By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Lagos State Government says it will create more awareness for the states one thousand days nutrition programme to enhance the health and wellbeing of babies in the state.

Dr Bunmi Iwayeni, the Assistant Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), made this known on Thursday in Lagos.

She spoke during an advocacy visit of Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to the boards office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first thousand days, which is from conception to second birthday of a child, was considered critical to the wellbeing and development of babies with long lasting benefit throughout their life.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of infants life, followed by the introduction of complementary foods from six months with continued breastfeeding until two years or beyond.

Iwayeni said that the first one thousand days of a childs life offers a unique window of opportunity for preventing under-nutrition, promoting health and development of children.

According to her, the programme will be a holistic process that will require more focus and funding and expected to start in 2022.

She said that promoting awareness of the significance of the first one thousand days would assist to entrench good nutrition as a norm in the society.

Iwayeni said that the board had been promoting breastfeeding, complementary feeding, food fortification and healthy diets for babies in the state.

She said the state government was passionate about promoting nutrition among its residents, adding that the Lagos State Food and Nutrition plan would assist the state to achieve its goals.

Also, Dr Ibrahim Mustapha, Permanent Secretary, LSPHCB, said that achieving optimal nutrition status for all residents with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, women, and the elderly, was the priority of government.

Mustaphasaid that the board would work on improving the budget timeline for nutrition toward creating more impactful programmes.

He commended CS-SUNN, saying that its activities align with the states goal to promote nutrition, health and wellbeing of its residents.

Earlier, Dr Modupe Akinyinka, Lagos State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, appealed to the board to increase its funding for nutrition programmes.

Akinyinka said that CS-SUNN had been at the forefront of advocacy of good health, reducing malnutrition, ensuring accountability and implementation of nutrition policies and plans in Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Nigerias female cricket team is optimistic of a good outing at the Kwibuka T20 tournament in Rwanda, coach Onome Oghenekevwe says.

Oghenekevwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the team was in high spirits ahead of the six-nation tournament.

NAN reports that Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Nigeria and hosts Rwanda have been grouped into two for the tournament which begins on Sunday.

We are all in very high spirits. The players are ready and we are also trying to harmonise and analyse all information we have gotten about our opponents.

This tournament is a form of preparation ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Womens World Cup Qualifiers in September.

At the end of this event, we would have gathered lots of experience and exposure as well as notice our weaknesses and strengths and prepare better for the qualifiers.

So, it is a challenging test for us, considering the countries we facing, but we are not going to rest on our oars. We hope for a good outing, the coach said.

Nigeria are in Group B and up against Kenya and Namibia, who are ranked 22nd and 23rd according to the ICC rankings released in April.

We are going to take it one game at a time. The other teams are ahead of Nigeria who are 41st on the world table.

We respect them but we are not afraid of any challenge. The players have been preparing long before now.

Some of them participated in the South South Women League, the PwC Under-17 national tournament as well as the National Sports Festival, all in the last few months.

So, we are prepared and we believe that the competition will be a good test for us, Oghenekevwe added.

On her part, Agatha Obulor, vice-captain of the team, said the team were happy to be back and competing since the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are happy to be back together and we are in very high spirits ahead of the competition.

Our training has beenintense and we hope we perform better in Rwanda, Obulor said.

NAN reports that the team are expected to depart the country on Thursday for the event which begins on Sunday and will end on June 12. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The government of embattled populist Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is to face a vote of no confidence on Thursday.

Babis was criticised for having a conflict of interest as a politician and founder of a business conglomerate, and he has been threatened with prosecution for fraud relating to EU subsidies.

He was also accused of failure in the fight against the coronavirus.

Representatives of five opposition conservative and liberal parties earlier on Tuesday announced that they planned to bring the motion.

A simple majority of all 200 members of parliament is required for a successful vote of no confidence.

The five parties together have 68 MPs, and additional votes were expected from right-wing MPs.

The attitude of the communist KSCM, which has not yet decided whether its 19 MPs will vote against the government or leave the chamber, is considered decisive.

Theres only been one successful no-confidence vote in Czech history.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, President Milos Zeman has announced that the Cabinet would remain in office until parliamentary elections in early October.

According to a recent poll by the Median agency, Babis ANO party would only come second in an election, with 23 per cent of the vote.

The strongest grouping would be the electoral alliance of the Pirate Party and the Mayors and Independents party with 24 per cent. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Southwest Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region has continued to be one of the best places in the world in terms of environment, maintaining a stable environmental quality in 2020.

This is according to a report released on Thursday.

The water quality of major rivers and lakes remained good while the air quality of the region continued to be excellent in 2020, noted the report compiled by the regions ecology and environment department.

By the end of 2020, Tibet had built 47 nature reserves measuring a total area of 412,200 square km, which accounts for more than one-third of the regions total.

