Britains Olympic track cycling gold medallist Callum Skinner on Friday said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would not be able to stop athletes protesting during this years Tokyo Games.

IOC Rule 50 forbids any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda in venues and any other Olympic area.

On Wednesday, the Games body concluded the rule should be maintained following a consultation process that started in June 2020 and involved over 3,500 athletes.

IOC Athletes Commission chief Kirsty Coventry, who led the review of Rule 50, said the majority of athletes they spoke to in the consultation process supported it.

Against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement protesting racial injustice, however, there have been growing calls for a change to that rule that would allow athletes to protest.

Skinner, who won gold in the team sprint at Rio 2016, told UK-based newspaper The Times that the IOC seemed intent on exercising control when they dont have any.

If an athlete wants to take the knee, they will take the knee, he said.

Skinner, who retired in 2019 and is a member of the Global Athlete group, which aims to create positive change in world sport, said standing up for equality was not a political act.

People get frustrated by Black Lives Matter because they see it as a political movement, but at its core its fighting for equality and that is something the Olympics should 100 per cent stand behind, he added.

American hammer thrower Gwen Berry, who was put on probation after she raised her fist during medal presentations at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, was also critical of the IOC.

They wont be the pioneers of true change, she said. They have their own agenda and its to protect billions of dollars they generate from the Olympic Games.

The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, is expected to kick off on July 23.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

The Jigawa Farmers and Herdsmen Board has concluded plans to carve out 95km of grazing reserves as part of measures to tackle farmers/herders incessant clashes in the state.

Malam Zubairu Sulaiman, the Public Relations Officer of the Board, told the News News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse that the reserves will be carved out in 10 local government areas.

These councils, he said, are Babura, Birninkudu, Gagarawa, Gumel, Gwaram, Buji, Maigatari, Suletankarkar, Kafinhausa and Kirikasamma

He said that the state government has released over N7 million for the exercise.

Miko called on leaders of the farmers, herders and traditional rulers in the affected areas to cooperate with the board, to ensure a successful execution of the demarcation.

NAN reports that on Jan. 1, 2008, former governor Sule Lamido, established 400 grazing reserves, 50 of which have already been gazetted.

The effort to establish and demarcate grazing reserves in Jigawa was part of a multi-dimensional approach adopted by Lamido early in the day to address the perennial problem of clashes between pastoralists and farmers.

Similarly, in its effort to encourage and enhance the pastoralists, the Jigawa launched the 2014 to 2015 animals vaccination exercise in which government vaccinated 3,438,590 cattle against diseases in the past seven and-half-years 2007 to 2014. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) are to implement joint measures to curb delay and corrupt practices at the ports.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in a statement by Mr Philip Kyanet, Head Corporate Communications, NIMASA, on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the agencies noted that full automation of processes at the nations ports would go a long way to curb human interface, delays and corruption.

He said that they agreed to harmonise the implementation of Port and Flag State Administration to minimise direct human contact onboard vessels, calling at the nations ports in line with provisions in the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM).

Jamoh noted that the agencys operation was close to 85 per cent automated, adding that NIMASA had undertaken an in house harmonisation exercise to reduce human interface.

He explained that NIMASA was now fully ready for inter-agency harmonisation and commended the NSC for the introduction of cargo tracking notes in port operations.

We thank you for obtaining approval for the cargo tracking note. This will reduce loss of man-hour and assist in exposing non-declaration or under declaration at the nations ports and improve revenue generation, he said.

On security at the anchorage, Jamoh said that there was marked reduction in security breaches since the Deep Blue project took over security working closely with the Nigerian Navy.

We are beginning to record a reduction in attacks in our waters, and we hope to sustain this and later demand a change in status of cost of insurance of vessels visiting Nigerian waters.

On his part, Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, NSC, said that cost of port operations in Nigeria could be reduced by over 35 per cent when standard operation procedures contained in the NPPM were fully implemented.

Our Ports are in competition with other Ports in the region, so we need to strengthen collaboration on the establishment of indicative freight rates, he said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the NPPM on Dec. 9, 2020 in Abuja during the International Anti-Corruption Day.

It is a collection of processes taken from the Standard Operating Procedures of stakeholders in the port sector aimed at improving operations, service timelines, efficiency and accountability at the ports.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Sumaila
Retired Col Hameed Ali, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says henceforth, officers and men will be measured for career growth based on knowledge and skills acquired in service.

