According to him, the mileage attained by the most great economies today is tied to the huge investments on technology and innovations.

We need to think and act fast in investing in our universities and other tertiary institutions toward that direction.

If we should do things right, the frustrations that have hung over our institutions, especially the universities, will disappear.

On our part, we shall continue to support research works and innovations in our tertiary institutions as this is what drives national development, he said.

The executive secretary lamented that the traditional appropriation funding window for public universities in the country had failed the nation.

Bogoro noted that for universities to effectively carry out their mandate of teaching, research and community development, there must be enhanced funding.

The dwindling revenue in the country has posed serious threat to these institutions and therefore, emphasises the need for us to do more in driving and supporting research and development.

The TETFund boss who was the guest lecturer commended UNILAG for its research efforts, noting that it had rightfully earned its place as one of Africas best in that space.

Universty of Lagos is the best performer on the National Research Fund grant. They have been very persistent and I want to say that the quality of leadership in this university has made all these possible.

It takes a serious academic to believe in research and go ahead to win grants. We will continue to support focused leadership in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, Bogoro said.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said the primary

He said the school had since grown in leaps and bounds with more than 15,000 registered students on its various programmes for the session.

the

due to dwindling resources of government in recent times

Earlier, the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies of the university, Prof. Alabi Soneye, said while higher education remained a paramount source of knowledge, qualitative research remained the veritable tool in the development and advancement of society.

Source: NAN News

By Victor Nwachukwu

The Nigerian Bar Association, Imo branch, has set up a help desk to collate data of persons allegedly arrested and detained unjustly by the police in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the associations Publicity Secretary, Uzor Enwere, in Owerri on Thursday.

According to the statement, the help desk is aimed at addressing issues of wanton arrest and detention of innocent residents of Imo with a view to ensuring their release.

He stated that the Bars Committee on Human Rights would coordinate the desk at the Bar Centre and complaints received would be taken up with the appropriate quarters.

Considering that the courts are not sitting, the help desk will collate the names of innocent persons unjustly arrested and detained for the purpose of securing their release.

This approach is dictated by the precarious security situation in Imo at the moment, which has the semblance of war situation.

The outcome of our interactions reveal that there is more to the situation than meets the eye, Enwere stated.
He added that the help desk would open by 10am from June 4 at the Bar Centre.

He listed the help desk phone lines to include 08035251755, 08035512622 and 08035512622. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Owolewa

The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquire, on Thursday described the Esie Museum in Kwara as a wonderful discovery that is of a world class tourist attraction.

Pasquire said this in Esie, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, shortly after his tour of the Museum alongside Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, where an asphalt road leading to the historical site was also inaugurated.

I am very happy to be here. I have never heard of Esie Museum before. It is really a wonderful discovery. It is a world class museum, which deserves to be well-known across the world, the envoy declared.

Pasquire promised to encourage France nationals to visit the museum for various artefacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, and historical importance.

I shall try to inform many people from France and I can advise them to come here to see this museum.

Even with the new road that the governor just commissioned will help people to come and see this museum. It is very unique in this region and even in the world. It can be a world class tourist attraction in Kwara, he said.

On his two-day visit to the state, the French ambassador said he was impressed with the developmental strides of the AbdulRazaq administration in the last two years.

Within my two days of visit, I have seen so many new projects. I was impressed when I saw projects on rural development, the innovation hub, Ilorin Visual Arts Centre and we also saw some technical institutes.

We saw the big BUA Sugar Company in the north of the state. What is important for Nigeria is more projects and more development, and I am very impressed with what I saw here, he said.

AbdulRazaq had earlier explained that the construction of the Esie Museum road was part of the administrations integrated approach to engineer socio-economic and cultural development to make Kwara the new investment destination.

National Museum Esie is a federal government project. What we have done is to construct a new road leading to it.

This will also encourage more people to visit and open the economic space. We will be working with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture under Alhaji Lai Muhammad to make sure the right infrastructure is put in place and existing facilities upgraded, he said.

This is the first museum in Nigeria and from today onward it will be more known that Esie is on global map. That is the whole idea.

AbdulRazaq commended the French ambassador for his interest in attracting tourists to Esie Museum and other partnerships with the state government.

We thank the French Ambassador to Nigeria for leaving the highway and come down to Esie personally to see what is here, the governor said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Lynda Ikpeazu, member of the ECOWAS Parliament representing Nigeria, has told the Parliament that Nigeria has not lost control in the fight against insecurity and is determined to ending the menace.

