By Emmanuel Antswen

The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has launched the Nigeria Air Force Investment Limited (NAFIL) farms project with an initial 2,000 hectares at the Tactical Air Command (TAC) Base in Makurdi.

Launching the project, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) TAC, Makurdi, AVM Idi Lubo, said the project would provide over 500 direct jobs on completion, as well as guarantee food security in the country.

He said the collaboration between Nigeria Air Force Investment Limited (NAFIL) and Circum Farms would enhance food security and cordial relationship between the host community and NAF personnel.

Food security is vital to every nation and no nation will depend on the other for food. Our population is growing and the land mass still remains the same.

Therefore, it is important to maximize the full potentials of the available land that we have.

This project, I am told, will provide over 500 direct jobs. This collaboration between NAFIL and Circum Farms will enhance food security, he said.

In his address of welcome, the Managing Director (MD), Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited (NAFIL), AVM Uchenna Nwagwu, said the project was owned by NAF personnel across the country.

Nwagwu explained that NAFIL was providing 2,000 hectares of land, while Circum Farms would provide the technical know how and machinery for the project.

He said the project was designed to meet not only the needs of the personnel, but also that of the communities and the public at large.

Speaking to newsmen, the Chief Executive, Circum Farms, Mr Sylvester Uzoama, said the project was an integrated farm with engineering precision, that would use mechanization to enhance capacity.

He explained that the farm would first test run using 500 hectares, adding that they would be farming over 10 crops, including, maize, rice, ginger, cowpeas, yam, cassava, plantain, banana, cashew and soya beans. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Onyeje Abutu-Joel

Residents, particularly housewives in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, have lamented the increase in prices of food items.

A survey conducted by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Makurdi showed that prices of food items have been increasing on a daily basis.

Many housewives interviewed by NAN said that feeding their families has now become very difficult as the prices of essential food items have multiplied in the past few months.

Mrs Rose Onazi, a housewife, said that the sharp rise said that the sharp rise in prices of various goods, especially food and household items, has made nonsense of the amount she receives as monthly house keeping allowance from her husband.

Onazi said that many of the items she bought a week before had increased either by 50 per cent, 100 per cent or even more.

She said that the development had started taking a negative toll on the wellbeing of many homes, so much so that some are now impoverished and unable to meet the rising cost of living.

For example, I bought one litre satchet of Kings oil at the rate of N850 last week only to be told today that it is now N1000.

I also bought a 360grammes of Dano milk at N750 last week but today it is now N850 and half crate of eggs which was N650 last week is now N700 and the list goes on, Onazi lamented.

Another resident, Mrs Gloria Edeh also told NAN that in the last one month prices of food stuffs had increased in geometric progression.

It is always very annoying when you come to the market with your budget and discover that you have to start altering it because prices have changed from what you used to know.

I always shout at the traders over the constant increase in prices of food items, but when you think of it, it is not their fault but the manufacturers.

The trader is in business to make gains so he will only sell at slightly above the price of what he bought from the manufacturer, Edeh explained.

Similarly, Mrs Ngohol Agber, another housewife, lamented that there was no food item or product whose price had not increased.

According to her, a kilogramme of cow meat that was sold for N1,400 is now sold at N2000.

Even common garri has become an essential commodity, Agber said.

She said that many wives have evolved a system to buy what is affordable and available, because the prices of food commodities are so high and beyond the reach of the common man.

Other housewives; Mrs Achetu Ochefu, Mrs T. Olobatoke and Mrs Nkiru Chuka who spoke to NAN blamed the everyday increase in prices of food items and other products on the manufacturers.

They lamented that the incessant increase in prices of consumables was telling negatively on their families economy.

Meanwhile, a cross section of traders told NAN that the situation was also difficult for them as sales had dropped terribly.

They lamented that high prices of foodstuffs had resulted in low patronage by customers.

The traders attributed the rise in prices of foodstuffs to security challenges being experienced in parts of the country and the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

The respondents all called on the government to set up a price control board that would regulate prices of consumables and other products in the market so that average Nigerians could survive.((NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Hussaina Yakubu

The Kaduna State Government has reiterated its stance not to negotiate with bandits and insisted that only total annihilation of the criminals would end banditry.