Ali said this at the Graduation Ceremony of Junior Course 9 at Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, FCT on Friday.

Represented by Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Strategy and Research, Mrs Ronke Olubiyi, the customs boss noted that knowledge and skills had become a prerequisite for promotion and posting.

He said to deal with multi challenges of modern customs, knowledge, skills and discipline were paramount.

We are entering into an era where your future will now be determined by what you know rather than who you know.

Your growth will depend on your capacity to deal with multi challenges of modern customs, he said.

Ali assured that NCS under his leadership would ensure continuous training programmes for both junior and senior officers of the service.

He said capacity building was now a priority in the service, adding that officers and men due for short courses would be granted.

He tasked the graduating students to be more committed and disciplined as well as become ambassadors of the college.

In his remarks, the Commandant of the college, ACG, Adewale Adeniyi, said 40 students were graduated from Junior Course 9, adding that about 400 personnel had been graduated in the last three years.

Adeniyi said the graduating officers had been moulded in character and learning, hence there was high expectation from them while discharging their duties.

Mrs Opayemi Itulua, who won best graduating student and other two awards, expressed gratitude to God and customs management for the opportunity to be part of the course.

Itulua said though she was surprised for winning three awards but added that she worked very hard during the programme.

She stated that the development had encouraged her to be more committed and put in her best while discharging her responsibility. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Friday seized N600 million worth of substandard tyres at an enforcement exercise along the Lagos Ibadan expressway.

Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General, SON, at the enforcement exercise, said the seizure was part of SONs efforts and commitment to safeguarding lives and properties of unsuspecting consumers.

Salim decried the absence of the standards body at the nations port, noting that the fight against substandard goods was best tackled at the point of entry.

According to him, the enforcement exercise was to ensure that the tyres do not find their way into the nations markets.

Salim, at a discreet warehouse located in a remote area in Ogun, showed the tyres stuffed in over 100 containers, noting that the integrity of the tyres has been lost.

The SON boss noted that the seized tyres, with no economic value, were like time bombs waiting to explode.

He maintained that SON would stop at nothing to ensure that substandard tyres do not find their way into the hands of unsuspecting consumers in the country.

Salim, who described SONs relationship with Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) as excellent, pointed out the need for closer synergy between both agencies to combat the menace of substandard goods.

This is a very dangerous situation because peoples lives are at stake and our roads are not safe because of something like this.

We have no idea how these tyres got into this country, we are not at the ports and it did not come through us and they do not have papers with us that the goods have been cleared.

We do not also have access to the port, because if we were at the ports, there is no way we would allow about 100 containers, and you can imagine if there existed another 15 warehouses around the country, we are looking at about 2000 containers slipping through unnoticed.

Do not forget that the country is wide and I will not be surprised if there are other warehouses in other locations.

It is a very dangerous trend and this is why we are still emphasising that the best way to enforce is to be at the point of entry.

Our message to importers is that we are coming for unscrupulous importers and we are not ready for compromise and we will prosecute. There is no way we can salvage these tyres, so we are going to destroy them.

We have arrested the manager of the warehouse, but the owner of the product is a foreigner and happens to be outside of the country, and we are sure he would come to explain himself; and if he does not, we will just prosecute the manager and anybody involved in this property, he said.

Salim enjoined members of the public to always insist on buying quality goods, saying that this is the only way to drive Nigerias industrialisation.

Manager of the warehouse, Mr Emmanuel Ogbagu, fielding questions from the Director General, said the warehouse employs manpower from outside to un-stuff the tyres to be taken to markets across the country.

He said that all efforts to reach the owner of the warehouse had proved abortive, and claimed to be ignorance of the implications of stuffing tyres. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abiodun Lawal

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ogun Command, on Friday, said it intercepted and impounded a petroleum tanker used by vandals to siphon 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the state.

It said the tanker was intercepted at Ifote village, near Ipara, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The NSCDC state Commandant, Mr Hammed Abodunrin, told newsmen in Abeokuta that thecommand got information around midnight that some vandals were stealing fuel from the pipelines and immediately swung into action.

Abodunrin said that immediately the vandals saw the headlights of the NSCDC team, they took to their heels, abandoning the already loaded 45,000 litres tanker.

He said that the area was notorious for pipeline vandalism, asmost of the vandals came in through the bush to siphon fuel.

