By Justina Auta

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, says no fewer than 3,339 grassroots women have benefitted from the ministrys micro credit schemes to empower women and reduce poverty across the nation.

Tallenmade this revelation during a courtesy visit by the management and staff of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africas Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in Abuja.

According to her, the micro-credit scheme tagged, Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE) is part of the ministrys projects for women and is being implemented in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

It is a funding window for grassroots women that are into micro or small businesses so as to gain access to supportive inputs without passing through rigorous process of conventional financial institutions, she said.

She also revealed that the Business and Development Fund for Women (BUDFOW) scheme would boost the financial bases of women entrepreneurs with the potential to transmit from micro, small medium or large scale operation.

The scheme is currently implemented in partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI) and the loan procedure are meant to bridge gender gaps in credit finance sectors by reducing rigorous conventional banking procedures for accessing loans, she said.

The minister said throughits Economic Services Department, the ministry supplied food processing machines and equipment to assist women in agriculture to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure preservation to achieve food security.

Tallen, therefore, reiterated the ministrys commitment toward promoting gender and children issues, initiating policy guidelines and lead the process of gender mainstreaming at all levels.

While, assuring the agency of their supports in carrying out their mandates, the minister called for interventions to promote girl-child education, provide menstrual sanitary pads for less privileged girls and support women empowerment.

Earlier, the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said the agency aimed at accelerating economic co-operation and integration to address under-development and marginalisation of Africa globally.

Akobundu said the agencys African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) programme was designed as a self-monitoring and assessment tool to track, monitor and assess the impact of the implementation of AU Agenda 2063.

She added that the APRM would also do same to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and United Nations agenda 2030 on socio-economic development as well as provide quality leadership.

The APRM Review Process is based on a countrys performance and not a score-card as it is not meant to name, shame or punish any APRM member state, she said.

According to her, the process seeks to entrench good governance practices by deepening the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, integrity, respect for human rights, and promotion of the rule of law for SDGs.

Nigeria is currently undergoing its second Peer Review Self-Assessment process, hence the need for the ministry to generate data on gender mainstreaming as it relates to their mandates, she explained.

Akobundu said the process was participatory and inclusive involving the public and private sector, Civil Society Organisations, media, youths and women organisations, academia, traditional and religious leaders, People with Disabilities, among others.

She, therefore, urged the ministry to respond to the National Programme of Action (NPoA) questionaire, which would be sent quarterly that would form the nucleus for tracking progress report for integration into the countrys progress report.

She commended the ministrys role in achieving economic growth and sustainable development though its enormous contributions to gender mainstreaming at all levels in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The World Bank says Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United States, Algeria, Venezuela and Nigeria remain the top seven gas flaring countries for nine years running.

The bank said this on Wednesday in Washington D. C. in its gas flaring satellite data for 2020, compiled by World Banks Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR).

It added that the satellite was first launched in 2012.

It said that the seven countries produced 40 per cent of the worlds oil each year, but accounted for roughly two-thirds (65 per cent) of global gas flaring.

This trend is indicative of ongoing, though differing challenges facing these countries.

For example, the U.S. has thousands of individual flare sites, difficult to connect to a market.

However, a few high flaring oil fields in East Siberia in the Russian Federation are extremely remote, lacking the infrastructure to capture and transport the associated gas.

The report said that2020 was an unprecedented year for the oil and gas industry, with oil production declining by eight per cent, while global gas flaring reduced by five per cent.

It also said that oil production dropped from 82 million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2019 to 76 mbpd in 2020, as global gas flaring reduced from 150 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2019 to 142 bcm in 2020.

Nonetheless, the world still flared enough gas to power sub-Saharan Africa.

The U.S. accounts for 70 per cent of the global decline, with gas flaring falling by 32 per cent from 2019 to 2020, due to an eight per cent drop in oil production, combined with new infrastructure to use gas that willotherwise be flared.

Mr Demetrios Papathanasiou, Global Director for the Energy and Extractives Global Practice at the World Bank said in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, oil-dependent developing countries were feeling the pinch, with constrained revenues and budgets.

However, with gas flaring still releasing over 400 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year, now is the time for action.

We must forge ahead with plans to dramatically reduce the direct emissions of the oil and gas sector, including from gas flaring.

Mr Zubin Bamji, Program Manager of the World Banks GGFR Partnership Trust Fund, said awareness of gas flaring as a critical climate and resource management issue was greater than ever before.

He said that almost 80 governments and oil companies had committed to Zero Routine Flaring within the next decade and some were also joining the global partnership, which was a very positive development.

According to him, gas flaring reduction projects require significant investment and takes several years to produce results.