The government was reacting to some commentators who blamed it for asserting that the government would not reward hoodlums.

The criticism of the government followed mass abduction of students and the killing of at least five of them recently.

The commentators had also unearthed a video clip in which Gov. Nasir El-Rufai had berated President Goodluck Jonathan for not negotiating with the abductors of the Chibok school girls in 2014.

The government reaction was contained in a statement issued by Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, issued in Kaduna on Tuesday.

It explained that the stance of the El-Rufai over the 2014 kidnap of Chibok girls was based on the circumstances at the time.

The years since 2014 may have led some people to forget the denial and doubt that defined the Federal Governments response to the Chibok abductions, especially the initial refusal to acknowledge that it happened.

That was the context under which civic pressures were brought on the government, it said.

It added that, Nigerias journey since the 2014 Chibok tragedy has proven that the solution to violent crimes, including terrorism and banditry, is a robust response from the state and its coercive agencies.

The quantum of money paid as ransom following many negotiations with bandits have not stopped kidnappings, reduced their frequency or deterred the criminals.

The experience of many states in the Northwest of Nigeria since 2015 has included cattle rustling, kidnappings, killings and the devastation of communities by criminals.

Several states sought to negotiate their way out of the problems by talking to bandits, paying them money or offering them amnesty.

This has not worked and has only encouraged the criminals to press ahead for a surrender of the public treasury to them. That is clearly not in the public interest.

Mass abduction was like in novelty in 2014. But the facts have changed since then.

Negotiations and ransoms have been undertaken, but these have not stopped the criminals. It has only encouraged them.

It is only prudent to review ones position when the facts change, and the suggestion made by a citizen years ago cannot be taken as the immutable answer to a serious problem which has evolved since 2014, no matter the viral replays of the said video clip.

The statement stressed that the state has been consistently transparent about its security challenges and support to security agencies.

We are engaging the Federal Government to have security responses that move away from reactive response of repelling bandits towards a comprehensive, proactive offensive that takes the battle to the criminals and uproots them, it added.

The state government reminded that it has no direct control of any of the security agencies and will not compound the job of security agencies by giving criminals the resources to acquire more arms.

The government stressed that it was deeply concerned about the recent kidnaps and killings of some students in tertiary institutions, and sympathised with their families.

We mourn the dead students and we offer our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

The ruthless and heartless resort of the kidnappers to murdering these young persons is part of their effort to further their blackmail and compel us to abandon our no-ransom, no-negotiation policy.

It added that the government would not surrender to the antics of the criminals or create an incentive for them to commit more crime. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba/Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State government on Tuesday said it built 51 roads within two years of the governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration with 43 more ongoing across the state.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said this during the Annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the second anniversary of the Sanwo-Olu administration.

She said the road projects were undertaken to avert gridlock in major economic, commercial and residential areas to reduce travel time.

These projects will make commuting stress free, life more meaningful for the people and ensure connectivity within the various communities in the state, she said.

According to her, the projects are in line with the THEMES agenda, especially the first pillar T, which stands for traffic management and transportation.

She added that the THEMES agenda also underscored the commitment of the administration to execute projects that directly impacted on the quality of lives of residents.

She listed the completed road projects to include Pen-Cinema flyover, ramp and road works, Lagos Ogun Boundary roads Phase II, Lekki Oniru Traffic Circulation projects, network of 31 roads in Ojokoro, Aradagun-Epeme-Iworo-Ajido and Somolu Road network among others.

She also explained that several others were under construction and being upgraded to further ensure interconnectivity of different parts of the state.

She listed the roads to include: Oba Sekunmade Road, Agric Isawo Road, St. Finbarrs and Iwaya Roads, Lekki-Epe Expressway, from Eleko Junction to Epe T junction and also Lekki Regional road project.