The commandant said that the command would continue to work 24 hours to ensure that the nations critical national resources were protected, warning pipeline vandals to desist or face the wrath of the law.

He said that the tanker and its contents had been impounded, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) immediately notified so that they could get the fuel from the tanker.

Abodunrin said the command would investigate and take the case to court, where any equipment used for vandalism could be forfeited to the Federal Government.

He said that the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audis focus was to ensure that economic saboteurs did not have their way.

Our existence is to ensure that Nigerias economy is protected by ensuring that we carry out one of our major mandates, that is protection of critical national infrastructure, and the commandant general has really empowered us.

He has deployed vehicles, motorcycles and equipment that can assist us to ensure that we have capacity to protect the pipelines , Abodunrin said.

He warned community leaders and villagers not to be collaborators with vandals, but rather, to collaborate with the NSCDC. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will go after owners and operators of supermarkets and confectionery selling cookies, biscuits and other products laced with illicit substances.

Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa gave the warning while receiving further briefing on follow-up operations from the Commander, NDLEA in the FCT, Mohammed Sokoto over the arrest of a 300-level university student, Rhoda Agboje and her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both suspects, who were arrested on Tuesday, specialises in producing and selling drug cookies to school children, clubs and supermarkets in Abuja.

Marwa gave the warning in a statement by the agencys Director Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Friday in Abuja.

The NDLEA will henceforth go after supermarkets as part of preventive measures.

This include, clubs, confectionery and other outlets and their owners, selling cookies, biscuits, cakes and other products laced with illicit substances under whatever guise.

We will not shy away from hitting their production spots, supply and sales outlets before they get into the hands of innocent schoolchildren, unsuspecting members of the public and even our vulnerable young men and women.

We will not rest on this until we chase them out of this criminal business. This is why I want to seize this opportunity to warn owners and operators of supermarkets, clubs and other sales outlets to clean their stores of these illicit substances before we get to them, he said.

Marwa said the cookies in Abuja laced with drugs were packaged in designed paper wraps under the name Function with its motto as function right with every bite.

He said that at the back of the package was a quote the suspects attributed to God to justify their illicit trade quoting as Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seeds, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.

NAN reports that Narcotics agents with the NDLEA command of the FCT, uncovered a syndicate involved in producing the cookies with Arizona, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis; alcohol and rohypnol among other ingredients.

In another development, the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo-Yamusa III has asked the NDLEA take over a rehabilitation centre being constructed in Keffi through community efforts.

The traditional ruler made the plea when he paid a courtesy visit with other leaders of his emirate to Marwa for his outstanding commitment to the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.

We have come to plead with you to take over the rehabilitation centre we started as a first class drug treatment facility through private efforts in Keffi.

We are doing this because we know the damage drugs can do to any nation. With proper funding, the centre can handle the rehabilitation needs of the entire North Central and even most parts of the North.

If Keffi is at peace, Abuja will be at peace but if Keffi is on fire due to the menace of drug abuse, Abuja will equally be on fire due to its proximity to the FCT.

In his response, the NDLEA chairman commended the Emir for his support to the crusade against drug abuse and assured him of NDLEAs preparedness to work with him to rid his emirate of the drug scourge.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Owolewa

Alhaji Alaga Olayemi, a businessman and farmer, was kidnapped on Wednesday by unknown gunmen from his farm in Oke-Onigbin, Isin local government area of Kwara, the State Police Command confirmed on Friday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that the businessman was kidnapped by seven unknown gunmen, indicating that intensive effort to rescue him has been activated by the states Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Lawal Bagega.

According to NAN findings, the businessman was abducted along with some of his Aides.

However, two of his aides escaped after some confrontation with the kidnappers. They managed to escape with some matchete cut injuries while their boss was whisked away to an unknown destination.

The Police said they do not know if the abductors have made any demands from Olayemis family. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Institute of Sales and Marketing Management of Nigeria (ISMMN) on Thursday inducted not less than 30 members in pursuit of professionalism and economic development.

The institute was established by the Act of Parliament in 2007 and had been active in its advisory role to government in policy formulation on trade matters.

Alhaji Awulu Mutkari, President-In-Council, ISMMN at the induction in Abuja,said its unique training was aimed at exposing students to rigorous educational and industrial on-field opportunities.