A total of 214 species of rare and endangered wild plants in the region were listed in the appendix of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the report noted.

The report says that the majority of the protected animal species has seen a significant recovery in their population. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an agency of the United Nations says plant diseases rob the global economy of more than 220 billion dollars annually.

A study supported by FAO and published on Wednesday, indicated that 40 per cent of global crop production is currently lost to pests.

The UN agency added that invasive pests cost countries at least 70 billion dollars annually.

The study further said that the invasive pests were one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss.

Species such as fall armyworm, which feeds on crops that include maize, sorghum, and millet, have already spread due to warmer climate.

Others, such as desert locusts, which are the worlds most destructive migratory pests, are expected to change their migratory routes and geographical distribution.

Movements like these threaten food security as a whole, and small holder farmers, as well as people in countries where food security is an issue, are among those especially at risk, the study said.

Speaking at the launch of the report, FAO, Director-General, Qu Dongyu said preserving plant health was fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustaining plant health is an integral part of our work towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems, Dongyu said.

The authors of the study found out that climate change was making pests which ravage important agricultural crops even more destructive, heightening threats to global food security and the environment.

The authors outlined several recommendations to mitigate the impact of climate change, starting with stepping up international cooperation, as effective management of plant pests in one country affects success in others.

As half of all emerging plant diseases are spread through travel and trade, improved measures to limit transmission, while adjustments to plant protection policies are also critical.

They also stressed the need for more research, and more investments in strengthening national systems and structures related to plant health.

The scientific review looks at 15 plant pests that have spread or may spread due to climate change.

Risks are increasing, the authors warn, with a single, unusually warm winter capable of providing conditions suitable for insect infestations.

The review clearly shows that the impact of climate change is one of the greatest challenges the plant health community is facing.

The study was prepared by Prof. Maria Lodovica at the University of Turin in Italy, along with 10 co-authors from across the globe, under the auspices of the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, which FAO hosts.

The report is among the key initiatives of the International Year of Plant Health, which ends in June. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Olawale

The Lagos State Government says it has dislodged 10 more illegal slaughter slabs and animal markets in four different areas of the state.

The areas are Ayobo in Ipaja; Mangoro in Old Lagos Abeokuta Expressway; Maya and Odogunyan in Ikorodu.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, who announced this on Thursday in Lagos, said that the exercise was in continuation of the state governments sanitisation and reform of the red meat value chain.

Olusanya said that the goal was to produce wholesome meat for the consumption of the citizens.

She said that the exercise was carried out by officials of the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Team of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The commissioner noted that during the exercise, 34 animals and 4.5 tonnes of meat carcass were confiscated.

She noted that the confiscated meat carcass were subsequently donated to the Bab-Es-Salam Home, GRA, Ikeja; the Real Woman Foundation, Magodo and the Love Home Orphanage, CMD Road, Magodo, Shangisha, Lagos.

Olusanya said that confiscated live animals would be auctioned at the Mobile Court of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Office with all offenders duly prosecuted.

She stressed that there would be no option of fine to serve as deterrent to others.

During the week, officials of the MEC team of the state, dislodged four illegal slaughter slabs and animal markets at Ayobo-Ipaja, Odogunyan and Maya in Ikorodu, as well as Mangoro, on Old Abeokuta Expressway.

During the operation, 21 live rams, 13 live goats and well over 4.5 tonnes of meat carcass were confiscated.

The meat carcass, after being certified safe for consumption, had been donated to orphanages and correctional homes.

It has been observed that animals slaughtered at these illegal slaughter slabs are not inspected by veterinary officials, as a result, the wholesomeness cannot be vouched for.

Hence, the need for officials of the MEC team to continue the dislodgement exercise, Olusanya said.

The commissioner also urged people, who breed animals within their residence, to restrain and prevent their pets from roaming the streets, noting that such animals constituted nuisance to public health.

She said the team also destroyed the aesthetics created by the state government to beautify the city, adding that any stray animal confiscated by the MEC team would be auctioned.

She, therefore, urged all animal health practitioners, cold room operators and meat shop operators to registered with the Veterinary Services Department of the ministry and obtain appropriate license to operate within the state.

She said that quackery would not be tolerated in the red meat value chain. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismail Abdulaziz
The Aliko Dangote Foundation in partnership with Germanys VDMA (the German Association for Mechanical and Plant Engineering) and its Foundation for Young Talent in Mechanical Engineering (NWS) will train youths.

To this end, they have launched a technical training programme in Nigeria in a bid to significantly address the skill deficit in all the key sectors of the nations economy.

Speaking at the inauguration of the programme, the president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said that the landmark programme was a seven million Euro investment.