Ikpeazu made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the ongoing Extraordinary Session of the Parliament, responding to recommendations for a concerted regional effort to assist Nigeria fight the insecurity ravaging the country.

Ikpeazu, who appreciated Members of Parliament for their concerns, said that Nigeria was exploring all measures with high level of determination to fight terrorism, banditry and other forms of violence.

She said that insecurity in the region was not peculiar to Nigeria, stating that the nation had a stable political situation.

Nigeria is determined to solve the insecurity confronting the country and several efforts are ongoing.

We are, however, not too big to get help from anyone and I am not the Executive so I cannot speak on that.

Nigeria is not the only country in the region facing insecurity and we are not just folding our hands, there are serious efforts ongoing in the fight against insecurity, Ikpeazu said.

Ikpeazu noted that insecurity was a ripple effect of bad governance, poverty and human rights violation and that was why the Nigerian National Assembly had taken steps of its constitution amendment to address triggers of insecurity.

She said that the House of Representative convened a summit of the Constitution amendment to get the input of all Nigerians in the process,

The National Assembly is holding public hearing across the country to get the suggestions from the Nigerian people on the best ways to govern the country.

This will enable us to get the views and contributions of Nigeria to constitution process which would in turn make them have a feeling of inclusiveness in the process.

Nigeria has definitely not lost control, we have a situation and we are working tirelessly towards addressing it, Ikpeazu added.

Mr Francis Alimikhena, another Nigerian representative at the ECOWAS Parliament said that Nigeria had taken several steps which had yielded positive results in the fight against terrorism.

Alimikhena, however, noted that a collaborated joint-border approach would further help Nigeria and the region in winning the war against terror as most of the insurgents were habouring in neigbouring countries.

If we get the cooperation of other neighbouring countries then we can be sure to win in the fight.

Because most of the terrorism elements when they are being fought from Nigeria, habour and begin to operate from bordering countries.

The Nigerian government and the military have been responsive, that is why when Nigerians clamoured for change of Service Chiefs, they were changed.

And with the way the new Service Chiefs are going we are sure that the war in the North/East will soon be a thing of the past, Alimikhena said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Some members the ECOWAS Parliament have called for concerted efforts by West African member states and the Authority of Heads of State and Government to tackle the growing insecurity in Nigeria.

The ECOWAS members of Parliament gave the recommendations on Thursday in Abuja following the presentation of a Country Report of the Nigerian delegation highlighting the spate of insecurity across the country.

According to the parliamentarians, Nigeria holds a significant position in the sub-region and the growing insecurity and communal clashes in the country has the capacity to impact negatively on neighbouring countries.

Hon. Shaka Sama, an Independent Representative from Sierra-Leone lamented the increasing level of insecurity across the region as presented by most member states in their reports.

Sama noted that it would be difficult to sustain economic development in the region given the worrisome level of insecurity in the area.

We have to mobilise concerted efforts of all ECOWAS institutions, the Authority of Heads of State and Government to look at the factors responsible for the security challenges and how to end them.

Nigeria is very strategic to the sub-region and concerted efforts to end Nigerias insecurity will help tackle the insecurity in other countries of the region.

A threat to peace and stability in a place is also a threat to peace and stability everywhere.

We have to work together as a region to stop this problem because a lot of countries in the West are benefiting from our insecurity, Sama said.

Similarly, Hon. Califa Seidi, a representative from Guinea Bissau said if Nigeria, the biggest country in the region could security challenge of the prevailing magnitude, then it meant the region was truly not safe.

Seidi, therefore, urged ECOWAS institutions to do what must be done to tackle the challenge.

It is important for ECOWAS to collaborate, particularly the Authority of Heads of State and Government to adopt effective measures to tackle the menace.

It has become a concern for us all Member States and we have to give serious thought to it because our citizens are dying and it is impacting negatively on our economy, Seidi said.

Hon. Sani Boucary, Third deputy Speaker and representative from Niger Republic, lauded Nigeria and its armed forces for being at the forefront of interventions across the region.

Boucary also commended Nigeria for the leading role it is playing to ensure political stability in the region.

He said all recommendations made would be duly noted and transmitted to the appropriate authorities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier, while presenting its country report, the Nigerian delegation said the security situation in the country was dire.

The delegation decried the spate of unfettered violence, abduction, and killings by terrorist groups, bandits, and other criminal elements.

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye/Naomi Sharang

Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria has sought for an amendment to impeachment procedures of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

Hon. Abdullahi Wuse, the Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the ongoing National public hearing on review of the 1999 Constitution.

Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of conference of speakers of state legislatures, said there was the need to strengthen legislative procedures of removing a speaker.

He said the process of removing a speaker of a house of assembly without fair hearing was an embarrassing situation that had always played out in Nigeria.

The conference is proposing an amendment to section 92(c) of the constitution.

The speakers deserve fair hearing and not for those members to come up and remove the speaker without hearing from the speaker.

So, we are calling for the procedure where the speaker should be heard and the allegation properly investigated and, if found indicted, then a speaker can be removed.

He also said the current standard on issue of financial autonomy had brought untold hardship to people, hence the proposed amendment to section 123(3) to reflect implementation of financial autonomy.

We have inserted the issue of the allocation committee for each state.

We also provided how the accounts of the judiciary and state assemblies can be run.

This essentially is the amendment that is sought for in section 123(4) by the conference of speakers, it is essentially to strengthen that institution.

In addition to that, we have also called for amendment of part 2 of the third schedule of the constitution where you have state executive bodies.

Because the state Houses of Assembly Service Commission cannot be included in view of the need to have autonomy in the state assemblies.

The state houses of assembly service commission need to be included in that schedule where you have state executive bodies.

We have also proposed an amendment to chapter 1 part 2, section 5 of the Constitution calling for state police.

He also said the conference was proposing devolution of power to states and local governments on issues relating to mineral resources, mining, geological survey and aviation among others.

According to him, the conference believes that there is the need to strengthen the local government administration.

This, he said would enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

Dr.Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education in her presentation called for a single issue amendment to the constitution to allow for a referendum by Nigerians for a deliberation of a new constitution.

We need to center the citizens in our democracy, we need to call for a deep sense conversation, Ezekwesili added.

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, says submissions seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution should be guided by the principles of national unity, patriotism and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians.

Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the minister in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said Bello made the call in his goodwill message to the National Public Hearing by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, held in Abuja.

He equally urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity provided by the exercise to strengthen national bond and cohesion.

The strength of our country lies in the diversity and dynamism of her people. We should seize the opportunity provided by this exercise to strengthen our common bond as a people and guarantee the growth and development of our country.

The minister prayed for amendments to certain sections of the constitution which would amongst others,bring governance closer to the people and also guarantee funding for the development of the FCT.

He also sought amendment to section 7 of the constitution, proposing the inclusion of a new sub-section immediately after Section 7(5) to read as follows:

A: (6) The functions to be conferred by law upon the Area Councils may include those set out in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution and, where so conferred, shall be performed outside the Federal Capital City (FCC) and such areas as may be designated from time to time by the minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The justification for this is that Section 7 (5) as presently constituted, gives room for duplicity of roles, conflicts and mismatches in planning, provision of infrastructure and service delivery in the FCT.

Bello explained that the amendment would address various arising challenges between the FCTA and the area councils.

Bello, stated that collaboration between the FCTA and the area councils was necessary because the FCT was a planned modern project with a centralised planning system, cohesive infrastructural coordinates and interconnected engineering designs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Onyegbula

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has charged the National Assembly to remove the immunity clause from the constitution, thereby making every Nigerian equal before the law.

The General-Secretary, CAN, Barr. Joseph Daramola, gave the charge at a press conference, on Thursday, in Abuja.

Daramola said that the Association was demanding for the creation of new states across the country, which, it said, would ensure administrative impartment and governmental dividends.

CAN also demanded for devolution and decentralisation of power, and governance system, through formal introduction of geo-political zones and regions with clearly assigned roles.

These demands and others were presented by the Christian Apex body at the public hearing on Constitution Review by the National Assembly.

Other recommendations the body made include, Gender Equality, Women empowerment through education and inheritance, equal opportunities in all social-political affairs, 18 years as the age of maturity and consent for marriage.

Federal structure and power devolution: confederation of independent regions or federation of states or regions.

Devolution and decentralisation of power and governance system through formal introduction of Geo-Political Zones and Regions, with clearly assigned roles.

Constitutional recognition for traditional rulers and religious leaders, by strengthening their cultural and socio- religious leadership responsibilities.

Constitutional backing for the operational decentralisation and recognition of law enforcement agencies, expunge sections 214 and 215 (4) OF the 1999 constitution, he said.

Daramola noted that CAN, similarly demanded the redefinition of courts of superior jurisdiction, to accommodate the purpose of regional and zonal systems, with respective appellate structures, and removal of religion provisions or, if need be, inserting constitutional provisions for ecclesiastical courts.