Mutkari explained that it was engaged in training students to earn professional certification in sales and marketing management with global recognition, especially in UK, Europe, U. S. and Asia where similar institutes existed.

He noted that the institute was open to all above 18 years old who wanted to pursue a career path in the noble profession.

We are in collaboration with Yaba College of Technology and soon to conclude arrangements with Federal University, Lokoja for our Diploma students, he said

Dr Johnson Anene, Vice President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) commended the institute for creating a result oriented integrated sales and marketing management profession with international accreditation, certification and global acceptance.

In a keynote address, Anene said its effort wasevident in the institutes continuance to creatively and technologically develop Nigerian graduates and other interested persons by educating, training and retraining them to meet modern day business challenges.

Considering the dynamic economy of Nigeria as well as the global economy, he underscored the need for matching sales and marketing management techniques to achieve consistently visible growth.

He said that ACCI would not mind partnering with the institute in promoting business development to enhance reduced cost of doing business.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the induction which has the theme: Rewarding High Impact Entrepreneurs also features an award of some entrepreneurs as economic catalysts and players in the real estate in FCT.

The real estate organisations awarded included Urban Shelters, BILAAD Reality, Kingfem and EFAB Properties Ltd. among others.

Chief Olu Fashina, Director-General of the institute noted that the awardees selection was based on the research it carried out which projected real estate as one of the sectors which was afloat in business during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Speaking with NAN, he said that the awardees applied modern technology, skilled labour and top quality management to achieve the level of excellence.

Mr Maximus Nwoye, one of the inductees in an interview with NAN expressed delight for having the opportunity to be inducted as a Fellow of the institute after a thorough training.

It has been a long journey and I am happy belonging to the institute, which is an international affiliate and a professional body.

As a member of the institute, it will help one to get to meet and relate well. Such institute promotes career growth and economic advancement, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has dismissed the on-going smear campaign against the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, saying the Buhari administration stands behind all Nigerians including the minister against unfair treatment.

Reacting to calls in some quarters for Pantami to resign over his utterances over 20 years ago, Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents spokesman, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, described such calls as unfortunate.

According to him, it is unfair and unfortunate for anyone to seek for the downfall of a hard working public servant due to statement he/she made in the past even after such statement had been rejected by the affected person.

He said: Today, there is an unfortunate fashion in public discourse that makes leaders in politics, religion, and civil society liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them.

This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on thebasis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami is, currently, subject to a cancel campaign instigated by those who seek his removal.

They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to cancel him.

But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.

The Minister has, rightly, apologized for what he said in the early 2000s.

The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them.

But he will not repeat them for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.

According to the presidential aide, in the 2000s, the minister was a man in his twenties; next year he will be 50, adding that time has passed, and people and their opinions often rightly change.

Shehu posited that Pantami was deliberately being attacked to rubbish the achievements of the Buhari administration in the ICT sector.

He, however, reiterated the commitment of the Buhari administration to improving the lives of all Nigerians.

He also listed the achievements of Pantami in the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy in the past two and the half years.

This Administration is committed to improving the lives of all Nigerians and that includes ensuring they are not over-charged or under-protected for those services on which modern life depends.

The Minister has been leading the charge against illegal data deductions and pricing.

He has revolutionized the governments virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save taxpayers money.

He has established ICT start-up centres to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs.

He has changed policy to ensure locally produced ICT content is used by ministries, starting with his own; and he has deregistered some 9.2 million SIMs ending the ability for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use mobile networks undetected.

In two short years, Minister Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to more than 18 percent, making it one of the top two playing a critical role in the emergence of the economy from the COVID 19-induced recession, he said.

He further noted that Pantami and the Buhari administration had made enemies for putting people first in all their dealings

Shehu said: The minister and this administration have made enemies. There are those in the opposition who see success and want it halted by any means.

And there is now well-reported information that alleges newspaper editors rebuffed an attempt to financially induce them to run a smear campaign against the minister by some ICT companies, many of which do indeed stand to lose financially through lower prices and greater consumer protections.

The government is now investigating the veracity behind these claims of attempted inducement, and should they be found to hold credence police and judicial action must be expected.

The Administration stands behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has called on Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs to use the Ramadan period to foster peace and tolerance in the country.

Lalong made the call on Thursday evening in Abuja at the breaking of fast (Iftar) and feeding of about 2,000 people by Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Abuja.

