statement by Nkechi Isa, Head, Public Relations Unit, FEMA, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an early morning fire razed the popular market, known for the sales of second hand clothing among other household items, on Thursday.

Idriss who commiserated with the affected traders on behalf of the FCT ministers, said that though there were no casualties during the incident, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The loss and accessors team of FEMA, NEMA, Traders Association, Area Council Local Emergency Management Committee as well as security agencies are on the field to get an estimated value of losses incurred by the traders.

FEMA was working with all relevant agencies to ascertain the proximate cause of the fire and would forward a full report to the administration after the investigations, he said.

The director-general commended the search and rescue team of FEMA, shop owners, security agencies, community leaders and the people of Karmo for their efforts in salvaging some goods and properties from the inferno.

He, however, appealed to traders not to reside or cook within the markets, while ensuring that they put off all electrical appliances to avoid a repeat of such inferno. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Doris Esa

The Federal Government says it will explore the potentials in the Chinese Juncao technology for the development of a stronger agricultural base for the country.

A statement by Mrs Eno Olotu, Deputy Director, Information in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Thursday explained that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said this would be done through the ministry.

Abubakar said this when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria , Cui Jian Chun visited him on Thursday, in Abuja.

The minister applauded China for its vast agricultural programmes and projects which he said has helped the country attain food sufficiency despite its huge population.

If China can feed itself with over one billion population, we can too. We are ready to leverage on the Chinese technology to also develop our agricultural base, he said.

Abubakar commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his focus and interventions in the agricultural sector, saying that it is a viable sector that would create jobs especially for the youth and boost economic development .

He assured the Chinese ambassador that the ministry was keen in partnering with China to share in the Juncao technology in grass feed for livestock farming, traditional medicine and in biomass energy for crop protection.

We want to harness on these projects to create more jobs for Nigerian youth.

Anything we do in agriculture is directed to youth empowerment, we will continue to collaborate and cooperate with China to actualise our goals, he said.

Earlier, Chun, said he was in the ministry to share areas of mutual, bilateral and economic benefits between Nigeria and China.

He said that China was ready to launch a 3-prone pilot project in Nigeria, using the Juncao technology.

Chun said that the Juncao grass grows faster with high yields and rich nutrition and is used for the alleviation of soil erosion and rocky desertification.

He explained further that the technology utilises Juncao raw materials to produce feeds, fertilisers, biomass energy, biological materials to support environmental protection and climate change response.

Mr Nasir Adhama, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, said Nigeria and China had a lot to share together especially in agriculture.

Adhama, who accompanied the ambassador on the visit said, the nation would gain more if it taps into the vast potentials of China to develop the sector.

He also said that any country that wants to develop in agriculture and generate jobs for its youth, must partner with China for their expansive and innovative technology, adding that both countries would gain a lot in the collaboration. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the agency has acquired new mechanical devices to further check substandard drugs.

Adeyeye said this in Abuja on Thursday while fielding questions from newsmen at the unveiling of 73 new vehicles procured to aid the operation of the agency.

She said that NAFDAC staff members were already working on uploading tools on laptops that would be used as devices to check unwholesome and substandard medicine.

This devices cost 57, 000 dollars each and we have 40 of them; it will be used to check the standard even if it is tablet or capsule, it will show whether it is fake or not.

It will go further to show the quantity of the medicine, as we plan towards attaining maturity level-four; this is part of what the World Health Organisation (WHO) wants to see that we have put in place.

We will also be doing track attrite, another device to track unwholesome medicine and other products, this is highly technical, she explained.

The NAFDAC boss added that the agency was doing everything within its power to check for unwholesome medicine.

On fake drugs, Adeyeye debunked the rumour that 70 per cent of medicines found in Nigeria were fake, saying this is complete lie from the pit of hell.

She said that if at all there were fake medicines in circulation, it should not be more than 13 to 15 per cent.

She said that it would take over one year to attain Certification of Maturity grade level-four, as it required the agency to also put many other things in place.

According to her, the agency has put so many things in shape before the Certification of Maturity grade level-three was recently granted to the agency.

She said that the agency was working to complete its new vaccine building as part of the criteria to achieve maturity grade level-four certification.

Now that Nigeria is a potential vaccine manufacturing country, the WHO expects a lot in term of regulations to enable the country meet up with maturity grade level-four certification, she said.

On equipment, Adeyeye said that since assuming duty as the director-general, she had procured 143 vehicles to aid the agencys operation and more would be purchase.