In the lead-up to the next UN Climate Change conference in Glasgow, we continue to call upon oil-producing country governments and companies to place gas flaring reduction at the center of their climate action plans.

To save the world from millions of tons of emissions a year, this 160-year-old industry practice must now come to an end, he said.

The report said gas flaring was the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction which took place due to a range of issues, from market and economic constraints, to a lack of appropriate regulation and political will.

The practice resulted in a range of pollutants released into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane and black carbon also known as soot.

It added that the methane emissions from gas flaring contributed significantly to global warming in the short to medium term, because methane was over 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide on a 20-year basis.

The World Banks GGFR is a trust fund and partnership of governments, oil companies and multilateral organisations working to end routine gas flaring at oil production sites around the world.

GGFR, in partnership with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Colorado School of Mines, had developed global gas flaring estimates based upon observations from two satellites, launched in 2012 and 2017.

The advanced sensors of these satellites detected the heat emitted by gas flares as infrared emissions at global upstream oil and gas facilities. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Asowata and Florence Onuegbu

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Total Upstream Nigeria Limited and their partners have donated a medical oxygen plant to the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plant was inaugurated on Wednesday by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Sanwo-Olu said one of the most outstanding lessons from the coronavirus pandemic was the need to build stronger and more resilient healthcare systems that would stand the test of time and also lead to improved patient care.

The provision of quality healthcare that guarantees comfort and longevity is a fundamental pillar of our T.H.E.M.E.S developmental agenda.

We will continue to implement audacious reforms in the heath sector because the continued wellbeing of the people of Lagos is non-negotiable, he said.

The governor noted that the inauguration of the oxygen plant was being done alongside the inauguration of Oxygen Triage Centre and a new Blood Transfusion Service Office at Gbagada General Hospital built by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As we prepare to celebrate the second anniversary of this administration, we are more determined than ever before to raise the standard and quality of our healthcare system to meet the healthcare needs of all residents of Lagos.

We will continue to ensure that they have access to quality healthcare irrespective of their socio-economic status. Although there is still so much to be done, I am proud of the considerable progress we have made in the last two years.

He thanked the NNPC, Total, Chevron and other companies for their support to the state during the peak of the pandemic, stressing that all hands must remain on deck to create a sustainable healthcare sector for Nigerians.

Earlier, Mr Mike Sangster, the Managing Director, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, said the coronavirus pandemic further worsened access to oxygen in Nigerias health institutions.

Sangster, represented by Mr Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, Total, said more than 625,000 deaths occurred annually in Nigeria due to diseases associated with hypoxaemia (insufficient oxygen in the blood or low blood oxygen saturation).

He expressed optimism that the plant would not only help improve the states capacity to care for COVID-19 patients, but could further strengthen Lagos ability to manage other conditions associated with oxygen deficiency.

So, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and our partners- NNPC, China National Offshore Oil Company, South Atlantic Petroleum and PRIME Oil, we decided to build and donate this medical oxygen plant to help meet some of our medical oxygen needs in the state.

We believe that this facility would be useful even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, Sangster said.

He said the plant which had a production capacity of 100 bottles of medical oxygen daily was one in a series of interventions that Total had made to support the Federal and State Governments to tackle COVID-19.

Sangster said Total and 30 other upstream operators in Nigerias oil and gas industry, led by the NNPC, donated N21 billion to the Federal Governments COVID-19 effort.

In the first phase, the donation covered three thematic areas, namely provision of medical consumables; deployment of logistics and in-patient support services and medical infrastructure.

Total contributed N1 .2 billion to the initiative, he said.

The Total boss also lauded Sanwo-Olu and the commissioner for health for their frontline roles in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to recognise COVID-19 as a workplace disease, notifiable and compensable occupational hazard.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, said this in a statement commemorating the 2021 International Workers Memorial Workers Day, with the theme Save Lives at Work, in Abuja.

Wabba said that this was significant coming at the epoch of the global fight against the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The contribution of frontline workers especially healthcare workers is a formidable buffer between deaths in thousands and deaths in millions.

Every day, our healthcare workers courageously dare the stare of death in selfless service to rescue the lives of others, he said.

According to him, in view of the foregoing, the NLC demands as action points in the push to Save Lives at Work not only in Nigeria but all over the world of work.

The listing of occupational health and safety as a fundamental right at work and the recognition of COVID-19 as a workplace disease and as a notifiable and compensable occupational hazard.

The provision of training and capacity building for trade unions to deal with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues and push for reforms in the Factories Act particularly in relation to enforcement and penalties.