The governor who decried the spate of insecurity and religious intolerance in the country stressed the need for religious and ethnic harmony.

I am here this evening to break fast with both Muslims and Christians, because I have been told that even Christians join in the breaking of fast here.

This is good and this is how we can promote peace and unity, all other leaders must also encourage religious harmony.

I can do anything for peace, he said.

Lalong who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum called on all governors to work more closely with religious and traditional rulers to entrench peace in their states.

He said as part of efforts to achieve peace in Plateau, he had established a peace agency and inter-religious council.

Lalong called on Muslims to use the Ramadan period to intensify prayers for peace in Nigeria while expressing optimism that Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges.

Earlier, Cardinal John Onaiyekan commended the initiative of feeding the less privileged and equally called for peace and unity among Nigerians.

He called on government at all levels to deal decisively with the few criminals terrorising the country, adding that Nigerians are generally peace loving.

The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Fuad Adeyemi, said about 1000 to 2000 less privileged Muslims and people of other faith were fed daily and this will continue throughout the Ramadan period.

He said the programme was part of the Al-Habibiyyah Food Bank programme meant to help the less privileged and foster unity among Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programmme is an annual event during the Ramadan period, which encourages peace, unity and care for the less privileged. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Enulue

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to fund the 104 unity schools across the country to enable them deliver quality education.

The Minister of State For Education, Mr Emaka Nwajuba, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Keffi after inspecting facilities at the Federal Government College, Keffi.

His visit was to inspect reconstruction work on the female hostel destroyed by a fire incident which reportedly claimed the life of a female student.

He said the present administration placed premium on education as the engine of Nigerias economic and technological growth.

Nwajuba said that the administration was critical about the quality of service being provided in all the unity schools.

He stated that the Federal Government was expecting proper usage of the fund made available to the schools towards delivery of qualitative education and discipline to the students entrusted in their care.

Nwajuba then reassured that the present administration would not fail in its responsibilities of making the schools models for academic excellence and discipline.

He, however, appealed to those entrusted with the care and management of the schools to always ensure that they do their best to justify the confidence reposed on them.

He said it had become imperative that the colleges established as centres of unity and excellence must meet such standards.

The minister then warned that the Federal Government would continue to monitor all the schools to ensure the judicious usage and application of their funds. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that its initiative to set up agro-processing zones nationwide is driven by the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

Dr Abubakar Al-Mujtaba, ACCI President made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Al-Mujtaba said that the agro-processing zones should be the turf of the OPS while the government should provide enabling framework, support and environment to make the project thrive.

Al-Mujtaba described the policy action as a timely response to the push for diversification of the economy to bridge dwindling fortune of the oil sector and tackle challenges of African Continental Free Trade Area.

We are excited by the coverage of the planned project which confirms the seriousness of the federal and state governments to address agricultural value urgency to increase export earnings and compete locally and internationally.

The expected massive output will make up for the late action to upgrade the national agricultural exporting capacity.

The OPS has the skills and the experience to transform the dream of the government into reality in term of a diversified economy with maximum efficiency.

The private sector has the qualities of less waste, transparent business model and value for money, he said.

He further noted that the project would also gain from the time tested industrys experience in the processing sub-sector, while leveraging on the extensive capacity of the private sector to drive such a business model.

He particularly commended the Ministers of Agriculture as well as that of Industry, Trade and Investment for their collaboration and foresight.

He hoped that full integration of the private sector into the design and implementation process would make a huge difference in the attainment of the projects goals and agenda. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The World Health Organization (WHO) says about 16.6 million children in Africa missed planned supplemental measles vaccine doses between January 2020 and April 2021 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ravaging.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Ms Matshidiso Moeti, made this known during a virtual press conference facilitated by APO Group on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Measles is highly contagious, requiring at least 95 per cent immunization coverage in the population to prevent outbreaks.

Yet coverage with the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine has stagnated at around 69 per cent in the WHO African Region since 2013.

Only Seven countries in the region achieved 95 per cent measles-containing vaccine coverage in 2019.

The low measles coverage reflects a wider stagnation in routine immunization in Africa that, in some countries, has been exacerbated by the pandemic and related restrictions.

Some diseases, including tetanus, diphtheria and yellow fever, require 90 per cent coverage in the population, yet rates in Africa remained stuck at around 70 to 75 per cent over the last decade.