She said other road projects recently awarded included: Hospital Road in Badagry, Construction of Muwo Jetty in Ojo, Abaranje road network in Alimosho, Reverend Braithwaith in Epe.

Aramide said Sanwo-Olu would formally flag off the construction of a new ultramodern Massey Street Childrens hospital and the reconstruction/rehabilitation of Adeniji Adele Road under the Lagos Island Area North Action Plan on April 28.

She said other newly awarded projects were: reconstruction of Moshalashi Street, Shomolu, rehabilitation/upgrading of Ademoye/Alake Lakonko Street in Alimosho, reconstruction of Onilegbale in Eti Osa, among others.

She expressed the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to ensuring speedy completion of all the ongoing projects.

Adeyoye said the Lagos State Public Works Corporation had maintained 632 inner roads covering 192 kilometers in addition to over 24 public infrastructure to ensure the comfort of Lagos residents.

She also said some road projects were undertaken by the Federal Government in harmony with the state government to ensure seamless motoring experience for residents. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edeki Igafe

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has urged Nigerians to embrace unity irrespective of ethnic and religious differences.

Ortom made the call on Tuesday during the inauguration of the rehabilitated 7.9 kilometers Oha/Orerokpe/Oviore Road and the bridge in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta.

He said that the level of injustice, fairness and equity in the country was probably responsible for the various agitation emanating from the geo-political zones.

The governor said that he would continue to preach unity of Nigeria stressing we are better as a country.

Let there be justice for all irrespective of our ethnic and religions; we should be united as a nation. God has been with Nigeria and will never abandon our country.

What is happening today, I believe when God arises, enemies of this country will scatter and we shall have our peace.

Ortom commended his host, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for the infrastructural development in the state and urged him to sustain the tempo.

God will surely reward you for committing yourself to this level and determination of focus to add value to the development of Delta.

We appreciate your uprightness, not just at the state level, but at the national. At the party level, you never fail any assignment committed to you.

Continue to do your best, you are a bridge builder. In the midst of many challenges in this country, where people are singing songs of disunity, you have remained focused.

I appreciate you for this milestone, this road will not only be used by the people of Delta, Ortom said.

He said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was committed to providing dividends of democracy to the people and thanked the Okpe kingdom and the entire Delta for supporting the governor.

As leaders in this country especially the PDP, we are prepared to give Nigerians a democracy that is anchored on equity, fairness and justice.

I have learnt and will continue to learn, do not be tired when I come knocking again.

I will send members of my cabinet to interface with members of your cabinet to see how we can partner and add value to the development of our people, he said.

In his remark, Gov. Okowa said that his administration was committed to improving the lives of the people through infrastructural development.

I thank God for the traditional rulers we have in this state, they have continued to partner with the government of this state to achieve peace.

We have continued to remain focus on our dreams he said.

Okowa urged the people to cooperate with his administration to enable him to continue to impact meaningfully on their lives.

The Delta governor had earlier on Tuesday inaugurated the Army Day Secondary School in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, says the Federal Government is desposed to calls for increase in womens participation in peace and security processes in the country.

Tallen said this during the meeting of the Security Sector Reference Group on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 organised by the UN Women on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister, while decrying the spate of attacks and killings in the country, said women were worst hit by security challenges affecting the nation, hence the need for more strategies to curb it.

We will continue to support increase in womens participation in peace and security processes, peace negotiations, conflicts prevention and resolution by showcasing best case practices.

The strategic role women play in the security sector is very important.

They play the unseen role, there are a lot of things that happen behind the scene only a woman sees and getting her involved makes a lot of sense.

We will continue to lend hands, to work together with the men because security is everyones business but womens role is more strategic because they are involved in mediation, they bring about peace.

I strongly believe that more involvement of women in the security sector will bring a meaningful impact to our security architecture and that is why I am lending my full support to this, she said.

The minister revealed progress toward developing the third National Action Plan (NAP-3-) to identify and capture current women, peace, security priorities and key intervention needs in Nigeria including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tallen, therefore, stressed the need to pay more attention to the domestication of the UNSCR 1325 in the six-geopolitical zones of the country to improve gender mainstreaming in the security architecture of the country.