Demand for compensation of COVID-19 victims in the Workplace; adequate and Quality Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for workers at the workplace.

The payment of health hazards to health workers and other frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforcement of workplace observation of COVID-19 protocols, he said.

While labour expect actions on these demands, Wabba assured workers of its commitment to protect their health and safety at work at all times.

He therefore said in line with the theme of the Memorial Day, labour would make a strong case for the welfare and protection of living workers.

There is no better day to demonstrate our readiness to fight for the living than today.

We will fight for the living by highlighting the preventable nature of most workplace incidents and ill-health, to promote campaigns and union organisation in the fight for improvements in occupational safety and health in our different workplaces.

The NLC president also said given the ravaging effect of COVID-19 pandemic, the consciousness of health as a fundamental human right has never been so globally appreciated.

It is in light of this understanding that trade unions and international workers solidarity movement are now making a global push to lift the status of occupational health and safety to the highest level at the ILO, he said.

He noted that the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), had a strong push for the listing of COVID-19 as a notifiable and compensable occupational health hazards for workers infected with the virus.

There is also a very strong advocacy by trade unions all over the world for the International Labour Conference to adopt Occupational Health and Safety as a fundamental right at work.

This would translate to stronger action and commitment by governments worldwide to take responsibility and accountability on their duties to oblige compliance from employers both in the public and private sectors, he said.

Wabba, however, said the celebration was in the memory of workers who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the course of their duties as workers or as activists fighting for the rights and interests of the working class.

It is also a day to remember workers who had lost some limb, suffered injury, got infected at work or endured other forms of severe loss while in the workplace, he said.

Wabba commended the uncommon love, faith, courage and sacrifice by frontline workers who had given more than what the call of duty demands to give hope to humanity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN), on Wednesday, said it would support the country with 10 million dollars to ensure that transparent and accountable candidates are elected into offices in the 2023 elections.

NDN, an association of Nigerians living abroad, made its plan known in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Akintunde Ademola, in Abuja.

According to the group, the Nigeria Diaspora Network will support good governance candidacy programme for Nigerias next election.

NDN, a composition of Nigerian professionals abroad, was established to lend logistics and media support to leaders particularly young leaders kicking off projects and founding new organisations to fight for our shared progressive values.

Nigerians in the Diaspora remit billions of naira to their home country every year but are denied the right to vote during elections.

We, at the Nigeria Diaspora Network, have therefore resolved to find a creative way to ensure that only those who have respect for rule of law, transparency and accountability are elected into office.

Today, we announce the institution of a million grant to support our partner organisations and candidates who meet our rigorous selection criteria.

The aim is to produce progressive leaders and groups dedicated to leading Nigeria on a good governance structure, the group said.

It restated its commitment to support young intelligent candidates to run for elected government positions in the country.

We believe that to put good governance in place, honest, God fearing and selfless leaders must be elected into public offices.

We have also observed that such candidates are shying away from participating in the electoral process because they lack the resources to do so, NDN noted.

The group, which said it would work out parameters for identifying and supporting such candidates, added that it would initiate a letter requesting for a meeting with those candidates with an intent to provide funding support from the Nigerians in the diaspora coalition.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Folasade Akpan

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has begun restructuring the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, by the NSIAs Communications Officer, Mr Titilope Olubiyi, has said.

The statement said that this was to make the programme more sustainable, following its successes and transformative impact over the past four years.

The NSIA said that within four years of its implementation the initiative had delivered on key outcomes, including over 30 million bags of NPK 20:10:10 spanning the projects life-cycle.

Price reduction on fertiliser from over N10,000 to under N5,500, 41 resuscitated blending plants from an initial number of four plants at project inception.

It also ensured an estimated 250,000 jobs across the agriculture value chains, including in logistics, ports, bagging, rail, industrial warehousing and haulage touchpoints, amongst others.

The NSIA said the initiative also saved foreign exchange in excess of 350million dollars as against erstwhile payments on subsidy and import substitution.

It added that the presidency approved the restructuring of the PFI program, starting from the 2021 cycle, with some major modifications.

The NSIA, under PFI, would transition into an upstream player, thereby limiting its involvement to importation, storage and the wholesale of raw materials to blenders.

Additionally, the NSIA subsidiary, NAIC-NPK Limited, would be spun off to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI).

It also said that blenders would no longer be paid blending fees by NAIC-NPK, rather, they would recover their costs directly from selling the fertiliser to the market.

This would balance the incentives of the business and ensure that the blenders built the right capacity to actively participate in the local supply sub-sector, it said.

Blending plants will provide bank guarantees to cover requisitioned raw materials demand appropriated for their respective production volumes.