He added that a large percentage of the investment would be for the specialized, leading-edge equipment that has been shipped from Germany and installed in five workshops built for this programme at Dangote Academy in Obajana.

Dangote also said that the beneficiaries would be trained with the machines so they can learn practical transferable skills as they enter the work force.

This programme, according to him, is the first of its kind in Nigeria, and will be replicated in all the six geo-political zones of the country.

Noting that vocational and technical skills are key levers for economic growth, specifically in the manufacturing sector, Dangote said significant skills gaps exist in Nigeria, which is what this programme was seeking to address.

According to him: The trainees that successfully pass through the full vocational training will be prepared as well-rounded professionals. In addition to the technical training, they will also get personal effectiveness trainings of same quality as our staff.

Germanys minister for economic cooperation and development, Dr Gerd Muller, lauded the Aliko Dangote Foundation and VDMA for the enviable programme that can transform and develop the economy of Nigeria.

He said his ministry has supported the initiative with 3.6 million Euro and would do more for the successful implementation of the initiative.

The VDMA past president, Dr Reinhold Fostge, stated that I am very happy that this has become reality eventually in Nigeria. We started six years ago. Four years ago, we signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Nigerian German training project.

This programme is to raise the skill level of workers and make the youth employable. Our vision in VDMA is that, in future, we should be able to exchange highly skilled professionals between Nigeria and Germany and as a matter of fact, I have no objection to inviting Nigerian specialists to help me in Germany and vice versa

Meanwhile the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has enjoined both the Aliko Dangote Foundation and VDMA to consider citing the second training workshop in Lagos, with a promise to make funds available for the programme.

He said: I am truly excited to be part of this epoch and nation changing eventfor us in Lagos, I am happy to announce that we have six well maintained vocational training schools but we are going to not just talk here today, we are going to be making a public commitment that given what I have listened to now, we are not going to leave this to Dangote Foundation alone, we have to upscale our commitment.

We wont wait for him to replicate this in the six-geographical zones of the country. Lagos State will work with him and ask the VDMA what level of commitment is required from the state governmentto ensure that in no distance future, we can replicate and bring a full arm of the Dangote academy to Lagos State.

We do not want government bureaucracy to stall this, if it is to raise finance that is required, I can assure you that Lagos state is ready for that and why are we making this commitment?

It is because of where we see Lagos the amount of the teeming youth that we have in our country and our state. Lagos has continued to be the biggest economy in our country and even in Africa, and what this present to us is an opportunity to bridge that will help to significantly reduce the unemployment level in the state.

Congratulating the trainees, Dangote said: I understand that we chose only 120 of you out of over 4,000 applicants. This means you are smart, you are the best and the brightest, we believe in you, and expect great things from you. I urge you to make use of this wonderful opportunity and become productive for the well-being of our country.(NAN)
PR

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has concluded plans to establish its 500-bed African Medical Center of Excellence (AMCE) project in Abuja.

The bank said this in a statement on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.

According to it, the center will provide world-class care to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent.

It also said that it recently formalised its long-term collaboration with Kings College Hospital, London (KCH) on the project by signing an agreement appointing KCH as the Clinical Partner of the AMCE.

Construction of the Abuja AMCE is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021 and commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024.

The AMCE will be implemented in four phases over a six-year period, starting off with a 170-bed specialist hospital before expanding to a 500-bed facility.

The bank said that the AMCE plans to offer a full range of medical services, such as diagnostics, treatment, nuclear medicine, surgery and post-surgical care, along with complimentary specialist services.

The specialist services would cover oncology, haematological diseases (including sickle cell and blood cancers) and cardiovascular ailments.

It would also offer education and clinical research services with a view to building leading talent and becoming a top tier quartenary-level medical facility.

It added that the facility would not only enhance access to healthcare services for 50,000 people every year, but also provide 3,000 jobs during its construction and operational phases.

Thus, in setting up the AMCE, Afreximbank aims to assist in the provision of quality healthcare, enhanced service offerings, training, expanded employment, conservation of foreign exchange in Africa and promotion of intra-African medical tourism.

The bank said that Nigeria was selected in 2017 as the host country for the first AMCE following a competitive bidding process in which Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania also participated.

It added that the four countries had previously been identified as prospective host countries by a pre-feasibility study commissioned by Afreximbank and conducted by KCH in 2015.

The statement said that the on-boarding of KCH was an important milestone, as it boasts almost two centuries of experience in healthcare service delivery and health systems strengthening.

It said that KCH would support the development of the AMCE in terms of clinical expertise and protocols, governance and administration support, facility and service set-up as well as recruitment, education and training.

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said that the center was a landmark project for Africa, designed as an initiative under Afreximbanks Fifth Strategic Plan.