Around nine million children in the African region miss life-saving vaccines, each year and one in five children remain unprotected from vaccine-preventable diseases, which claim the lives of over 500, 000 children under 5 years in Africa every year.

Moeti said that the outbreaks were largely due to low routine immunization coverage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said eightAfrican countries reported major measles outbreaks that affected tens of thousands during the aforementioned period.

She added that 15 African countries delayed measles immunization drives in 2020 as they dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although seven of these countries have now completed the campaigns, the remaining eight still poses a risk of major measles outbreaks.

The COVID-19 pandemic which has led to over three million deaths globally left gaps in routine immunization coverage in the Africa region.

Recent outbreaks of measles, but also yellow fever, cholera and meningitis, all point to worrying gaps in immunization coverage and surveillance in Africa, Moeti said.

As we fight COVID-19, we cannot leave anyone dangerously exposed to preventable diseases, she said, while urging countries to double down on essential health services, including life-saving vaccination campaigns.

Moeti said the WHO was working with African countries to ensure that routine immunization service delivery was scaled up to close the gaps created at the start of the pandemic.

This includes providing policy guidance, helping strengthen health systems, training health care professionals, reinforcing disease surveillance and the use of data for action, as well as assisting with periodic mass vaccination campaigns for a range of vaccine-preventable diseases, she added.

She explained that integrated action was needed to increase and expand access to immunization as part of primary health care.

She, however, added that this must be backed by a well-trained workforce, strong surveillance, health information systems, national leadership, management and coordination.

We must also engage more with community leaders and influencers to ensure that everyone understands the life-saving, transformative promise of vaccines, Moeti advised. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Owolewa

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara on Thursday described the sudden death of Africas number one para-badminton player, Abdulrafiu Bello, as devastating and painful.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Rafiu Ajakaye, said the incident represented a huge setback for the Nigerian and African contingents ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bello died as a result of the injuries he sustained in an auto crash between Oyo and Ogbomoso on Wednesday.

Until his death, Bello was the coach of Kwara Badminton Association and Africas representative on the board of the World Para-badminton Federation.

He was due in Spain in May for the last round of the qualifications for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

This is a huge loss to, not just the Para-badminton community in Nigeria, but to the entire sports community across Africa.

Bello was one of the best para-badminton players of all time. His death is truly tragic. The government deeply mourns this great talent who left his footprints in the sand of time.

I, therefore, commiserate with his immediate family, including his pregnant wife and the entire sporting community in Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.

We will miss him a great deal. I pray the Almighty God to console the family he left behind and grant his soul eternal rest. the governor said.

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The High Commission of Ghana in Nigeria has denied alleged castigation of Nigeria and her leadership by President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.

An official of the High Commission in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the comments trending on social media were nothing but fake news.

The official said the reports, which claimed that Ghanaian President made some provocative comments attacking the leadership and good people of Nigeria.

While describing the reports as misleading, the official said that President Akufo-Addo holds the brotherhood of Ghana and Nigeria in the highest regard.

Akufo-Addo was quoted to have allegedly said: We must learn from the mistakes of Nigeria, and never in our entire history be ever so foolish.

You cannot declare war on your country and still be enjoying federal allocation as a state except in complicity with the government.

The Nigerian government is an ethnic government, not a nationalistic government. What I cannot understand is why Nigerians themselves are not angry enough to change the situation.

According to the official, the statements accredited to Mr. President were not true and misleading.

There is no occasion either in private or public where President Akufo Addo attacked the good people of Nigeria.

Mr. President holds the brotherhood of Ghana and Nigeria in the highest regard.

The said statement is the handwork of enemies of the two brotherly countries whose desire is to continue to see unnecessary tension among the good people of the two countries.

We shall continue to see peaceful coexistence among the good people of Ghana and Nigeria, the official said.

The official, who urged the public to kindly disregard the wrongful information, gave assurance that the Republic of Ghana and the Federal Republic of Nigeria would continue to work together to promote the well-being of the two counties. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

The National Association of Mango Producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NAMPPMAN) says it will establish six juice processing plants in the country.

The National President of the association, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Nasir said that the association would partner with stakeholders in the mango value chain to establish the fruit processing plants in the six geo political zones in the country.

He expressed concern over the present low production level of 800,000 metric tonnes annually and stressed that the juice plants would address the enormous post-harvest losses recorded in mango production in the country.