As part of the new structure and in line with the presidential directive, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), are expected to engage commercial banks to facilitate lines of concessionary credits to blending plants for the purchase of raw materials.

It is also expected that the CBN will ensure that the foreign exchange needed for the program is provided, when needed to cover some raw materials.

The statement said that under the new arrangement, blenders would be responsible for the bulk of activities in the fertiliser production value chain, such as transporting the raw materials, sourcing filler, blending the fertiliser and selling to off-takers.

It added that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would perform its statutory monitoring and quality control role over blenders activities.

According to the NSIA, the approval of the new approach takes immediate effect with various benefits attached.
It said it would unlock more development finance, such as loans and investments, into the local fertiliser blending value chain in the country.

Other benefits include, reduction of food price inflation in the market as availability of fertiliser will drive down the price or cost of food products.

Mr Mohammed Badaru, Governor of Jigawa state and Chairman, Implementing Committee of PFI, said that the programme had in many ways served to augment the administrations policy-driven programmes to diversify the Nigerian economy.

He said it had also bolstered Nigerias industrial base, resuscitated and strengthened domestic production capacity of fertiliser and eliminated the huge fertiliser subsidy burden placed on the Federal Government.
Clearly, the programme is a strong value proposition for the nation in the agriculture space, given the variety of socio-economic benefits it presents.
We are grateful to Mr President for creating this programme and we look forward to supporting the next phase as it evolves.
Mr Uche Orji, the Managing Director of NSIA, said the programme had accomplished its principal objectives with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He added that the programme had fulfilled the establishment, stabilisation and market discipline phase of PFI whose primary objective was to revive the blending plants and create a viable domestic blending industry.
We believe the PFI should gradually evolve into the next phase, which is a tactical withdrawal of intervention in the industry and the emergence of a self-sufficient, sustainable, and efficiently operated market.
NSIA is pleased with the governments decision and looks forward to seeing the innovation and creativity which will characterise the open market in the sector.
Mr Thomas Etuh, Chairman, Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), said the restructuring was a welcome development for FEPSAN.
He said that the new approach would afford operators the opportunity to build a recognisable and trusted brand while ramping up distribution nationwide. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate on Wednesday directed its Committee on Works to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to include further funding for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu road in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.

The upper chamber also directed the Committee and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to provide appropriate funding for the reconstruction of the Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road in the 2022 Appropriation bill.

The resolutions of the Senate followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Tokunbo Abiru (APC-Lagos) during plenary.

The motion is titled: Urgent need for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road to further bridge the infrastructure gap and enhance economic growth in Nigeria.

The motion was co-sponsored by Senators Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos), Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi), Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), Ibikunle Amosun (APC-Ogun), Tolulope Odebiyi (APC-Ogun) and Olalekan Mustapha (APC-Ogun).

Abiru while moving the motion said that roads indirectly contributed to the economic growth of a nation.

Road development brings social, cultural and economic changes in the lives of the people in terms of providing connectivity between people and places and thus help in reducing poverty

Many roads are in bad shape; leading to negative economic effects.

The total economic effects of such bad roads to the nation, the health of the citizens, operation of businesses, safety of lives and properties are unquantifiable, he said.

Abiru said that the rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe roads would facilitate easy transfer of goods and services between the interconnecting towns and adjacent states, maintaining and increasing the economic activities along the project corridor.

The senators in their contributions supported the motion. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

The Edo government says it has appointed a contractor for the flood control project at Ughoha community in Esan South Local Government Area of the state, signaling the commencement of the project.

Dr Tom Obaseki, the Project Coordinator, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), made this known on Wednesday at Ugboha, while introducing the project contractor to the community.

Obaseki assured the people that the best contractor was selected to handle the project because of the importance of the community to the state.

Ugboha is very important to us and we thank the community for producing great men that have made so many positive contributions to the development of Edo state.

We made sure that in the process of recruiting a contractor for the job, we went for the best of the best, he stated.

Obaseki solicited the support of the traditional head of Ugboha and members of the community for the smooth implementation of the project.

We want to solicit the support of your highness and the entire people of the kingdom so there will not be hitches down the line.

Every time we waste or lose cannot be recovered. So, we want to seek your support in providing the enabling environment and security for the contractor, he said.

The traditional head of Ugboha, Ukato Steven II, assured that the community would provide a conducive environment for the successful and timely delivery of the project. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Victor Adeoti

The Osun government has concluded plans to construct perimeter fence in all public primary and secondary schools in the state to ensure safety of pupils and students.