She expressed the hope that every staff of the agency would work in a conducive environment with adequate equipment to ensure productivity.

Mr Yusuf Suleiman, Chairman, NAFDAC Board of Trustee said that more offices are under construction to enable the agency move from analogue to digital.

Suleiman, represented by Dr Yahaya Bolaji, a board member said that the board would ensure the welfare of the staff. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

By Oluwafunke Ishola

A pulmonologist and consultant public health physician, Prof. Olufunke Adeyeye, says pneumococcal disease is not getting required attention, in spite the challenges arising from the disease burden.

Adeyeye, Professor of Medicine at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, said this during a virtual meeting on Adult Vaccination on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by Pfizer Biopharmaceutical Company.

Pneumococcal diseases are bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and can affect the lungs and other parts of the body.

It is a leading cause of severe illnesses globally, with the infection causing pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infection (sepsis).

Adeyeye noted that pneumococcal diseases are public health concerns globally and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

She said that a World Health Organisation (WHO) data revealed that 10 countries in Africa and Asia were among those with the highest numbers of pneumococcal infection globally.

The professor noted that the data showed that Nigeria accounts for five per cent of the total burden, holding a third place after India and China.

According to her, the population of Nigerians affected with pneumococcal disease is worrisome, noting that the infection leads to hospitalisation which has a significant economic impact on the patients.

She asserted that the disease could result in meningitis, noting that eight out of nine persons that have meningitis arising from bacterial pneumococcal die from the infection.

Adeyeye said that significant proportion of mortality from pneumococcal disease occurs among the elderly, especially those with co-morbidities, noting that preventive measures through pneumococcal vaccination in adults should be intensified.

She noted that vaccines are readily available, noting, however, that data, funding, adequate awareness and mobilisation should be intensified to enhance vaccine uptake.

The professor also stressed the need to erase the notion that vaccines were for children and pregnant women, noting that vaccines are important strategy that prevents people from being sick.

Also, Dr Ogugua Osiogbu, a Consultant Physician, said that adult vaccination was crucial and should be up-to-date, noting that immunity from childhood vaccines could wear off over time.

Osiogbu, Head of Geriatrics Unit, National Hospital, Abuja, said that vaccination reduces the incidence of disease among populations and the social and economic burden of the disease on communities.

Every year, thousands of adults in Nigeria become severely ill and are hospitalised because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent.

Many adults even die from these diseases. It is harrowing when I see young Nigerians die from liver disease which could be prevented through Hepatitis B vaccine.

By getting vaccinated, a lot of people can help protect themselves from much of this unnecessary suffering, she said.

She listed some adult vaccines to include Hepatitis A and B vaccines, Tetanus vaccine, Meningitis vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccine, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, among others.

According to her, vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures against diseases.

She appealed to the three levels of government to evolve strategies that would bridge adult vaccination gaps by resolving issues of vaccine affordability to encourage more adults take the vaccine.

According to her, this can be done through a national immunisation programme for adults, or coverage of the vaccination through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Osiogbu noted that mass vaccination was pivotal to achieve Sustainable Development Goal three, reduce unnecessary hospitalisation and assist population live longer and healthier life. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, March 31, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian Army has denied the alleged report that its troops killed one Cyril Obruche in OvreEku community, a border town between Edo and Delta states.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, described the report as misleading, false and orchestrated to present the Army in bad light.

Nwachukwu said troops were not deployed during the protest when the unfortunate incident allegedly occurred at PRESCO Plc in the border community.

For the records, considering the sanctity of human life and the enormity of the allegation, the Nigerian Army formations under whose areas of responsibility the community fall conducted a discreet investigation that revealed that troops were not deployed to the said company, PRESCO plc.

The media report is not only misleading, but laced with falsehood orchestrated to present the NA in bad light.

It Is important to unequivocally state that no soldier was deployed at Ovre-Eku community, thus the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Master Cyril Obruche during the protest cannot be attributed to troops of the Nigerian army.

It is also pertinent to reiterate that, the corpse of the deceased is not in the custody of the Nigerian army, he said.

Nwachukwu extended the Nigerian armys sympathy with the family of the deceased and members of Ovre-Eku community.

He urged individuals or groups peddling the falsehood to get their records straight and desist from misinforming the public just to tarnish the image and reputation of the Nigerian army.

He assured Nigerians that the army would remain resolute in its resolve to respect the fundamental rights of the citizenry and adhere to extant rules of engagement in internal security operations.