He added that with successful delivery, the bank would be well prepared to implement its continent-wide plan of developing a network of AMCEs across Africa and contribute its quota in improving the quality of lives of the African people.

According to him, the facility will tackle the rising burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, with general care capabilities that will serve the entire West African region and beyond.

It is a demonstration project that will trigger similar medical centres across the continent.

We are grateful for the significant support from the government of Nigeria and are pleased to have Kings College Hospital as our partners.

We look forward to benefitting from their world-class expertise in medicine, medical, research and training, he added.

Sir Hugh Taylor, Chair of KCH NHS Foundation Trust, said KCH had a long history of providing specialist healthcare locally, nationally and internationally.

We are proud to be extending our clinical expertise in services, such as haematology and cardiology to benefit the people of Nigeria, and Africa more generally.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the implementation of the project was also supported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

This is to ensure that the AMCEs services met the African Unions aspirations for healthcare delivery under its Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, have on Wednesday, inflicted heavy casualty on Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

The army also claims that more than 50 of the terrorists died in the encounter in Damboa, Borno.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement, said the operation was carried out in conjunction with Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.

Yerima said the terrorists launched a futile attack on the town in multiple waves with Armoured Personnel Carriers and 12 Gun Trucks all mounted with Anti Aircraft Guns, as well as Locally Fabricated Armoured-plated Vehicles loaded with explosives and motorcycles.

He said the troops successfully defeated the attack, destroyed the locally fabricated armoured-plated vehicles and neutralised more than 50 ISWAP terrorists.

He said that the surviving terrorists were forced to run in disarray under heavy gun fire from the resilient troops and Nigerian Air Force attack platforms.

The so-called suicide bombers had to abandon their vehicles primed with explosives as they could not withstand the overwhelming fire power from the highly motivated troops.

Several weapons and ammunition were recovered from the depleted terrorists.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, congratulated the troops including the Air Component for this great achievement.

The COAS restated the commitment of the Nigerian Army in his leadership to ending terrorism and other violent crimes in the North East and the rest of the country.

He further enjoined the troops to sustain the ongoing offensive under Operation Tura Takaibango until the noble goal is attained, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Police say no fewer than 84 suspects have been arrested for illegal manufacturing and distribution of vehicle number plates, kidnapping, banditry, robbery and homicide related cases.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba announced this at a news briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said some of the suspects were arrested for alleged gun running, illicit possession of weapons, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences.

Mba said the suspects, including three females were arrested in different parts of the country in April and May.

He said the arrests were major achievements recorded by the police key operational and investigative units, the Intelligence Response Team and the Special Tactical Squad

He also said that the achievements had nothing to do with other landmark investigative and operational breakthroughs at the various zones and state commands across the country.

He said that 45 assorted firearms, consisting of one GPMG riffle, 17 AK-47 riffles, 20 locally fabricated AK-47 riffles, two pump actions and three single barrel guns were recovered from the suspects.

Mba noted that other exhibits recovered from the suspects were 9,899 live ammunition, consisting largely of AK-47 and GPMG live ammunition.

He said kidnap syndicates operating between the borders of Sokoto State and Republic of Niger were among the suspects.

Mba said the suspects had carried out several operations on both sides of the border.

He said that check revealed that the leader was also a convict from the Republic of Niger.

Mba said that two suspects, including a student of the University of Jos, were arrested over culpable homicide.

He said that three suspects were arrested for manufacturing and distribution of illegal vehicle number plates.

Mba said all the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Bima Enagi (APC- Niger) has pleaded Niger government to work closely with vigilantes and traditional institutions to effectively address incessant bandit attacks on residents of the state.

Enagi made the call on Wednesday while reacting to the recent abduction of innocent people in Batati, Lavun Local Government Area and pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

He said that proactive measures should be taken with the rising spate of insecurity in some parts of the state, including close collaboration with the local vigilantes.

He called on the government to mobilise and equip them to assist the conventional security agencies to tackle the situation.

The lawmaker said unless an urgent step was taken, most villagers in the affected areas would not be able to go back to their farms.

This, he said, would heighten food insecurity, thereby posing hardship to poor Nigerians who relied solely on farming as means of livelihood.

He noted that government must do everything possible to protect lives and property of citizens, while advising the citizens, especially traditional rulers to assist the government on their part as custodians of tradition to restore normalcy to their domains.

Enagi sympathised with the affected families and communities and urged them to support the authorities towards safe release of the abductees.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Defence Headquarters says the military has continued to achieve appreciable successes in all the theatres of operation against criminal element across the country.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, stated this while briefing newsmen on the operations of Armed Forces of Nigeria between May 20 and June 2, on Thursday in Abuja.

Onyeuko said that the troops had conducted series of clearance patrols, ambush, raid, picketing, cordon and search operations as well as artillery bombardments in various theatres during the period.