Mr Ajibola Famurewa, the Executive Chairman,State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) said this at an enlightenment programme organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Engagement on Wednesday in Ilesa.

Famurewa said the initiativewas part of Gov. Gboyega Oyetolas security measuresto ensure the safety of pupils, students and their teachers in all publicschools in the state.

The SUBEB boss, who noted thatthere were no doubt that Osun was very peaceful, said the issues of kidnapping of students by bandits in some parts of the country had necessitated the move by the government.

Government will soon commence building of perimeter fence in all the public schools.

This is part of Gov. Oyetolas security plans to ensure the safety of our children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.

Although, Osun is a peaceful state, the spate of kidnapping, especiallystudents in some parts of the country is scary, hence the need for government to put security measures in place in all public schools, Famurewasaid.

Famurewa also said that the state government was providing more than 7,500 school furniture in all the public schools in the state to ensure delivery of quality education.

According to him, government has embarked on more than 143 projects in all the public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Earlier, Oba Adekunle Aramolaran, the Owa-Obokun of Ijesaland, commended Gov. Oyetola for the prompt payment of teachers and other civil servants salaries in the state.

Oba Aromolaran, however,appealed to Oyetola to upgrade the Ilesa College of Education to a University.

The traditional ruler said if government could accede to the request, it would gladden the heart of theIjesa people.

Also speaking, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Special Adviser to the governor on Civic Engagement, said the programme was organised as a feedback mechanism for the government.

Oyintiloye, who noted that the governor was passionate about the welfare of the people of the state, said the programme wasto allow peopleair their viewon governments policies and programmes.

He said Oyetola would continue to do what was best for the people who elected him into office.

Oyintiloye appealed to people of the state to continue to pray for Oyetola to deliver more dividends of democracy to them. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mrs Bose Ogulu photo credit: IG

By Ekemini Ladejobi

Mrs Bose Ogulu, Mother of Grammy award winner Burna Boy, has been nominated by Billboard as one of its 2021 International Power Players.

Bose is the talent manager and co-founder, Spaceship Collective which represents Afrobeats superstar and Grammy award winner Burna Boy as well as Buju.

According to Billboard, its 2021 International Power Players list aims to recognise industry leaders nominated by their companies and peers and selected by our editors with primary responsibility outside the United States.

Honourees include label executives, music publishers, independent entrepreneurs, artist managers and concert promoters.

Also on the list is another Nigerian Obi Asika, co-head of U.K. office, UTA.

Describing Bose, Billboard wrote:

Amid the pandemic, Ogulu co-executive-produced, released and promoted the Twice As Tall album from Nigerias breakout global star Burna Boy (aka Damini Ogulu).

He is signed to Bad Habit/Atlantic in the United States and Warner Music International for territories outside of Africa.

Twice As Tall won best global music album at this years Grammy Awards.

Bose has set up a publishing company through Spaceship Collective to enable Africans to own their own catalogues so that the authenticity of our stories, our glory, our culture is sustained, she says, and we are empowered.

In her response to the recognition on her social media platform, Bose said, Honored to have made it to Billboards 2021 international power player list. Looking forward to breaking down more doors.

Billboard is an American magazine and website that produces news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music industry.

It is known for its music charts, including the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and Global 200, tracking the most popular songs and albums in different genres.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

The heirs of Lee Kun Hee, the chairman of the telecommunications giant Samsung who died in October, will pay more than 12 trillion won (1.08 billion dollars) in inheritance taxes.

The heirs said on Wednesday.

The Lee Family said in a statement released via Samsung Electronics that the inheritance taxes would amount to more than half the value of the late chairmans total estate.

According to them, the inheritance taxes are one of the largest ever in Korea and globally.

According to the family, the amount is equivalent to three to four times the Korean governments total estate tax revenue in 2020.

News agency Yonhap reported that the tax will be the largest-ever in South Koreas history.

The Lee family said it would pay the amount in six installments over five years starting from April.

It is our civic duty and responsibility to pay all taxes, the family said.

The chairmans heirs also said they would donate one trillion won to efforts to help overcome infectious diseases, childhood cancer as well as some 23,000 art pieces including works by Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet.

The statement did not say how the Lee family will divide the inheritance, which includes shareholdings in Samsung Electronics.

Lee, who had been South Koreas richest man since 2009, was survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

His assets were estimated to be worth more than 25 trillion won when real estate is counted, according to Yonhap. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Irelands Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed the killing of a citizen in a Monday attack in Burkina Faso together with two Spanish journalists.

The ministry said in a statement that Rory Young was part of a group that on Monday morning was attacked by unknown assailants in the eastern part of Burkina Faso.