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Security Manager of the company, Mr Ahmed Rabiu, had earlier absolved the Nigerian army of any involvement in the incident.

In a letter dated March 30 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 5, the manager did not made mention of any involvement of soldiers in the incident. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on Thursday in Abuja, engaged relevant stakeholders in a validation meeting on nutrition guidelines to improve school feeding programmes.

Dr Umar Bindir, the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme of the ministry said that the aim was to have a globally acceptable document.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the validation meeting on nutrition guidelines of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme was organised by the ministry.

Bindir further said that the school feeding programme was aimed at boosting the enrollment of pupils as well as their nutritional status.

The objective of the guidelines is to identify national nutritional requirements and reduce micronutrients deficiencies.

We also need to promote nutrition best practices to strengthen the programme better.

The nutritional status is one of the most important components and objectives of the programme and this is what brought about nutritional guidelines that we are here to validate.

The guidelines are so important to us knowing that part of the role of the state government is to develop the menu being developed by the nutritional officer in that state.

We need to ensure that what is on that menu is of nutritional value and beneficial to the pupils nutritionally and academically, he said.

In her remarks, the minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq said that the school feeding programme began in 2016 and was implemented in 35 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory.

Umar-Farouq was represented by her Technical Assistant on National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Zainab Abubakar.

She said that the programme would provide one free nutritious meal to pupils from Primary 1 to Primary 3 in public schools nationwide.

According to Umar-Farouq, the school feeding is a collaborative programme between the Federal Government and state governments.

Also speaking, Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, National President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria said that the school feeding programme could be breakfast or lunch.

School feeding improves pupils school performance, alleviates hunger, increases school enrollment, and improves nutrition and health, Afolabi said.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has lauded the Bank of Industry (BOI) for creating more than nine million jobs in the last seven years.

He also commended BOI for disbursing over N1.24 trillion to 4.2 million beneficiaries in Micro, Small, Medium and Large enterprises.

The president made the commendation when he virtually inaugurated the Second Tower of BOI building, in Abuja on Thursday.

Buhari said that the bank had continued to successfully execute its mandate as a policy institution of the Federal Government, extending single digit interest rate loans to manufacturers.

He, therefore, commended the management of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and BOI for their contributions to the economic development of the country and wellbeing of Nigerians.

He said: In order to further enhance its capacity to impact the industrial sector on a transformational scale, I approved the issuance of a sovereign guarantee to help the Bank raise funds in the Eurobond market.

I am glad to note that the Bank has recently completed the transaction by raising 750 million Euros from international investors.

The proceeds of this Eurobond will be disbursed to Large, Medium

By Habibu Harisu

A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has adjourned hearing in the case of five car dealers standing trial for allegedly violating Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regulations.

The defendants are: Shehu Ahmad, Shehu Mariga, Aliyu Dauda, Tukur Shehu and Umaru Yabo.

The defendants were arraigned along with their companies, Ijabah Motors, Jangwarzo General Motors, KGN Gumbi Motors, Daraja Motors 2 and Gamji Motors.

They were accused of allegedly failing to submit declaration of activities, in line with extant regulations on customer identification and rendition of returns on transactions to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).

The defendants had pleaded guilty when case was first mentioned on March 17.

The parties were, however, asked to prove and defend their case, in the interest of justice.

At Thursdays sitting, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Saad Hannafi, led a witness, Ahmad Bello, an EFCC official who testified on non-compliance by the defendants and tendered exhibits, which were admitted by the court.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, adjourned the case till May 11 for prosecution and defence counsel to adopt their written addresses.

Omotosho ordered the defendants to continue with the bail earlier admitted by the court.

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Yauri

Dr Sufyan Ibrahim, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria, has said fasting is one of the medical remedies for the control of borderline type-2 diabetics and other ailments.

Ibrahim made this known during Ramadan Lecture organised by Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) ABUTH Chapter in Zaria on Thursday.

Ibrahim, who was also Amir of the association, described the one month fasting observed by Muslims during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar as a period of health enhancement.

He explained that glucose is the primary source of energy, within few hours of fasting the glucose would be used-up and the body would use fatty acid which are metabolised in the liver to form Ketone bodies.

He added that Ketone bodies are not just fuel used during periods of fasting; but are potent in signaling molecules with major effects on cell and organ functions.

He said ketone bodies are the efficient fuels for the brain and organs in the body where it regulates a lot of metabolic pathways that help increase sensitivities of cells to insulin for diabetic patients.