Ms Comfort Lamptey , Nigerias UN Women Country Representative, said that the Reference Group was part of intervention by the UN Women, funded by the government of Germany to enhance gender balance and gender responsiveness of security sector institutions.

Dr Julie Sanda, Senior Researcher/Training Coordinator, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, National Defence College, stressed the need to involve women in addressing insecurity in the country.

Women should play their own part whether in the formal security sector or at community levels; security affects everybody and so everybody has to contribute.

The contribution of women ensures that we have a gender responsive approach to security, she said.

Also, Bridget Osakwe, National Network Coordinator for the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in Nigeria, emphasised the critical role women played in security, peacebuilding and development of the country.

The security apparatus has been using the male dominated sequence, and we are saying that using the dominated strategies is like using one hand.

Why dont we just join the second hand for us to use our full potential, she said.

The Assisitant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Dr Aisha Abubakar, reiterated the commitment of the police toward prioritising gender issues to address challenges affecting women and children.

Similarly, Brig.,-Gen. Christiana Thomas of the Nigeria Defence Headquarters reiterated the armed forces commitment in advancing gender balance by fully implementing gender policies in the line with the UNSCR 1325.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Reference Group comprised gender focal persons of security sector institutions, oversight bodies, independent experts, and co-chaired by the armed forces of Nigeria. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

A Non-Government Organisation, Gender Mobile Initiative, has unveiled a mobile app for reporting sexual harassment and its prevention in tertiary institutions in the country.

Ms Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Founder and Executive Director of Gender Mobile, said at the unveiling of the app popularly known as Campus Pal that 101 tertiary institutions had already tapped into the platform to expose randy lecturers.

Ogunrotimi said that the app was carefully built with support from Ford Foundation and partner agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), as well as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

She noted that the diverse population, made up of students and academic staff in the tertiary institutions, was considered before creating the app (Campus Pal Mobile Platform).

In the last three years, we have focused on environments of learning to address sexual harassment from a policy standpoint and through technology adoption.

This effort piloted in four tertiary education institutions and I am glad to share that this has morphed into partnerships with 101 tertiary education institutions with support from the Ford Foundation.

In 2019 the nation came to terms with the reality of the epidemic proportion of sexual harassment in our fine institutions.

The BBC sex for grades video provided insight on emerging issues and we were confronted with critical questions such as what parameters should be used in determining behavior that constitutes sexual harassment?

These posers informed the national convening of regulatory agencies/ICPC and other stakeholders where a policy framework was designed for institutions to use and develop their full anti-sexual harassment policy, Ogunrotimi said.

She said that more needed to be done to ensure the desired result would be achieved.

Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, wife of Ekiti State Governor, in her keynote address epressed displeasure that students were abused by lecturers whom they looked up to for guidance and mentoring.

She listed staring in a sexual manner, displaying pornographic or sexually explicit material, sex jokes, touching without consent, asking intrusive questions or repeatedly making unwanted requests for sex or dates as acts of sexual harassment.

In October 2019, I attended the screening of the BBC Documentary, Sex for Grades, at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos. I could not believe what I was watching.

I laughed at the pitiful sight of a grown man bumping and grinding in front of a girl young enough to be his daughter, claiming to be praying for her.

I cried when it turned out that the brave young woman who produced the documentary, Kiki Mordi, had to drop out of university on account of the sexual harassment she faced.

I sat with my mouth open at the sight of The Cold Room, where young female students were taken to be frozen by their lecturers.

I was angry at the lack of respect for the young women and the absence of any sense of decorum by the male predators.

However, I was also pleased that the dreadful culture of silence about sexual harassment in our higher institutions was finally being broken, she said.

According to the governors wife, sexual harassment leads to decreased participation in class and general school activities as victims may seek to make themselves less visible just to escape the lecherous intent of predatory lecturers.

In another study of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, it was found that 69.8% of female respondents had been sexually harassed by male classmates and lecturers.