The statement said that the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney learned of Youngs death with deep dismay and that he condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of those who are responsible for this attack.

Yong was the co-founder and president of an anti-poaching organisation called Chengeta, according to the Irish Times.

A day earlier, Spanish Foreign Minister, Arancha Laya had confirmed the death of the two Spanish journalists, saying the site of the attack was in a dangerous area, a field of action for terrorist groups, poachers, criminals and jihadists.

According to Spanish media the journalists had been part of a group of correspondents accompanying officials from Burkina Fasos environmental protection agency and the military during an operation targeting poachers.

The convoy of about 40 people was attacked by an unidentified armed group on the road between the cities of Fada NGourma and Pama in the south-east of the country on Monday evening, according to the reports.

One Burkinabe was reportedly kidnapped or injured during the attack.

The western African country is located in the Sahel, where several terrorist groups were active, some of which have pledged allegiance to the Islamist militias al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

Burkina Faso has seen a significant increase in terrorist attacks since 2015. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Indias COVID-19 death toll on Wednesday crossed the grim milestone of 200,000, as globally record-breaking daily infection numbers had overwhelmedthe health systems.

In the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry recorded 3,293 deaths related to coronavirus infection, bringing the total to 201,187.

At the same time, 362,567 new infections were reported in the highest single-day surge of cases worldwide for seven days straight, taking Indias total caseload to 17.9 million.

India ranks second behind the United States 32.1 million cases, while its fatalities count ranks fourth behind the U.S., Brazil and Mexico, which have all crossed 200,000 deaths.

But with about 300,000 cases and 3,000 deaths recorded per day, India is likely to cross more bleak milestones in the future.

Ten states in the worlds second-most populous country account for 74 per cent of cases, including in the hotspots of Maharashtra and New Delhi.

The capital and other affected areas were under lockdown, as infections have crippled the health system and overburdened funeral sites.

Shortages of beds and medical oxygen have been blamed for dozens of deaths across states.

Video footage showed relatives of patients outside hospitals pleading or getting angry over the lack of medical care.

The situation has prompted many countries, including the U.S., to send ventilators, oxygen plants and anti-viral drugs.

Experts attribute the rapid spread of cases to more infectious variants, including a so-called double mutation, and peoples failure to observe safety measures.

Several countries have banned flights from India, including Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Belgium and Italy. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

The European Parliament have voted to ratify the Brexit trade deal between the European Union and Britain, the last major step in the pacts approval.

Out of the 697 EU lawmakers who cast their vote, 660 were in favour, five were against and 32 abstained, the legislatures President David Sassoli announced on Wednesday.

The huge agreement, covers not just commercial relations, but also competition rules, fishing arrangements, and the future terms for cooperation on policing and justice, transport and energy.

The more than 1,000 page treaty is now expected to take force on May 1.

The trade deal was being provisionally applied since the beginning of 2021 to allow EU lawmakers time to scrutinise and ratify the deal.

This grace period runs out on April 30, as per an agreement between the two sides.

The British parliament gave its green light back in December, shortly after the deal was struck.

EU lawmakers had previously threatened to further delay ratification because of an ongoing dispute with London about the special trade rules agreed for Northern Ireland in the withdrawal agreement in 2019.

In a debate ahead of the vote on Tuesday, most EU parliamentarians said they would back the deal with a heavy heart, and hoped for more constructive cooperation in the future. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

A former Kano State governorship aspirant, Alhaji Abdulsalam Zaura popularly known as A. A. Zaura, has defected from the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection of Zaura, Founder of A. A. Zaura Foundation, according to a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Zauras media aide, Mr Al-Amin Ciroma, followed consultations with stakeholders,

According to the statement, the defection was facilitated by Gov. Abdullahi Gandujes Special Adviser on Solid Minerals, Balaraba Ahmed and other APC chieftains in the state.

The statement also added that Gov. Ganduje commended Zaura for his contributions to the growth and development of his community and the state as a whole.

He described A. A. Zaura as a youth whose coming into the party would lend credence to the fact that the APC is youth-friendly.

The APC Chairman in Ngoggo Local Government Area, Abdullahi Ramat, who earlier received Zaura into the party, described him as a youth politician who has the interest of his people at heart.

According to him, the APC has a big catch in Mr Zaura who will not only add value to the party but the state as a whole.

In his response, Zaura described his defection as homecoming, and pledged to work towards developing the party in the state.

He called on all the GPN members across the state to join the APC, saying that the party is a youth-friendly platform.