Most of the things we have in type two diabetic patients is that their cells were not utilizing the insulin that is available in their system thereby making their cells resistant to insulin.

Even though the body produces enough insulin the cells cannot use it appropriately.

Ramadan fasting helps to make their cells to be more sensitive to insulin; it also enable glucose to go into the body and allow the cells to function appropriately, he said.

Ibrahim said that fasting also helps diabetic patients to lose weight, adding that a lot of weight on its own is way of increasing cellular sensitivity to insulin.

He, therefore, advised diabetic patients who are already on drugs to take their drugs regularly.

Ibrahim said that apart from ameliorating insulin resistance and obesity; fasting reduces the occurrence of spontaneous tumors during normal aging and suppresses the growth of many types of induced tumors.

Earlier, Malam Abdulazeez Hassan, the Amir of the association said the lecture was aimed at sensitising the public on the benefits of Ramadan and its obligations.

He said the association had also concluded plans to reach out to the needy such as orphans and other less-privileged with some palliatives to enable them have a hitch-free exercise. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Constance Imasuen

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), says more than 300 clusters have been identified for electrification across the country to achieve the goal of providing constant electricity.

Mr Ayang Ogbe, the Director of Promotion (REA) in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that so far, more than 12,000 shops were presently receiving clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity supply.

Ogbe said that the Sura Shopping Complex Independent Power Project in Lagos State was electrified.at the inauguration of the pilot phase of the Energising Economies Initiative (EEI).

The EEI is a Federal Government initiative that is implemented by the REA,

According to him, the focus of the EEI is to electrify economic clusters in Nigeria which includes markets, shopping plazas/complexes and industrial clusters in line with the Federal Governments goal of increasing electricity access.

The REA is mandated to implement the initiative through Technical Assistance to private project developers.

This includes identification and audit of economic clusters, facilitation of engagement with key stakeholders and technical support for project development and operation.

He said that at the Sura complex, 1,047 shops were powered, adding that also at the Ariaria International Market Independent Power Project, Aba in Abia, over 4,000 shops were energised.

According to him, more than 6,000 shops at Sabon Gari market, Kano State were energised with more connections in the pipeline.

Deployment is currently ongoing in markets under Phase 1 of the EEI.

In 2019, a Tripartite Agreement between Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Green Village Electricity (GVE) and Wuse Market Association was signed for the development of one MW Interconnected Mini-grid.

The phase 2 rollout plans are currently in view and conversations have begun between the developers, state governments and other key stakeholders,

Surveys and energy audits are currently being conducted for 98 Markets across the country. The agency is also exploring ways to secure concessionary finance and technical assistance to further support EEI developers. he said.

Ogbe said that the REA recently held a roundtable with Energising Economies Initiative (EEI) Private Power Developers to identify implementation gaps,

He said the roundtable was held to also discuss Improvement in service delivery and strengthening of the initiative to achieve the desired goal of providing constant and reliable electricity in economic clusters across the Federation.

The EEI developers at the roundtable had representatives from Ariaria International Market Energy Solutions (AMES) Limited, Solad Integrated Power Solutions Limited, Rensource Energy Limited and Green Village Electricity (GVE) Projects Limited.

At the forum, the setbacks faced by the private developers as stated by their representatives include technical and legal solutions to customer bypass, funding constraints, gas unavailability, power shortage and system collapse due to system capacity,

Inadequate provision of metering, electricity vending system issues and challenges with customer service delivery.

The agency while acknowledging the challenges faced by the developers, reiterated the need for them to deliver on their obligations as enshrined in their bilateral and tripartite agreements.

REA emphasised that some obligations are not being met by the developers in view of the performance of their projects, he said.

Ogbe said that REA agreed that some of the challenges are externally induced such as gas availability constraints,

He said the agency, however, said that many of the challenges were within the developers control and they must do more to mitigate these and get their projects back on track.

The agency advised the developers to strengthen their communication culture by proactively updating their customers on key information and technical issues in order to keep their stakeholders up-to-date per time.

The REA pointed out that it is currently conducting Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) on the EEI Markets. The output of the work will help inform us on how best to support the initiative as well as existing projects, he said

According to him, REA reiterated that the Federal Government is keen on the success of the initiative.

He said that the agency plans to create an enabling environment where the private sector developer handles all the project delivery steps from inception to conclusion.