Revenue allocation and sharing formula to be guided by the principles of sustenance and benefits, to sources of derivation on ratio of 70% retained by regions and 30 per cent for the centre.

Maintain the Financial autonomy and independence of the Judiciary. Separation of the office of Attorney General from the office of the Minister of Justice. Proper constitutional definition of an indigene and residency rights.

Creation of new states for administrative impartment and governmental dividends, to include: Southern Kaduna, Kataf, Gurara State, Adada State, from present Enugu State, Cross River North State, Okun State, Okigwe State, Oke Ogun State, he added.

In a similar vein, CAN said the National Assembly should: Amend Section 3 (2) and delete sections 3 (6) of the 1999 constitution, to allow for the creation of local government areas of such autonomous administrative units, to be created by the respective regions and confederating units.

Constitutional provisions for enforcement of our fundamental human Rights and review of the legislative lists contained in the second schedule of the 1999 constitution, Daramola also said, on behalf of the association. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government has assured United Kingdom companies operating in Nigeria of its support at ensuring that they thrived amidst dwindling foreign exchange earnings.

The government also vowed to create the enabling environment for them to carry out their businesses unhindered.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, gave the assurance at an interactive session with a UK Business Team in Abuja, on Thursday.

Adebayo, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Ifedayo Sayo, noted that the government was doing everything to ensure that investors in the Nigerian economy received the necessary support to grow their businesses.

The minister, who facilitated the meeting, posited that the growth of the companies would mean more money for the government to build more infrastructures and also create jobs for Nigerian youths.

This was as representatives of the companies lauded the CBN for the funding of local companies and the various reforms put in place to assist them in running their businesses.

They, however, solicited for more forex to continue in business, saying that they needed foreign exchange to pay their lenders and maintain their machines.

Some of the companies present at the interactive session included: GlaxoSmithkline, Savanna Energy, AzuraPower West Africa and Guinness Plc.

Omon Elyhibro, a representative of GlaxoSmithkline, a pharmaceutical company, lauded the minister and the CBN governor for the support extended to the company by the government in their 50 years of operation in the country.

Elyhibro said it was their desire to make the country an export hub for pharmaceutical products, through their partnership with local manufacturers, pointing out that the CBNs support for local manufacturing companies was commendable.

Also, Managing Director of Azura Power West Africa, Edu Okeke, lauded the CBN for its support to the company, but sought more support in terms of forex, to enable the company to stay afloat.

He said the company needed forex not only to pay their lenders outside the country, but also for the maintenance of their plants.

Okeke, who commended the CBN for the various reforms that had helped the growth of the sector, stated that the reforms had helped in unlocking the sector.

Emefiele, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr Kingsley Obiora, had explained that the CBN was doing its best to assist manufacturers with forex.

He added that there were only three main sources of forex inflow to the Nigerian economy, including the sale of crude oil, remittances from Nigerians abroad and foreign investors, noting that the fall in crude oil prices had affected the inflow of forex.

This situation informed the ban on the importation of goods that can be produced locally to ensure judicious use of the available forex.

Emefiele, however, assured that some of the suggestions raised by the companies would be looked into to assist them in their daily operations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Raji Rasak

A soldier attached to 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry, LCP Mahmud Sulaiman, turned the gun on himself after he shot dead a customs officer at Seme border on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident occurred when the team leader was trying to retrieve the gun from Sulaiman following his strange behavior.

In the process of retrieving the cocked weapon from him, which he resisted, he accidentally fired a shot and the stray bullet hit one Inspector of Custom, C.N Walter.

The customs officer, who was attached to Seme Border Area Command, was rushed to Badagry General Hospital for treatment.

But unfortunately, the customs officer died at about 6:40 a.m. on Thursday in the hospital.

Subsequently, Sulaiman also shot himself and died on the spot, the source said.

NAN gathered that the incident occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Oloko checkpoint, Gbaji on Badagry-Seme expressway.

It was learnt that Sulaiman, who was recently redeployed to the Ibereko Battalion from the Theater of Operation in the North-East, had been behaving abnormally since assumption of duty in Badagry.

He always cock his AK 47 rifle fully loaded with ammunition, an action that made his Team Leader to report the matter to the Commanding Officer of 243 Recce Battalion, Col. Nicholas Rume, where he was serving.

The commanding officer immediately ordered for the retrieval of the weapon from him, he said.

Contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer in Seme border, Mr Abdulahi Hussiain, confirmed the incident, saying that the situation is under control.

It is true, it was an accident but the situation is under control now.

It is unfortunate the soldier committed suicide, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali, has presented cheques worth N6.5 million to 14 families of deceased policemen who lost their lives in the line of duty in Kaduna State.

The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna Command, Umar Muri, presented the cheques on behalf of the IGP, on Thursday in Kaduna.

A statement issued by the commands spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said that the money was from the IGP Family Welfare Insurance.

Alkali said that the insurance policy was aimed at supporting families of deceased policemen who died in defending the country.

The initiative is not only to support the immediate families of the fallen heroes, but also to boost the morale of other gallant Officers who are in active service in all nooks and crannies of the country.

In order for them to do more in reclaiming public spaces as their welfare remains paramount to the current administration of the Force, he added.

The IGP advised the beneficiaries to judiciously use the money to ameliorate their financial situation and cater for their children.

The beneficiaries appreciated the gesture accorded by the Inspector General of Police and prayed for his success.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

As zonal public hearings on the constitutional review continues, a group of lawyers have again sought better working conditions for the office of the clerk to the National Assembly (NASS) and staff members.

The legal practitioners, under the auspices of Alpha and Rohi, a legal firm, made their presentation at the three-day public hearing of the House Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution on Thursday.

Some of the lawyers, who made the groups position known, included Wole Abiola at Akure Centre; Oladimeji Ekengba, Lokoja Centre; Maude Abdulkareem, Kano Centre; Kamal Kabir, Bauchi Centre and Adeola Adedipe at Uyo, Centre, among others.

Delivering the paper, Lawyer Abdulkareem called on the need for harmonious redesignation of the office of the National Assembly clerk as contained in Section 51 of the constitution and Section 9 of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act.

He argued that designating the clerk as Head of Legislative Services was one of the right steps towards strengthening the National Assembly and steering it towards its rightful place as a co-equal arm of government.

According to him, it is only apt that the office should rank next to that of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federation.

Abdulkareem said the clerk is the chief accountant of the National Assembly and the institution s backbone.

The office is a lubricant machinery for an efficient administration, with patent and inherent complexities.

He said although this consideration was already recognised by Section 9 of the NASC Act, it was not wholly integrated by the constitution.

It is the grundnorm, he stated.

The Managing Partner of the firm, Mr Adedipe, also clamoured for the upward review of the service year and retirement age of the clerk and the staff members of the National Assembly and National Assembly Service Commission.

The lawyer, who restated that the service year of the clerk and staff members should be put between 40 and 45 years, said their retirement age should be reviewed upward to 65 or 70 years in the new amendment to the constitution.

According to him, the parliamentary support service and legislative management is a specialised field that is developed over time.

Undoubtedly, training and re-training of staff members over time, is an investment, the benefit of which must be maximised, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe
The Federal Government has enjoined all citizens to continue to observe the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical protocols, saying there is no declaration of victory yet over the pandemic.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the call at the weekly Press briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team in Abuja on Thursday.

Ehanire said: We are not yet out of the woods; there is no declaration of victory yet. We are still going to continue all the measures needed to keep our country and citizens safe.

These are called the public health measures; non-pharmaceutical interventions wear your masks and avoid all forms of public gathering and congregations that will make people too close to each other especially where you have enclosed space, which usually have a super spreader status.

We want to particularly advise religious congregations, sporting congregations, markets and all those places where people gather.

We have been improving therapeutics and the government has been very supportive with that.

While commenting on the proposed oxygen plants approved by the Federal Executive Council on June 2, the minister said 38 of such plants would be built, with Lagos State having two while the remaining 35 States and the Federal Capital Territory will have one each.

Just yesterday, the Federal Executive Council approved 38 brand new oxygen plants for the country.

One will be sited in the States of the country and the Federal capital Territory but Lagos, because of the high proportion of illnesses that they have suffered, they are going to have two. So the supply of oxygen will be assured when the plants come on board in 20 weeks time, he said.

On the expected supplementary budget for the purchase of vaccines, the Minister said the prices for the vaccines had not been ascertained yet.

There are different prices for the vaccines and we do not really know exactly which one were getting.

In addition, we know that the ones we are getting from COVAX are at no cost to us.

So what youre doing is that the additional ones that were going to get will take care of 50 million Nigerians, COVAX will take care of 20 million. They are even offering to take care of more than that, maybe up to 30 million.