In the North East, he said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai on May 20, rescued victims and eliminated scores of terrorists in different parts of Borno and Yobe during the period.

He added that items like large numbers of jerry can and drums of PMS, assorted arms and ammunition and assorted logistics items were also recovered from terrorists logistics suppliers.

According to him, this large consignment of logistics has drastically dislocated the terrorists logistics network in the region.

The defence spokesperson also disclosed that troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had remained vigilant and dominated the operational areas with constant aggressive patrols against bandits, kidnappers and other criminals in the North West and Central.

He said that troops of Operation Safe Haven and other security agencies in the North Central had rescued several kidnapped victims, eliminated scores of bandits and arrested some during the period.

According to him, troops also intervened in a recent clash between farmer/herder at Fubur in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau.

The clash which was provoked by the destruction of farmlands by herders cattle was amicably resolved by troops, who invited both parties to peaceful dialogue.

In a similar development, troops were able to restore normalcy by ensuring the release of a herder who was abducted by Berom youths at Byei Village in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

The swift intervention of troops in both incidents averted imminent reprisal and retaliatory actions that would have resulted in bloodshed in the Region, he said.

Onyeuko said that troops of Operations Whirl Stroke, Thunder Strike and Whirl Punch recorded tremendous operational successes during the period.

He further disclosed that troops of Operation Delta Safe, immobilised several illegal refining sites along with numerous reservoirs and polythene bags of illegally refined oil products at different sites in South-South.

According to him, troops also intercepted and deactivated boats and vehicles used for illegal bunkering and illegal economic activities as well as recovered large quantities of oil products and other items of economic value.

In other encounters, own troops in Ikot Ekpene area arrested some IPOB/ESN members at Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom following credible intelligence on their activities in the area.

The suspects were identified to be part of the IPOB/ESN members involved in killing and burning of policemen and stations in the area.

Also, troops arrested some members of the Scorpion Confraternity, who have been terrorizing and robbing people at Ikong-Offiong in Akpabayo LGA of Cross River.

Relatedly, troops on May 23, repelled members of IPOB/ESN attack on troops at Amoka Village in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.

During the encounter, a member of the IPOB/ESN was neutralised in contact and some arms and ammunition were recovered.

Gleaning from the operational activities of the troops in the various theatres of operations as I have just highlighted, there is no gain saying the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the security agencies are dedicated to ensure peace return to our dear country, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Gov. Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano State has called on the military to take urgent action against the gathering of bandits in parts of Falgore forest in the state.

Ganduje made the call when he paid a courtesy calls on the service chiefs in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that bandits had started grouping themselves in the forest, adding that they might be planning to carry out attacks on communities in the state.

The governor said the state government was working hard to open up the forests, saying he was committed in supporting the security agencies to sustain the relative peace in the state.

At a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, Ganduje urged the Nigerian Army to hasten the work on the Army Training Depot at Falgore forest.

He said this was to ensure that the military took total control of the forest.

Ganduje attributed the prevailing peace in the state to the cordial relationship between the government and security agencies.

My visit here today is to condole with the Nigerian Army over the death of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and ten other officers.

It was painful, it was untimely and sorrowful but we are consoled that they died in active service to the nation.

I am also here to seek the help of the Nigerian Army to sustain the peace in Kano State; bandits have converted some forests in the state to hideouts.

We are building houses, schools and hospitals for the herdsmen in some of the forests but we want the Army to commence activities at the Falgore forest, he said.

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, promised to visit Falgore to see how work could resume on the army training facility in the forest.

Yahaya said that the Nigerian Army in synergy with sister services and other security agencies was committed to overcoming security challenges across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kano governor also visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and other service chiefs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

How Oyo women farmers react to NiMet 2021 weather forecast

A News Analysis by Ibukun Emiola, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
As the planting season begins, farmers in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State have expressed concern about the prediction of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) that rain will cease early in 2021 and how to go about the development.

The agencys zonal manager for Southwest, Mr Adewale Ajeyomi, had earlier advised the women to utilise climate smart solutions to beat the predicted early rain cessation.

He said: There has been a shift in the weather system due to climate change brought about by development everywhere, buildings and all sorts are affecting the wind pattern, temperature and many other things. Deforestation is part of the problem of climate change.

Ajeyomi noted that the northern part of Oyo State, the Saki area, which is the fringe of Ibadan, would experience fluctuating weather according to NiMets recent forecast.

This means the temperature can be a little bit higher, and during the rainy season, they are going to experience dry spells. They are expected to be having rain but at a point in time the rain would cease.

Farmers can do their planting in their normal pattern this time around except for the Oke-Ogun areas, that is, the northern fringe of Ibadan.