While responding to the challenges raised by the agency, the private developers agreed to step up toward ensuring the issues are addressed and services improved in all affected markets,

They said such efforts will further serve as mitigation measures in upcoming EEI projects, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has expressed worry over the growing rate of cyber-attacks across the globe, especially in the country.

Pantami said this at the opening of a two-day International Workshop on Cyber-security and Digitalisation, organised by the Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL), technology unit of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

The workshop is being organised by ACETEL in partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and CEA-SMIA.

Represented by Prof. Sahalu Junaidu, the minister said that more malware were being launched on daily basis, more than ever before.

Malware is a software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage or gain unauthorised access to a computer system.

The resulting damages of cyber-attacks are not only increasingly, but are unfortunately projected to cost the loss of approximately 5.2 trillion dollars across the globe by 2023.

Cybercrime is one of the challenges resulting from the internet and is a great threat to the global economy.

Cyber-security ventures expects global cybercrime costs to grow by 15 per cent per year over the next five years, reaching 10.5 trillion dollars annually by 2025, up from 3 trillion dollars in 2015.

This represents the greatest transfer of economic wealth in history and is one of the greatest transfer risks against the drive for innovation and investment, he said.

According to Pantami, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa record the largest losses to cybercrimes as at 2017.

The minister quoted a Kenya-based cyber-security IT firm, Serianu, as saying that African economies lost about 3.5 billion dollars to cybercrimes as at 2017.

In that year, annual losses to cybercrimes were estimated for Nigeria at 649 million dollars, and Kenya at 210 million dollars, while South African Banking, Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), said South Africa lost approximately 157 million dollars.

Pantami also said that the increase in cybercrimes was due to the outbreak of COVID-19 which inspired a global adoption of digital platforms.

The Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said time had come for every Nigerian citizen to be digitally enabled to reduce cyber risks as cyber-security was considered to be the cornerstone of successful digital transformation initiatives.

The Digital Economy Initiative for Africa (DE4A) has advocated that every citizen, company and government in Africa must be digitally enabled by 2030 in support of the African Unions Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa.

This is in recognition that digital technologies present a unique opportunity for rapid economic growth, innovation, job creation and access to services unimaginable only a decade ago.

There is no doubt that complex cyber-attack in educational, governmental and industrial settings pose a big threat to smooth growth and efficient business processes.

Criminals exploit the fact that many industrial machines as well as simple devices (e.g., TVs, smartphones, PCs and servers) are increasingly software-controlled and connected to the Internet.

Unfortunately, many of these devices lack regular security updates and are very vulnerable; cybercriminals try to gain access to the software of these devices so as to conduct Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, Peters said.

He explained that the consequences of a successful cyber-attack can be devastating for companies and businesses as it could lead to bankruptcy.

Also speaking, Prof. Grace Jokthan, the Director, ACETEL, said the workshop could not have some at a better time as Africa and the globe strive to achieve a high level of efficiency on digitalisation.

She urged governments and citizens to be committed to understanding the risk of cyber threats and adhere to cyber security policies.

We all need to equip ourselves with the needed cyber-security strategies to sustain the on-going digital transformation, Jokthan said.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, in his keynote address said several organisations were quick to embrace digital transformations without putting adequate cyber-security policies and strategy in place.

Bawa, who was represented by Mr Bello Mohammed, the Director of ICT, EFCC, noted that cyber-security policies had helped a lot of businesses survive cyber-attacks.

He listed online scams, digital extortion, Business Email Compromise (BEC), ransom-ware and botnets, as the most common internet fraud, which had led to huge loss of information and revenue. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

There is also need for adequate budgetary provisions and prompt release of such fund, to promote research and development in agriculture at all levels of governance.

He suggested the establishment of Agriculture Trust Fund to support research, innovation and proven breakthroughs in various agricultural institutes as well as public and private universities that focus on agriculture.

The 2021 Agricultural Support Fund Bill at the National Assembly is a good initiative and in tune with this point, he added.

The lecturer also recommended improvement and expansion of agricultural land holdings to enhance increased access to critical factors of production.

He said Nigerians must embrace what he called hydroponic farming, to raise farmers output and reduce over-dependence on large acres of farmlands for crop production, especially in the light of the surging and frightening pace of national insecurity.

He stressed the need to boost farmers productive capacity with the use of improved farming techniques like tractors for clearing, cultivation and planting, that would ensure a complete departure from the use of hoes, cutlass and other obsolete farm tools.