The prices vary, some vaccines are in the neighborhood of 20 or 30 dollars, and others are five or six dollars.

Therefore, to make a budget, we are working on a rough sketch, some money earmarked.
However, Mr President has also announced that there will be a supplementary budget. But we want to get a clearer picture first, before we actually submit a budget, he said.

The Nigerian government says it will strongly collaborate with religious and traditional leaders, to convince more citizens to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Healthcare development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, who also spoke at the event, stressed the need to enhance collaboration between government, religious and traditional leaders in convincing more citizens to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the NPHCDA boss, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, and called on those who have not yet taken to do so.

Shuaib revealed that already over 1.9 million Nigerians had so far taken the first jab of the vaccine while over 148,258 had taken the second jab.

In terms of specific numbers, as of today, 1,961,883 of the targeted eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated with their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Similarly, about 148,258 Nigerians have already received their second doses across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, he said.

He said Nigerians should embrace the community ownership of the vaccination exercise, saying already the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria had accepted to help. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, the Chairman, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Ltd. (PAN) has pledged educational support to the Commonwealth Society of Nigeria towards upgrading educational facilities in the country.

Wadada made the pledge shortly after receiving the prestigious Ambassadorial Award in recognition of his selfless service to the nation, by the society, on Thursday in Abuja.

Represented by Alhaji Umar Danyaya, who holds the traditional title of Dan Amanan Keffi, Wadada said that the award had motivated him to do more for the countrys educational sector.

The former two-term member of the House of Representatives revealed that he had been contributing to the nations educational sector with the proceeds realised from his annual Keffi Polo Ranch Tournament.

Wadada, therefore, gave assurance that members of the Commonwealth Society of Nigeria would be included in future projects of the Keffi Polo Ranch tournament and his foundation.

According to him, the decision to include the society in his foundations programme was to enable more indigent students to achieve their dreams in education.

The PAN boss argued that the ravaging youth restiveness and other criminalities could be curtailed by empowering the younger generation with sustainable means of livelihood.

Earlier, the Secretary-General of Commonwealth society, Mr Musa Abubakar, explained that the award was in line with the annual commonwealth agenda to honour deserving individuals during the opening ceremony of the Africa Inter Tertiary Schools Debates Competition.

According to Abubakar, the nomination of Wadada for the award is in recognition of his contribution to national development.

The extensive verification of your record and credentials confirmed your exceptional and unblemished stewardship of service to the nation.

Your selection is also in recognition of your inestimable contribution to the wellbeing of mankind, Abubakar said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by students from all member countries.

Source: NAN News

By Aderogba George

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has reiterated calls for more slots for women in the governance, adding that such provisions must also be accommodated in the Constitution.

Tallen made the call at the opening of a two-day public hearing of the Senate committee on the review of the Constitution.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Anthonia Akpabio, the minister said that not much had been achieved to improve womens participation and gender equality in leadership.

She said that in spite of formal support for this position in the National Gender Policy of 2006 which recommends a 35 per cent benchmark, the government was yet to approve the recommendation.

The return of Nigeria to democracy in 1999 has not improved the level of inclusion of women at all levels as the proportion of women in both elective and appointive positions has remained low.

This is in spite of the 2006 National Gender Policy (NGP) and the various regional and international instruments that the government has signed on to.

Over the years, Nigerian women and other critical stakeholders have continued to mobilise and strategise to seek interpretations of the 1999 constitution as amended with the sole objective of getting legal backing for deliberate inclusive governance in Nigeria, she said.

She further said that Nigeria as a member of the international community had signed and ratified a number of international and regional human rights instruments, and was yet to respond to the directive.

Tallen mentioned those documented instruments which promote human rights as, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 and CEDAW of 1979.

Others are the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1981, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 2003 and Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa 2004 among others.

She said that Section 12 of the 1999 constitution required the domestication of those treaties before they can be made to work in the country, adding that Nigeria was yet to domesticate any of such treaties that protect and promote womens rights.

She, therefore, called for the review of the 1999 Constitution, noting that the constitution was the most important document that directs the affairs of the government and the people.

She stressed that the Constitution processes and procedures should be inclusive and take cognisance of all expectations and concerns of all and also ensure people-centered legislation.

Tallen, however, called for a constitution that truly represents the yearnings and the preamble of the women and Nigerians at large.

According to her, a critical look at Nigerias electoral positions shows that they are male-dominated, in spite of the fact that the countrys constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to participate in politics.