He promised to, within his powers to advance the successes recorded by the APC in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Monday Ijeh

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) says there is no report of attack by bandits on the University of Abuja.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, ASP Mariam Yusuf said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

She said the clarification followed purported reports in some sections of the social media that the institution was attacked by bandits.

The command wishes to debunk the viral message in some sections of the social media purporting that the University of Abuja has been attacked by bandits.

We wishes to state categorically that there is no record of such incident as at 2200hrs of Tuesday.

Members of the public are therefore enjoined to disregard the message which is not only mischievous but intended to cause tension amongst residents, she said.

She said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the FCT, Mr Bala Ciroma had ordered uninterrupted patrols around schools within the territory.

Yusuf enjoined residents to remain calm, laws abiding and verify every information they received to avoid causing panic among the members of the public.

She reaffirmed the undeterred resolve by the command to protect lives and property within the FCT.

The PPRO urged residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress to the command through 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, 08028940883.

She said the conduct of Police Officers, could be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) through a mobile number of 09022222352. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Suleiman Shehu

The owner of Agbo Hotel, Ogbomoso in Oyo State, Mr Oyedokun Oyeniyi, his wife, Busayo Oyedokun and seven others that were kidnapped on Saturday have been released by their abductors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the victims were released on Tuesday after payment of an undisclosed amount as ransom.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the release of the abductees.

Yes, they have been released, he said.

Osifeso did not, however, disclosed whether ransom was paid before the release of the victim.

It would be recalled that the kidnappers visited the hotel in Ogbomoso at about 10 p.m. on Saturday pretending to be lodgers and shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping the victims.

The kidnappers had demanded for N32 million ransom for the release of the abductees. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Minister of State Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, has urged stakeholders in the construction industry to develop technologies that would address housing and infrastructural deficiencies using local available resources.

Abdullahi said this at the 10th Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBBRI) international conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

The conference had the theme: Circular Economy in the Built Environment for Enhanced Performance of the Nigerian Construction Industry.

He said the locally available resources should be able to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals target of providing affordable and decent housing for citizens.

This will not just enhance the performance of the construction industry but will also boost the economy as one of the major ways of increasing governments revenue.

It will also improve the countrys Gross Domestic Product through research and development.

The aim should be at cost reduction, zero waste and income generation that would eventually translate to improved standard of living of our citizens, Abdullahi said.

He, however, said the platform should be used to sensitise professionals and experts in the building industry on the opportunities offered by the Presidential Executive Order 5 and to support its full implementation.

Abdullahi said the forum was apt and would expose stakeholders to the the latest trends in the building sector that could reduce the dangers associated with erosion, building collapse and persistent flooding.

The NBBRIs Governing Board Chairman, William Wadni, said Nigerian construction industry had been identified as one of the fast growing sector around the world.

Wadni said for Nigeria to maintain an impressive performance, it was imperative for the industry to be well positioned to compete with its contemporaries globally.

He said that in line with its mandate, the institute had developed many innovations from intensive research work over the years, which made vital impacts on the building and road construction sectors.

The Nigerian construction industry is vibrant and characterised by continuous change, mainly due to the fluctuating dynamics of the economy which influences the socio-economic, physical and psychological needs of an average Nigerian.

The industry, though fast growing with a lot of challenges, is yet to attain the desired level in spite of efforts and funds committed, he said.

The President of Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Engr. Ali Rabiu, who was represented by Engr. Felix Atume, said that the depleting resources in the construction industry need to be addressed.

A member of the Australian Institute of Building, Mr Olabode Ogunmakinde, who spoke virtually, said the industry must rely on research through adequate grants and collaboration with other institutions of higher learning.
(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

The U.S. government has pledged support and absolute solidarity to combat the lingering and growing insecurity in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Region.

Mr Anthony Blinken, U.S Secretary of Sates disclosed this in a virtual interview with newsmen as part of his activities during his virtual visit to Africa on Tuesday.

Blinken made the pledge following questions on the growing insecurity in the region, across Nigeria and the death of Idriss Derby, Former President of Chad who died on the fields while fighting rebels.

He said that the U.S is committed to supporting Nigeria address these challenges through resources, information sharing, capacity building, equipment, amongst other ways.

Blinken however noted that it is important to work together using a comprehensive approach to address the situation.

And I think it is fair to say that the challenges that Nigeria faces when it comes to security are quite extraordinary.

And you referenced them whether its terrorism, whether its banditry and criminality, whether its piracy. All of these are real challenges.

The good news is this: One, we are in absolute solidarity between us in trying to address these challenges together.

And the United States is committed to supporting Nigeria as it meets these challenges. And what that involves primarily is helping Nigeria continue to build its capacity.