Of this number 48.2% experienced physical sexual harassment, while 32.2% had requests to do something sexual in exchange for academic favours.

In another study carried out on 200 lecturers and 200 students of tertiary institutions in Edo, it was shown that the majority of the respondents agreed that sexual harassment is prevalent in these institutions.

It is instructive to note that there is considerable under-reporting of sexual harassment in colleges and universities.

The imbalance of power between students, especially female students, and male teachers/professors in position of trust and authority contributes to the high rate of underreporting of this phenomenon.

Because of this lack of trust, the victims are reluctant to report their victimisation.

The implication is that more female victims of sexual harassment become disillusioned and lack a corresponding zest for learning, as it is believed that reporting such lecturers or abusers would be met with institutional hurdles that blame the victim and exonerate the accused, Adeleye-Fayemi.

NANS President, Mr Sunday Asefon, represented by Mr Adeleye Olugbenga, said sexual harassment had for long threatened the peace in various tertiary institutions and that it was time to take the bull by the horn.

Asefon said that NANS was in the forefront of fighting sexual harassment and abuses in schools and would not stop now that it had gone digital. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Constance Athekame

Mr Sule Abdulaziz, acting Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has charged members of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) to commit to increasing access to electricity in the West African region.

In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, TCNs General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, quoted Abdulaziz, who is also the Chairman, Executive Board of WAPP, as giving the charge at the Pools 49th Executive Board meeting recently held in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Welcoming members of the Board to the meeting, Abdulaziz stressed the need for member utilities to pay their dues promptly, to enable WAPP continue to discharge its obligations to member states.

He commended member utilities that had paid their dues for the year 2021, despite the effects of COVID-19, and equally encouraged others who were yet to pay, to do so.

The TCN MD said that it was common knowledge the world economy had been negatively impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic, with attendant financial difficulties for all businesses.

He, however, noted that there was the need for WAPP to build resilience at this critical time, to enable the Pool achieve its goals.

Abdulaziz expressed satisfaction with the reports on the implementation status of WAPP priority projects, saying that it showed the projects were progressing, despite the COVID 19 pandemic and its disruptive effects.

He assured the meeting that related challenges, such as Right of Way (RoW) issues, were being addressed.

The MD commended the Secretary-General for the successful negotiation with WAPP Technical and Financial Partners on the financing of a significant number of WAPP priority projects.

Abdulaziz also expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Benin, and in particular, His Excellency, Mr. Patrice Talon, President of the Republic of Benin, for the warm welcome accorded the Board members in Cotonou.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Secretary-General of WAPP, Siengui Apollinaire KI, disclosed that within the first quarter of 2021, Niger Republic inaugurated NIGELECs 90MW PPP-built crude oil plant in Ghana.

KI also gave a brief update on the implementation status of other WAPP priority projects, including the Burkina Faso Regional Solar Park, which, he said, was at the pre-qualification stage.

While the Mali Regional Solar Park; the Gambia Regional Solar Park; the Niger Regional Solar Park, and the WAPP Median Dorsal are all undergoing feasibility studies, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris says theFederal Government will reinvigorate the Inter Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) set up to ensure prompt implementation of findings contained in audited reports of the extractive Industry.

Idris disclosed this in a statement signed by Mrs Obiageli Onuorah, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Head, Communications and Advocacy, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Idris spoke when he visited the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji .

The IMTT will now be resuscitated, it will come back to life and will continue to discharge the very objectives for which the government set up that Committee to achieve. The result will begin to come very soon.

This is part of the collaboration. We are always supportive of what NEITI is doing and it is equally collaborating with us.

We will put hands together to make sure that whatever is due to government by way of revenue, royalty, fines and so on, do come to government.

We are supportive 100 per cent of what NEITI is doing and we will assist the officials to achieve their objectives, he said

He further explained that NEITI was working in the areas of curbing corruption and plugging leakages in the extractive sector.

We are here essentially to strengthen our partnership and collaboration because we have a common goal. I feel it is important to visit NEITI to strengthen our relationship.