She, particularly, called for the review of Sections 14(3), 14(4), 147(3), 171(5), 192(2), 208(4) and other sections of the Constitution to accommodate the rights of the women. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has described as unfair and distorted opinion the latest article on Nigeria published by the Foreign Affairs (Magazine) titled, The Giant of Africa is Failing.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made the condemnation in a statement in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the article.

In a letter addressed to the publishers of the magazine, the presidential aide frowned at the way and manner facts were being bent to support distorted opinions.

The letter read in part: The latest article on Nigeria in Foreign Affairs titled The Giant of Africa is Failing is unfair both to a magazine with such an esteemed pedigree and to its readers.

Ambassador Campbell has been predicting the collapse of Nigeria for several years. He is of course entitled to his opinions, even where events consistently prove him wrong.

But facts should not be bent to support distorted opinions. Let me give you one example.

The authors write: At an April meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Buhari reportedly requested that the headquarters of the U.S. Africa Command be moved from Germany to Nigeria so that it would be closer to the fight against jihadi groups in the countrys north.

President Buhari did not request that AFRICOM move to Nigeria. The transcript of the call with Secretary Blinken is available on the State Departments own website.

Its not just a question of the invented addition of to Nigeria with regard to AFRICOM. It sums up a piece that attempts subtly but revealingly to shift facts to suit an argument.

According to Shehu, Nigeria faces multiple challenges, not least of which is the dissemination of fake news and prejudiced opinion.

He said: This is something we have come to expect from partisan blogs and politically motivated lobbies.

It is still a surprise, and a disappointment, to see them joined by Foreign Affairs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Nigerians cannot judge the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on the countrys security situation would soon be brought to book.

He advised Nigerians and the media not to pay attention to those blackmailing the government and its appointees in the social media.

For example, a lot of educated young people aremisled to believe that SARS is an evil organisation within the police through the social media.

And today, we are having pockets of insecurity everywhere because the effects of SARS has really weakened the morale of the police, he said.

The APC scribe noted that while there were some bad eggs in the police, it must be understood that the Police has disciplinary system in place.

Akpanudoedehe stressed that there was need for the police to reorganise, restrategise and re -energise itself to defend Nigerians,not minding what mighthave happened in the past.

I want to use this medium to plead passionately to the new Inspector General of Police to get back the spirit of effective policing, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, says the country has achieved significant growth in-country value addition from less than five per cent in 2010 to 35 per cent in 2021.

Sylva, who disclosed this at a virtual African Local Content Round Table on Thursday, said that the feat was achieved through the implementation of local content policy.

We have set an ambitious target to achieve 70 per cent local content in the oil and gas sector by 2027.

Our success story in the oil and gas industry has led to a bold step to extend local content to other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

As a caring African country, we have also considered it necessary to amplify the benefits of local content to our fellow African countries and that is the essence of the African Local Content Roundtable, he said .

He noted that decades of hydrocarbon production in Africa had not translated to the desired economic growth on the continent, adding that over 15 African nations were still producing and exporting crude oil.

He said that the sad reality was that the people had not benefited maximally from the natural resource, either because the proceeds were not optimally managed, or failure to domesticate the core operations of the industry.

We must, therefore, use the opportunity of this RoundTable to initiate conversations around local content, share success stories, challenges and come up with policies that would deepen local participation and domiciliation in our respective countries.

One of the pathways for this desired collaboration and cross-country development is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and I am pleased that we have a representative of AfCFTA in this forum.

Indeed, AfCFTA provides an opportunity to create a single market through the facilitation of free movement of goods, services and investment within the 54 member states of the continent, creating access to 1.2 billion customers, with a cumulative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 3.4 trillion dollars.

It is imperative that African oil-producing countries and their companies cooperate closely in developing and sharing capacities and capabilities to optimise the hydrocarbon deposits and achieve economic growth and development, Sylva added.

He further noted that the establishment of the biggest FPSO integration yard in Lagos, Nigeria and so many other facilities could be used by other African countries.

The minister said that it made better business sense to partner with an Umbilicals producing plant in Angola, or a bolt manufacturing company in Niger Republic instead of going all the way to the United States and Norway for the same products.

We must take firm decisions and develop policies and projects that would position our industry competitively and sustain our economy under the emerging energy transition.

The Federal Government of Nigeria took firm steps in this regard very recently, funding two strategic energy projects in Nigeria.

A 10,000 tons per day methanol plant and 500 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant in Brass, Bayelsa State and the Ammonia and Fertilizer plant in Akwa Ibom State.