The farmers need to employ climate smart solutions; they should be climate smart, do irrigation or get our bulletin or updates from our office or on our website, weekly or sometimes daily updates to guide their activities.

To combat the scourge, smallholder women farmers on the platform of Small Scale Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), have learned the techniques of irrigation farming.

Irrespective of this initiative, Mrs Musilatu Ashiru, Saki East SWOFON leader, said: We do irrigation farming manually. We wet the plants ourselves because we lack the modern technology for doing proper irrigation farming.

We need water; so we want boreholes to continue the irrigation farming, we plant vegetables, tomatoes and pepper. For irrigation farming you can have pepper all year round.

We ought to have cultivated our lands in preparation to plant yam since last year but most people have been unable to cultivate their lands since last year not to talk about planting yam and the irregular rainfall patterns have started again, she said.

Also, Alimotu Sulaiman, SWOFON Coordinator in Iseyin Local Government Area, said that farmers in the area wanedt to be equipped to practise irrigation farming.

She said: Irrigation farming is practised by northern farmers; there is nothing stopping us from practising the same here in the south.

What we plan to do is to acquire land for farming and have amenities installed for irrigation farming that is what we want.

Recounting her ordeal in the 2020 farming season, Yemisi Ojeleye of the Garri Processing Plant in Oje Owode, Saki East Local Government Area of the state, said the low yield in the last planting season had an adverse effect on production.

She said: As we are short of cassava supply from farmers, it has an effect on our work and then makes the price of Garri go up.

There are more than 200 women who work at this processing facility. But the shortage of cassava supply has reduced the number of women who come to work.

Also, Latifat Muritala, a smallholder farmer at Olorunsogo East Local Government Area said: As it stands now, rain ought to have started falling so that cultivation would go well but we have yet to have rainfall and that was the cause of devastation to crops during the planting season in 2020.

Beyond the forecast and its implications on farming activities, farmers in Nigeria are calling for sustainable solutions to the effects of climate change.

Jide Oguntokun, a large-scale farmer at Ido, Oke Owa and Lanlate, said that climate change had affected his livelihood so badly.

Government is asking people, especially youths, to go to the farm but there are issues that need to be addressed if farming will be productive for people in the business. We need to look at how to sustain the agricultural initiatives.

We need to start to look at 2021 for food sufficiency because COVID-19 will just be a minor thing in the face of impending famine and starvation that is to come, he said.

Corroborating him, a climatologist from the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ibidun Adelekan, said, If the seasons are delayed, then it will affect crop production and good yield.

However, David Afolayan, a geographic information system analyst, said that a major solution is the need for public private partnerships that will promote climate smart agricultural techniques that leverage the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology.

Since climate change is occasioned by human activities over a long period of time, efforts should be made towards ensuring climate-friendly practices and tree planting to correct damage done to the ozone, layer thereby reducing the adverse effects of climate on nature.

There is also a need for collaboration to merge technology with native intelligence in beating the present climate conditions to optimise crop planting.

This will afford us to predict when farmers can plant and to have seeds that are climate smart; meaning they have been modified to adapt to changes in the climate, Afolayan said.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo/Isaac Aregbesola

Two persons died on Wednesday while four others sustained various degrees of injury in a road accident involving a gas tanker truck and another vehicle at the Church Gate flyover, Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Central Area, Abuja.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander, Mr Samuel Ochi, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Ochi said that the accident, which occurred at around 1 30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Constitution Avenue at Centre Business District in Abuja, and Olusegun Obasanjo Way interception was caused by speeding and loss of control.

He said that the crash involved a SINO Truck with Number plate, KJA 941 YA laden with cooking gas and Volkswagen golf 3 with registration number GWA 91 TT

A witness report reaching us indicates that the driver of the tanker laden with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) (Cooking Gas) en route Abuja from Lagos, had a collision with a Golf car.

A total of six persons were involved in the crash, comprising three in each of the vehicles.

Four of them including the driver of the tanker sustained some degree of injuries and were taken to Wuse General Hospital by the FRSC rescue team from FCT Command.

Two male adults, who were passengers in the gas tanker truck, were, however, confirmed dead and their bodies had been deposited at the mortuary, he said

He said that the obstruction on Olusegun Obasanjo way (from Garki to Wuse), and Constitution Avenue at Centre Business District, linking Airport Road to Federal Secretariat had been cleared.

Ochi said that it took the combined efforts of all the security and safety agencies to avert what would have resulted in a fire incident.

The agencies according to him, include the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service.

While condoling with families of the dead, Ochi warned motorists against speed limit violation.

He urged them to drive safely to avoid accidents and loss of lives.

Speaking, the Team leader of the Federal Fire Service, Wuse Command, FCT, Mr Usman Hammed, explained that his office received a distressed call around 1 30 a.m. and quickly dispatched the team to attend to the situation.