We want to see that we establish at least six mega juice making factory across the country.

That is why we are talking to various stakeholders that are into processing or manufacturing juices andthe concentrates so that through the association they can become off takers that our famers are churning out.

That is what we want to do this year; we want to promote six mega juice processing plants for off-takers to process mangoes.

Already, there is a very big mango production window but not without challenges because most of the mangoes we have are wild mangoes that can only be consumed in Nigeria, he said.

Nasir, who emphasised the need for increased extension services in the production of competitive mangoes, urged government agencies to show more interest in the role of extension workers.

He also solicited support to overcome challenges of certification and standardisation.

During production care is not taken to standardise and before you export you have to standardise, you have to sort and maintain good level of good agricultural production practices to agree with international certification standard, Nasir said.

He said that the association would also engage a total of 3,600 women in the country in producing mango chips or small scale mango juice making factories.

According to him, 100 women will be selected from each state.

Nasir pointed out that Nigeria had capacity to increase production from the present level through constant training of farmers and other stakeholders at the value chain of the produce.

Mango is not a new crop; I have not seen anyone that does not like the fruit.

It might not be your favourite fruit but I have not seen anyone that has phobia for mango and we want to see that every part of the country gets on board with mango production, processing and marketing, Nasir said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bukola Adewumi

The Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) says about 6.1 billion dollars is spent yearly to import wheat into Nigeria.

The President of the association, Alhaji Salim Muhammad, made this known at a news conference on Wheat Forex in Abuja on Thursday.

Muhammad commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the policy that placed wheat on Forex restriction.

He described it as an impressive policy and a welcome development.

According to him, Nigeria consumes five million metric tons of wheat per annum, while a meagre 420,000 tons is produced locally.

He said that in view of numerous challenges that plagued local production, the policy would enable the government to unlock the unrealised potentials in the wheat sub-sector.

The forex restriction policy will give relevant stakeholders the confidence to invest in the wheat sub-sector as the returns on their investments are protected.

Production and productivity will automatically increase to meet local demand, the association president said.

Muhammad noted that farmers would be given incentives to produce more as there would be improved quality seeds, access to the market and better prices for their produce.

We are engaging 600,000 farmers on an average of threetons per hectare, which will translate to 1.8 million tons of wheat this season.

We have the capacity to produce and feed ourselves if a road map toward self-sufficiency is adopted via a special purpose vehicle called Wheat Round Table (WRT) where all relevant stakeholders work together.

Muhammad said that with the policy, the government would get closer to achieving its goal of food sufficiency in the country.

He, however, appealed to the government not to recall the ban as it would provide assurances on return of investment for private investors in the wheat sector.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention to revive agriculture and provide more jobs for Nigerians. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olayinka Olawale/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday said that the state was expected to generate billion in the agriculture sector in the next five year.

Sanwo-Olu said this during the official inauguration of the five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap in Lagos.

He said that most of the investments were expected to be private sector-driven with the needed infrastructure provided by government.

The projection is that the total investment in the agricultural sector from the government, private sector, donor agencies and development partners will run into over billion in the next five years.

The focus of the five-year roadmap is to develop the agricultural value chains where Lagos State has competitive and comparative advantages.

It will help to enhance the states self-sufficiency in food production from 18 per cent to 40 per cent and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Lagos State.

The roadmap is therefore the most appropriate tool needed to unleash the capacity to produce the most-consumed agricultural products in the state and to accelerate the establishment of farms and agri-businesses, Sanwo-Olu said.

He said that the state could no longer afford to rely exclusively on other states for its food, stressing that it was time for the state to unlock its immeasurable agricultural potential.

The governor said that the roadmap would also lead to wealth generation, value creation, food security, industrialisation of the agricultural sector and the entrenchment of inclusive socio-economic development of the state.

According to him, the roadmap essentially focuses on three pillars which are the growth of the upstream sector, growth of the midstream and downstream sectors, as well as improvement of the private sector participation.

Our strategies for sustainable agricultural development shall focus on three pillars which includes to grow the upstream sector through interventions by leveraging technologies that are capable of lowering the cost of production of farming with the support from donor agencies.

We will also focus on growing the midstream and downstream sectors which involves processing, handling, storage, cold chain, packaging, utilisation and commercialisation.

Government will also help the private sector with business-friendly credits, he said.