He said the use of modern and functional irrigation system would also ensure optimal utilisation of the countrys water resource potentials for all-year-round crop production

The don added that the adoption of an advanced fishing farm technology would make Nigeria become Africas leading exporter of fish products. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rukayat Adeyemi

The Lagos State Government (LASG) on Wednesday said that it had paid nothing less than N38billion as accrued pension rights to 9,865 retirees from May 2019 till date .

The Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Ajibola Ponle, said this at the presentation of bond certificates to the 92nd batch of retirees from the states Public Service by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) in Lagos .

Ponnle, represented byMrs Bandele Fadipe, the Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service Pensions Office said that the retirees were from the Mainstream, Local Government, State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and other Parastatals of the states public service.

She said the state, in adherence to its responsibility, had also credited the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of 515 retirees, alongside their monthly contributions with thesum of N1.520 billion for the month of March .

The commissioner said this was their past service benefits prior to the starting of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2007.

The state government recognises the plights of our estimable workers who had served in its public service and the need to safeguard their financial security after service.

This administration has continually prioritised the prompt payment of the governments pension obligations within the available limited resources.

Despite huge liabilities, we have promptly paid the pension entitlements of retirees under the Pay As You Go Pension Scheme monthly while LASPEC ensures payment of accrued pension rights to retirees under the CPS , so our retirees can access their RSAs without delay, she said.

The commissioner assured them that the welfare and wellbeing of the retirees were top-priority of the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration and that the state government would not relent in its pursuit to improve retirement life.

I wish you the best and advise you to embrace the joy and challenges of this new phase of life , Ponnle said .

In his address, Mr Babalola Obilana , the Director -General of LASPEC, said that theefforts of the present administration under Gov. Sanwo-Olu toward the success of the CPS could not be overemphasised.

Obilana noted that the state had consistently been implementing the CPS since its inception in line with the provisions of the Lagos State Pension Reform Law of 19th March, 2007, now amended.

The state government in a bid to secure the future of the public service which is its greatest asset, has consistently prioritised pension contributions in the annual state budget and we are happy to note that Lagos State is fully compliant with the statutory requirements of the CPS.

Both employees and employers contributions are remitted promptly into individual employees RSAs after salaries must have been received.

Despite rising recurrent expenditure and the current economic climate, the state government has made continuous monthly payments a priority to ensure retirees access their retirement benefits as soon as possible , he said.

According to him, LASPEC also constantly reviews its business processes to ensure first class service delivery to the retirees and accomplish the governors goal of the immediate payment of pension entitlements upon retirement from the public service.

Obilana appreciated the continuous support of its stakeholders, the PFAs and ASPs for their relentless efforts toward the success of the CPS.

Please, beware of any individual or association who claims to be affiliated with the state government and can process or fast track your pension entitlements for a fee , the director-general warned. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Femi Ogunshola

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on unclaimed funds in commercial banks in Nigeria, has uncovered over N300 billion unclaimed funds in the banks.

Rep. Uyme Idem, the Chairman of the committee said this on Wednesday in Abuja, adding that the amount represented a fraction of unclaimed funds in the commercial banks.

Idem said that the money could be described as hanging funds emanating from failed transactions by government agencies and banks.

The chairman said that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of recovering N1.2 trillion which had been hanging in the banks,
He said that about N300 billion was discovered on March 29 from banks and government agencies.

He said that the committee was still scrutinising documents and reports sent to it by banks and government agencies, adding that this would help the committee to recover more funds.

The commercial banks are regulated by government and they cannot refuse us.

This assignment is crucial. We will not allow any government agency or commercial bank to undermine our power.

If the commercial banks fail to appear the next line of action will be to summon them, he said.

He said that a situation where the country would go out to borrow money to fund its budget when it has over N1 trillion hanging in banks would not augur well for the economy.

He said that if the money in the banks was recovered, it would go a long way to help the country from borrowing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Citi Bank earlier appeared before the committee but was told to go and reconciled its documents and report back. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Olukayode Babalola

The Federal Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on Wednesday inaugurated projects worth N1.6 billion at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects include an ICT Complex, Faculty of Environment Sciences Building, Faculty of Education Building, Laboratory Complex and offices.

NAN also reports that the inauguration of the projects was part of programmes for the universitys sixth combinedconvocation.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Suleiman Bala-Mohammed, thanked TETFund and the ministry for supporting the institution with standard structures.

If you go round the campus, majority of the structures were constructed by TETFund over the years.

So, on behalf of the management and staff of the university, I want to express my profound gratitude to TETFund, he said.