Usman said that the tanker fell off from its head when the driver lost control, in his bid to avoid the golf, adding that the gas-laden tanker was hanging on the retaining wall of the flyover.

He said that the service deployed its machinery to avert an explosion.

Similarly, Mr Frank Onuorah, Zonal Commander City Operations, FCT Fire Service, said that his team arrived at the scene of the accident around 1.30 a.m. and was able to put the situation under control to avert an explosion.

He said that the scene of the accident, which was a stone throw to the NNPC Mega Station and two other filling stations, was cordoned off.

He said that the service swung into action immediately and began to spray water mixed with chemicals to cool the tanker to avert an explosion.

Onuorah said that the gas tanker that was already off its top was evacuated through the help of a crane to a safer location.

He said that his team and others were at the scene for close to 13 hours before the road was cleared after the debris had been evacuated.

He said that there was, however, a delay in the evacuation because of the fragile nature of the product which was already leaking because of the impact of the accident.

Mr Bitrus Samuel, Head NEMA Abuja Operation, also commended all the agencies for the joint efforts to avert further damage, stressing that all put in their best for the success of the operation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has inaugurated a steering committee for a 10-year development plan for the state, as part his administrations quest to fast track the overall its development over the next decade.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Mohammed Onogu said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday.

According to him, the UNDP and SDG office would be providing technical and financial support, to make the historic plan a success.

While inaugurating the committee on Wednesday, in Lokoja, Bello tasked the members on broad -based consultations and effective delivery of their mandates.

Bello urged members of the committee to provide overall leadership and guidance, in various areas of jurisdiction, to ensure that, the right environment was created to have access to current data.

The governor also urged the committee to put in place, a team of relevant minds that will work with the State Technical Committee, as members of

Technical Working Group (TWG).
He charged members of the committee to be committed and dedicated in the discharge of this all-important assignment.

This is an important state assignment. We must, therefore, show reasonable commitment and leadership, to be able to have a state plan that speaks to issues in the State.

As you know, our people have varying needs. We must go to them and find out what these needs are. There must be a broad-based consultation and inclusion of the various stakeholders in this process.

This is not going to be an arm chaired plan; we must go to the people. The plan must take a bottom-top approach and NOT a top-bottom approach.

The plan is for the development of our people. Therefore, they must be involved, Bello said.
The governor also said that in the coming days, the State Technical Committee (STC) would also be inaugurated, urging everyone to respond with dispatch, to enable work to commence in earnest.

At this point, my appreciation to UNDP and SDG for their technical and financial support, to make this historic plan a success.
Let me congratulate all the committee members, for the opportunity to serve our people. We pray you invest everything, to ensure the success of the assignment, the governor added.

Source: NAN News

By Ibrahim Kado

The People of Mubi, Northern Adamawa district, and Chamba Cultural Development Association (CCDA) have demanded for the creation of Amana and Gongola States, out of Adamawa.

The groups made the demand at the North East Zonal public hearing for the review of 1999 Constitution before the House of Representatives Committee in Yola on Wednesday.

Mr Ahmad Sajo, Spokesperson of Mubi Local Government Area, said that Mubi deserved to be a state, named Amana with capital city in Mubi.

According to him, originally they are part of Cameroun, but by choice, they joined Nigeria because of promises made to them by the then Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, for peace and progress.

Hence we anchor our demand on the premise of the trust we had in Nigeria which in Hausa means Amana.

Restore our status as an autonomous region or state as it was when we joined you.

This is because the premier of Northern Nigeria promised us our continued status as a distinct entity within the Nigerian state and our capital which is Mubi, he said.

Similarly in his submission, Alhaji Yunusa Gisilanbe, State Chairman of CCDA, also demanded creation of Gongola State.

He said the new state would constitute southern senatorial district of Adamawa made up of Ganye, Toungo, Jada, Mayo-Belwa, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk and Shelleng Local Government Areas.

He said that if created, three additional local government areas needed to be created- Gangdu from Ganye, Yelli from Jada, Nasarawo-Jereng from Mayo-Belwa, Barrong from Demsa.

He further said that the association also supported local government autonomy in all ramifications.

In his remarks, Rep. Mohammed Monguno, Chairman, House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, Yola Centre, assured that all memoranda would be submitted before the house for considerations.

Mohammed, who is the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, said that the review of the constitution would be based on wishes and aspirations of the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The International labour Organisation (ILO) says the economic crisis triggered by the COVID pandemic was expected to lead to the global unemployment of more than 200 million people by 2022.

ILO noted in its World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2021, (WESO Trends), on Wednesday, that women and youth workers were worst hit by the economic crisis.