It is my expectation that the ALCR will become a signature event, leveraging on the wonderful foundations already built by APPO and rotating among all the African oil producing countries.

I look forward to actionable outcomes from this Roundtable and I earnestly hope it would contribute towards increased regional collaboration and development of Africas hydrocarbon industry, he said (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government will continue to play its role to realise major innovation goals in Nigeria.

Osinbajo made this known in his address at the closing ceremony of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (i-FAIR) programme on Thursday in Abuja.

Osinbajo was represented by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology.

For too long, we have allowed our economy to depend on conditions driven by oil and we have seen that, that is not good for our economy.

Our nation is a great nation, we can do far better than what we are doing, we have abundance of natural resources and some of the most intelligent people in the world.

This is acknowledged everywhere, so there is no reason why our economy should not be based on knowledge that is innovation driven, he said.

The vice-president disclosed that since December 2020 i-FAIR Centre was opened and admitted its fellows, the federal government had always given support.

He noted that many of the start-ups were been matched by investments, urging all Nigerians to support the ongoing drive for innovation to achieve targets.

Osinbajo said: We want all Nigerians to know that if you have a dream government will support you.

To become a reality and such ideas will be transformed into a product or service useful to meet our needs as a nation to create more jobs.

We have the largest population in Africa and largest market concentration globally, if China with population of about 1.4 billion can give employment to its citizens, we should do it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the I-FAIR programme which started from on Dec. 1, 2020 to April, 2021 centered on on-line trainings.

The participants developed prototypes and business plans, while learning about intellectual property protection, marketing options, communication and pitching to potential investors, at the i-FAIR innovation labs and workshops.

High point of the ceremony was presentation of certificate to 21-graduates of the fellowships programme.

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, says Nigeria has the capacity to produce SIM cards and Smart phones for the African continent.

The minister said this at an event organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professional Forum on Thursday, in Abuja, at the partys national secretariat.

The event was organised by the forum for government appointees to give account of their stewardship in office to Nigerians.

Pantami, while speaking at the event, assured that henceforth, importation of SIM cards and other 60-70 per cent of items needed in the telecommunication sector would be produced locally.

According to him, Nigeria has the capacity to produce a minimum of 200 million SIM cards annually.

We came up with a policy that in the next two to three years, a minimum of 60 to 70 per cent of what we need in the telecommunications sector is going to be produced locally and we have started it.

When this administration came on board, even SIM cards were imported into Nigeria.

But, as it is today, the Federal Government has provided an enabling environment for the private sector to produce SIM cards, not only for our consumption, but for the entire African continent.

We have the capacity to produce a minimum of 200 million SIM cards annually and have provided an enabling environment for the private sector to start the production of smart phones.

Today in Nigeria, we are producing smart phones, the minister said.

Giving account of his stewardship, Pantami said strategies were being deployed by the sector, under his supervision, to support the three point agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government that include: security, anti corruption and economic development.

He added that the ministry was implementing over a dozen policies, to enable the digitalisation of Nigeria in line with global best practice.

Pantami said that as at March, 2021, the sector had successfully saved over N22.4 billion for the Federal government by executing its mandate in support of the anti-corruption drive of the Buhari administration.

He said this was achieved through the implementation of the Information Technology (IT) Projects clearance policy.

Under this policy, over 727 institutions have complied with over 323 projects cleared in accordance with laid down guidelines, the minister said.

Pantami cited the policy on virtual engagements for public institutions as providing the impetus to fighting corruption and reducing the cost of governance and promoting e-governance.

In the area of economic development, Pantami said that enabling policies enacted in the sector to support the digitalisation of the economy had empowered it to provide and enhance digital capacities among citizens.

He noted that the National Policy on Entrepreneurship and Start-ups and the Digital Literacy and skills pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria had given impetus to the acquisition of digital skills and job creation in the sector.

The minister added that under the Digital Nigeria portal, over 210,000 citizens, including women, youths and the physically challenged, had been equipped with various digital skills for economic empowerment.

He noted that the sector had established over 300 ICT Centres, fully funded by the Federal Government across all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

On security, Pantami noted that though it was not a direct mandate of his ministry, it was a priority of government and the sectoral policies to aid security agencies in the discharge of their duties had been developed and implemented.

He cited the National Policy on SIM registration and the revised Policy on NIN/SIM linkage as a huge boost to the nations security.

This, he said, was especially so that it would no longer be business as usual for criminal elements who, hitherto, used stolen identities to perpetrate crime unhindered.

Source: NAN News