Bala-Mohammed said that the ICT complex sponsored by TETFund through the 2013/2016 intervention cost N315 million and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences also sponsored by TETFund cost N395 million.

He said the complex had the capacity for more than 1,000 capacity computer work stations, offices and conveniences.

According to him, the laboratory complex and offices are also sponsored by TETFund from its 2018/2019 special intervention at N541 million.

The vice-chancellor said the Faculty of Education Building cost N355 million and was sponsored by Federal Governments NEEDS Assessment Intervention.

Representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Mr Sunny Echono, Executive Secretary, TETFUND and the Nasarawa State governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, witnessed the ceremony.

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA) and Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN) on Wednesday stressed the need for the youth to have sense of direction to drive transformational impact and positive change in Nigeria.

The Chairman, Publicity of NIDOA/NDN Planning Committee, Dr Barth Shepkong, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

Shepkong said that to this end, the groups have agreed to organise a virtual youth summit titled: Youth and National Development in Nigeria scheduled to take place on April 9.

In 2022, NIDOA and NDN are embarking on a collaborative partnership to host a Diaspora Nigerian Youth Summit.

The goal of the youth summit is to bring all Nigerian Youths together, motivate them, get them involved and give them a sense of direction to drive transformational impact and positive change in Nigeria.

Both organisations see the Nigerian youths as a catalyst for change and formidable force to make impact in their communities and our country Nigeria.

A core objective of this collaboration is to establish a foundation and a movement to inspire the young people to serve their communities and raise the bar on what we can achieve together, he said.

Shepkong said that the groups were neither a political movement nor planning to create political parties.

This is not a political movement, and we are not here to create political parties or endorse a political candidate.

Rather, we are here to drive transformational change in our young people and our country, Nigeria, he said.

He said the groups understood that government alone could not solve the myriads of issues facing the country, hence, the need to impact in the youths the knowledge and experience that would help shape them for better Nigeria.

Some of the guest speakers at the summit include Prof. Usman Yusuf, former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); and Petra Akinti Onyegbule, chief responsibility officer of LibraPrime Communications Ltd.

Others are Dr Tunji Abayomi, civil right leader and ambassador; Toye Sobande, leadership expert, lawyer and certified management consultant and Destiny Asen, chief executive officer, Perfect Asen Entertainment Ltd.

While NIDOAs mission is to
promote the spirit of patriotism, networking, and cooperation among Nigerians in the Diaspora, for their individual and collective success in the countries they reside, NDN is an organisation for volunteer professionals of like mind working with accomplished patriotic Nigerian professionals striving for the development of the country.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will provide grant to 12,283 farmers under the FCT Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) Programme.

Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, the Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCTA said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ibrahim spoke at the opening of a capacity building programme for FCT Fadama CARES Project facilitators and desk officers.

The FCTA has allocated .5 million to the FCT Fadama CARES Project for the implementation of three Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) with targets, to provide grant support to 12,283 and rehabilitate 17 water markets.

The figure which accounts for 30 per cent of the total allocation to FCT Cares Programme by the World Bank, underlines the significance FCTA accords to agriculture in the territory.

We are very conscious of this gesture and wish to assure that we will continue to put in our best to justify the confidence on us from the FCTA, he said.

He said the FCT CARES Programme is a World Bank budget support to the FCTA for non-discretionary expenditure, targeted at supporting existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households.

Ibrahim said the Programme would be implemented using the World Bank Programme for Result (P for R) financing model.

According to him, this model requires the beneficiary of the credit, the FCTA to invest its own resources first, while the World Bank thereafter reimburses after verification of achieved result by Independent Verification Agents (IVAs).

He said the reimbursement would be done in line with agreed prices and targets earlier set for all Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs).

The Secretary pledged that the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat would provide the FCT Fadama CARES with the necessary support to ensure that vital projects were delivered.

In his remark, Mr Usman Adangara, the FCT Fadama CARES Project Coordinator said the facilitators and desk officers, being trained were the frontline project staff in the implementation of FCT Fadama CARES Project.

He said the training was to ensure that the capacities of officers were further built to fully equip them with necessary tools for the successful discharge of their duties.

Adangara said the implementation of FCT Fadama CARES Project had commenced with the declaration by World Bank that FCT was eligible to participate in the NG CARES having met all programme effectiveness criteria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate conclusion of all the processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja to Kaduna railway line.

He also directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation management to speedily repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay while the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution should also be extended to Lagos to Ibadan railway line.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Spokesman in a statement, said that Buhari gave these directives after receiving briefs from the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Irabor was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba

Also in his company were the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, and the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, in the State House.