The governor disclosed that the state had already started the revamping of its Agricultural Land Holding Authority, to support the investment.

He added that the coconut belt would also be strengthened with increased private sector involvement.

Sanwo-Olu said that some of landmark investment which would help the smooth delivery of the roadmap included the State Aquatic Centre of Excellence (LACE).

He said that LACE would boost fish production from 20 per cent to 80 per cent.

Others, he said included, the Imota Rice Mill, the Lagos Food Production Centre Avia, Igborosu-Badagry, as well as other state-wide agriculture focused initiatives.

I am excited about the wealth we will generate from our fecund land and coastal resources.

The next five years will be productive, competitive, and transformational as Lagos state implements its agricultural roadmap.

We are set to become the nations agricultural powerhouse, and I invite you to join us to make history.

I am greatly encouraged by the interest already generated in the five-year agricultural roadmap and I hope it will be sustained and backed with concrete action on the part of our development partners and the international community.

I assure you that the Lagos State Government is putting in place deliberate incentives to make your investment safe, secure, and profitable, he said.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said that the roadmap was a brain-child of the Agricultural Stakeholders Summit held at the inception of Sanwo-Olu administration.

Olusanya said that private sector partnerships would go a long way in driving the roadmap to fruition.

She said that investment in the transformation of agriculture to agribusiness was one way of achieving the dream of attaining self-sufficiency in food production.

With thousands of hours spent by statisticians, agriculture experts, investment bankers and practitioners, this strategic document was brought to live to help chart the way forward to a food sufficient Lagos.

I dream of a Lagos that is socially inclusive; where the informal sector becomes transformed into data driven clusters and then contribute toward the development of this great state, she said.

The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo, said that agriculture currently generates less than two per cent of the states Gross Domestic Product.

He added that the establishment of the roadmap would drive in more investments and create wealth.

Olowo, therefore, urged all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to work together to ensure the success of the roadmap. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye/Naomi Sharang

The Senate on Thursday says it is committed to rejuvenating the deplorable state of infrastructure, teaching and learning conditions in tertiary institutions using legislations.

Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Sen. Sandy Onor (PDP Cross-River), gave the pledge at a public hearing and presentation of memoranda on three Bills for the education sector.

The committees vice-chairman was representing its chairman, Sen. Babba Kaita (APC-Katsina).

She said the rejuvenation of the education sector would make provide enormous benefits for youths seeking knowledge.

She said the move to upgrade the Yaba College of Technology and Ilaro Polytechnic to full-fledged universities of technologies would serve as pathway for affordable education resource centres of excellence.

She added that the upgrade of the schools would also provide employment opportunities for the host communities and other qualified Nigerians.

According to Onor, the upgrade into federal universities would provide a hub for cutting-edge research and learning that would encompass multi-disciplinary approaches, knowledge acquisitions and dissemination.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three Bills were sponsored by Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos.)

They are:

A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Yaba, and a Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, Ogun State.

The third is a Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian French Language School as an inter-university Centre for French Studies.

Sen. Adeola said at the presentation that there was need to expand opportunities for Nigerias teeming youths to gain admission into universities, particularly technology-based education.

This, he said, informed his sponsorship of the Bills to upgrade two major existing polytechnics to full-blown universities of technology.

On conversion of the Yaba College of Technology, Adeola said it would go a long way in addressing the challenge of huge demand for requisite educational institution for the mega city of Lagos.

He said the Bill for the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to Federal University of Technology was informed by the expansion and development of the polytechnic since its inception in 1979.

According to him, its upgrade would help to balance the spread of educational infrastructure in the state and in other parts of the country.

On the Bill for establishment of the Nigeria French Language Village in Ajara, Badagry, Lagos State as an inter-university centre, he said it would go a long way to address the French language deficiency in Nigerian professionals.

Mr. Nureni Alabi, Vice-Chairman, Yaba College of Technology Alumni Association said graduates of the institution would become more grounded in technology, applied science, Information and Communication Technology if the Bill becomes law.

This, he said, was relevant to the needs of development of Nigeria on industrial and agricultural production, research and high-tech development.

The Federal University of Technology, Yaba, will help to conserve the much-needed foreign exchange that is stupendously spent on education tourism.

The Federal University of Technology, Yaba, will help to give an open license to run all technical and technology-based courses that will be beneficial to the citizens in this contemporary times, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News