Through training, through resources, through information sharing, through equipment, and all of that done, very importantly, with full respect for human rights.

But its also important that we work together, as we are, to address some of the drivers or facilitators of violence and instability that we know those engaged in these activities can sometimes feed on.

And thats why you have to have a comprehensive approach to these challenges. Its not the security piece is vitally important, but its insufficient, and so economic development, progress, opportunity is hugely important, Blinken said.

Blinken said it is also important to deal with the other drivers that lead to conflict, violence and extremism in the Lake Chad Basin Region.

So, too, are dealing with some of the other drivers that sometimes produce conflict, violence, and extremism. And one of the things thats striking, of course, is the Lake Chad basin.

And there weve seen over time, as you know, the erosion of the basin, including because of climate change.

And that, in turn, can produce conflict over resources, new migratory patterns that put people in conflict, food insecurity, the more easy spread of disease.

All of which can produce an environment in which terrorism, criminality, other forms of violence are more likely.

So I think its vital that we address these, as I know President Buhari is very focused on, Blinken added.

Blinken added that on this note, that was why it was so important to have President Buhari as well as President Kenyatta from Kenya take part in the climate summit that President Biden convened last week.

He explained that the Summit was a very powerful manifestation of the broad international commitment to address the challenges posed by climate change, which in turn, he thinks will address some of the drivers weve seen of conflict which in turn can feed extremism.

So its a long way of saying I think we have to see the big picture, the comprehensive picture obviously focus on the hard security collaboration that we have.

And strengthen that, but also not lose sight of some of the bigger pieces of this that we have to address together as well, Blinken further stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Blinkens virtual trip to Africa is another important step by the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen the U.S relations with African countries.

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says the Biden-led administration is keen on supporting efforts of countries to recover from economic downturns caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Blinken made this known during a virtual interview with newsmen as part of his activities of virtual visit to Africa on Tuesday where he also met with President Muhammadu Buhari and President Uhuru Kenyata of Kenya.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major dual crisis; a health crisis and an economic crisis and U.S President, Joe Biden is keen on supporting countries bounce back better, Blinken said.

He said that the U.S government has supported with facilities to restructure debt, looking at supporting programmes

We have had this dual crisis, a health crisis and an economic crisis, and there too, unless and until we find ways to support efforts of countries around the world.

And economies around the world to bounce back economically from COVID, we wont have fully addressed the problem either.

And by the way, thats also in our interest, because we want strong trading partners, we want strong investment partners, and it makes sense to make sure that were doing what we can to be helpful.

And as were looking at this, I think there are a number of things that are important. Weve supported, for example, facilities to restructure debt, because as countries emerge from the economic crisis with debt obligations, that can be challenging in normal times.

Its incredibly more challenging if youre in the midst of or emerging from the economic downturn that was the result of COVID. So we are very strongly supportive of flexibility there, restructuring there.

Were looking at a variety of other support programs. And as well, I think being able to move forward with trade, with investment, with partnerships, that too is going to make difference, Blinken said.

Blinken said it is also best to take advantage of the moment with real opportunities that would help in recovery of economies.

I also think we have to, as we are doing this, try to take advantage of the moment as well. There is a necessity, but there is also some real opportunity.

President Biden talks about this in terms of building back better. How do we make new investments in our economies, as we are working together.

How do we do it in a way that promotes greater equity? How do we do it in a way that actually advances the effort to combat climate change?

And there, there may be real opportunities in terms of, for example, green technology that can actually create and sustain good, strong jobs.

All of these things are on the agenda and were looking at them, I think, together very creatively both in our bilateral relationships but also multilaterally, including through the international financial institutions, Blinken added.

Responding to questions on strict visa procedures in Nigeria that has limited a lot of Nigerians to getting visas, Blinken said the Biden Administration have removed some strict restrictions placed by the previous administrations.

Blinken said that appropriate legal foundations to ease immigration policies are already in place but moving forward, the U.S government is also mindful of the COVID-19 challenges and how it affects travel.

With regard to visas, et cetera, we are also doing two things. We removed from the books some of the restrictions put in place by the previous administration, so the appropriate legal foundation is there.

But we also now, in moving forward, have to be very mindful of the challenges we all face, including the fact that COVID-19 is still with us.

And so we all want to get back to travel quickly, to trade quickly, to enabling legal migration, but we have to do it in a way that is cognizant of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.

So that it is safe and secure, and we make sure were at a place where we can do that with the virus under control, so that we dont risk regenerating it and creating another cycle.

So all of that were factoring in in a very practical way to our ability to move forward with travel as well as with immigration, Blinked added.

Source: NAN News