The president also charged the law enforcement chiefs to bring back all passengers kidnapped.

He also directed that each of the callous terrorists be hunted down and made to face justice for their heinous acts as no one or group should be allowed to make the country prostrate.

He reiterated his earlier directive that the military should deal ruthlessly with terrorists.

He urged them to be more decisive and not spare anyone unlawfully wielding the AK 47 weapon.

No one should be allowed to hold the country to ransom, he added.

Buhari strongly condemned the bombing of the passenger train, describing it as a matter of grave concern.

Like most Nigerians, I am deeply pained by its occurrence, the second of its type, which has resulted in the death of a yet to be determined number of passengers and others who suffered injuries.

The attack on the train, a safe means of transport to many, is callous; and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured, he said.

The president commended the Law Enforcement agencies for their prompt response and emergency personnel who were responsible for the evacuation and treatment of the injured persons.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen, Irabor, who spoke with State House correspondents after the closed door meeting with the president, explained the purpose of their visit to the president.

We have come to brief the President regarding the unfortunate incident of yesterday, where some criminals, bandits had gone to lay improvised explosive devices on the rail tracks.

And, a passenger train was demobilised and seven Nigerianswere killed, 29 others wounded and some were kidnapped and we are yet to establish the exact number.

So, we went to the scene this morning, inspected the entire area and gave out instructions on what is to be done and we have come to brief the President on this development, he said.

According to Irabor, security agencies will build on the lessons they have learnt from the latest incident.

He, therefore, assured Nigerians that the military and other security agencies would not rest on their oars until normalcy is restored.

The challenge of insecurity is a constant one and so the defence and security agencies need to be on their toes 24/7.

This is unfortunate and we believe that the lessons out of this are what we need to build upon going forward.

I can perhaps use this opportunity and reassure the nation that based on the presidents directive, we will take every necessary action, not just to apprehend those behind this dastardly act are not just apprehended but for them to also face justice.

Going forward, certainly there will be greater security for the nation and I will like to urge everybody to go about their normal duties, he said. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Isaac Albert, a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, says the current security challenges confronting Nigeria can only be addressed only if the root causes were identified.

Albert said this at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre 1st Annual Members Summit with the theme,Nigerias Security in the 21st Century: Issues, Challenges and Panacea on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the world was currently faced with issues of international terrorism, environmental degradation, natural disasters, drugs, organised crime, inter-state war, refugee problems, and failed state system.

The professor said that Nigeria was being confronted from two axes of evil referring to the Gulf of Guinea and the Sahel, which he said were two specific environments that threw up security problems in Nigeria.

He said that while the country contended with the problem of oil theft around the Gulf of Guinea, the Sahel harboured troublemakers, terrorists, drug cartels, human traffickers and arms proliferation.

According to him, there is no part of Nigeria that is not having its own specific security problems, and with our military overwhelmed at this moment.

Everywhere you go across the nation, you see high caliber weapons that civilians who have no reason to even know about that even have them all over the place.

Now what makes the military tick is the training as well as the weapons in the hands of the state officers.

Now you have similar weapons in the hands of civilians who have no professional training on weapon handling, who have not been introduced to laws of ongoing conflict.

Our communities are getting totally detached from our security system. There are communities that pretend and no longer speak out.

So the question is, how do you protect that type of community? How do you protect a community that is paying tax to criminals? How do you protect a community that is protecting criminals?

Now, to deal with all these problems, my own recommendation is that we need to start with the root causes of the problems.

Unfortunately, the way we manage our security in Nigeria does not take into consideration the root causes; and so long as you are not dealing with the root causes, you will continue to have the problems because what the military does is to deal with two branches of the tree.

You deal with the top of the tree, but the root causes are political, he said.

Albert urged governments at all levels to work together towards addressing the challenges by adopting all-of-government, all-of-society and all-of-nations approach.

He also advocated that youths be empowered with the requisite training to be able to take up leadership roles, saying there could not be a peaceful state where people have no hope of tomorrow.

The Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said the summit was organised to discuss, understand and diagnose the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.

Wahab said the issues of insecurity required that all hands must be on deck to find lasting solution, adding that the military and the security agencies alone could not address the myriad of security challenges confronting the country.

He urged participants to brainstorm and make useful recommendations that could stand the test of time, adding that the country had enormous human and material resources needed to confront the issues. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Source: NAN News