It stated that although the nations would emerge from the ongoing health crisis, five years of progress towards the eradication of working poverty have been undone nonetheless.

Weve gone backwards, weve gone backwards big time. Working poverty is back to 2015 levels; that means that when the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda was set, were back to the starting line, said ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.

The worst-affected regions in the first half of 2021 had been Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, all victims of uneven recovery.

Theyve seen estimated working-hour losses exceed eight per cent in the first quarter and six per cent in the second quarter, far higher than the global average.

Women have been hit disproportionately by the crisis, seeing a five per cent employment fall in 2020, compared to 3.9 per cent for men.

A greater proportion of women also fell out of the labour market, becoming inactive, ILO said, noting that additional domestic responsibilities had resulted from lockdowns, which risked a re-traditionalisation of gender roles.

Youth employment has also continued to suffer the economic downturn, falling 8.7 per cent in 2020, compared with 3.7 per cent for adults.

The most pronounced fall has been in middle-income countries where the consequences of this delay and disruption to the early labour market experience of young people could last for years, ILO warned.

Pandemic-related disruption has also brought catastrophic consequences for the worlds two billion informal sector workers.

Compared to 2019, an additional 108 million workers worldwide are now categorised as poor or extremely poor meaning that they and their families live on the equivalent of less than 3.20 dollar per person, per day.

According to ILO, global unemployment will reach 205 million people in 2022, up from 187 million in 2019.

The Geneva-based organisation also projected a jobs gap increase of 75 million in 2021, which is likely to fall to 23 million in 2022 if the pandemic subsides.

The related drop in working-hours which takes into account the jobs gap and those working fewer hours, amounts to the equivalent of 100 million full-time jobs in 2021 and 26 million in 2022.

This shortfall in employment and working hours comes on top of persistently high pre-crisis levels of unemployment, labour under utilisation and poor working conditions, ILO stated.

The ILO report maintained that although global employment recovery should accelerate in the second half of 2021, it would. however. likely be an uneven recovery. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Federal Government has berated Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, over his fake tweet and misinformation on the death of the Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Godswill Obioma.

Odinkalu, a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, had tweeted that Obioma was strangled to death contrary to what the family of the deceased said.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Odinkalu acted irresponsibly by the fake tweet.

Without mincing words, the action of Prof. Odinkalu is the height of irresponsibility that is at variance with someone of his pedigree.

His tweet is a clear case of fake news that could have caused a breach of public peace.

And I am told this is not the first time he is engaging in this kind of action, just like many others like him.

It was reported that the police, the family and NECO confirmed that Obioma died after a brief illness, contrary to the fake news that was willfully tweeted by Odinkalu, he said.

The minister reiterated his position that fake news and misinformation constituted grave danger and monster that might not be easily tamed.

He recalled that his ministry had inaugurated the campaign against fake news, hate speech and misinformation since 2017.

Mohammed said they would continue to call out all those who engage in disseminating fake news and misinformation.

He also assured that the laws of the land would eventually catch up with them.

Obioma was reported to have died on May 31, in his house on London Street, Dutsen Kura area of Minna, Niger, after a brief illness.

NAN reports that the late registrar, who was said to have returned from an official assignment in Abuja at about 9 a.m. and decided to rest before going to the office, slumped and died in his bedroom.

The family of the deceased in a statement issued to the Director, Human Resources of NECO, Malam Mustapha Abdul, informed the board, management and staff of NECO of the occurrence. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) said it remitted N5.36 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between January 2016 and March 2021.

NIPC disclosed this in a report released on Thursday on the summary of its IGR and CRF payments since 2016.

The report stated that the amount represented 46 per cent of the total IGR of N11.61 billion it generated during the period.

Following NIPCs addition to the schedule of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in November 2016, the Commission had been subject to the remittance of 80 per cent of its Operating Surplus to the CRF.

The report also stated that as part of its commitment to better governance, proactive compliance and transparency, NIPC made quarterly proactive disclosures of material, financial, legal, procurement, personnel and operational information.

It noted that NIPC generated N5.59 billion, its highest income in 2018, a result of the backlog from the lifting of the two-year suspension on the administration of its Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI).

According to it, PSI service charge accounted for 96 per cent of NIPCs IGR during the period covered by the report; with its average annual IGR over the period put at N1.93 billion.

In 2020, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Compliance and Transparency Award, NIPC was ranked second out of 213 Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) evaluated, maintaining the impressive ranking, first attained in 2019, for the second successive year.

The commission was the most consistent among the leading MDAs ranked in 2019 and 2020, it said.

The report cited NIPCs ranking and the improvement, from its 2016 ranking of 90th out of 131 MDAs, as validating the efforts of management and staff at improving internal transparency and compliance with the FOIA. (NAN)

Source: NAN News