According to him, the visit also shows the importance AGF attaches to the great work NEITI is doing in terms of looking into revenues from extractive industries that is supposed to come to government.

Responding, Orji described the Accountant-Generals visit as most encouraging considering efforts at revitalising the IMTT.

We want to work with all agencies that take custody of government funds, warehouse or manage them because most of these funds come from the extractive industries.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is the nations treasury house and the Accountant-General of the Federation has enormous responsibilities in that regard.

I am very much encouraged by the massive reforms that the Accountant-Generals Office has carried out in terms of payment systems that have been automated.

This has reduced very significantly issues of corruption. That is why NEITI finds the Office of the Accountant-General a very useful partner.

When we look at NEITIs industry reports we are encouraged by the responsiveness of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to NEITI remedial issues.

That is also the reason, perhaps, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) found the office worthy to Chair the Inter Ministerial Task Team which the Accountant General of the Federation has come here to discuss the modalities for reinvigorating that team.

That Task Team to us means everything, he said.

The NEITI boss expressed that in the last five years, the IMTT had not been very active but pointed out that with the Accountant General of the Federation working with NEITI, that Committee would be resuscitated and help to reduce to the barest minimum the chances of NEITI quarreling with sister agencies on the pages of newspapers.

The Inter Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) is an old initiative of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) set up to implement recommendations on remedial issues in the NEITI industry Reports.

In another development, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

The MoU is to define modalities for deepening the engagement with the NFIU in the areas of information and data sharing in financial corruption in the extractive industries.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, explained that those measures were designed to ensure that those who took compliance to NEITI processes for granted would have themselves to blame for the consequences.

He said that the MoU would also define parameters for strengthening the technical working group earlier established by the two agencies.

NFIU will also collaborate with NEITI on training and manpower development, he added.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bolanle Lawal

The Ekiti Government on Tuesday said Malaria was a threat to the states development and therefore it would do all in its power to ensure malaria scourge was reduced to the barest minimum.

Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the State Commissioner for Health, made this assertion while distributing mosquito nets to mark the year 2021 World Malaria Day on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti.

Filani vowed that the state would do everything to ensure a malaria-free Ekiti and a malaria-free Nigeria.

We need to understand that Malaria is not just a health problem; it is a threat to our development.

We must therefore pull our entire resources to ensure a malaria free Ekiti state and a malaria free Nigeria, he said.

The Commissioner said that consequently, the state government had distributed thousands of long lasting treated mosquito nets to pregnant women and under-five children across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti.

He explained that the scheme was primarily targeted at people classified as being at risk.

Filani said available statistics indicated that malaria prevalence in the state was 32 per cent in 2018, placing the state among the high burden states in Nigeria.

Quoting the World Health Organization (WHO), the commissioner said, malaria related absenteeism and productivity losses costs Nigeria an estimated 1.1 billion dollars every year.

He reiterated the commitment of the Fayemi-led administration to the welfare of residents in the state.

Filani said deaths from malaria were preventable and solicited the residents support for governments malaria elimination programme towards ending the menace in Ekiti.

He said that the theme for this years Malaria Day Zero Malaria Draw the Line Against Malaria served as a reminder that malaria was preventable, every malaria death was intolerable and a malaria -free future was possible.

This theme is a clear call to action for us as a state to double all efforts towards putting an end to Malaria in Ekiti state, the health commissioner said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Tuesday called for investment in local production of bitumen for road construction as Nigeria spends too much on importation.

Onu said this at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Nigeria Building and Road Research Institutes (NBRRI), first virtual international conference in Abuja.

According to Onu, with the reduction in foreign exchange earnings as the prices of crude oil drop at international market, there is need to find alternative sources of bitumen.

He said this would also encourage the use of concrete in road construction.

Nigeria has one of the largest deposits of bitumen natural sands in the world and it covers four states of Edo, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos.

It is estimated that bitumen reserves cannot be less than 42 billion barrels, out of which 43 industrial chemicals including heavy crude petroleum, can be obtained, he said.

Onu urged that the private sector should be brought in to invest in local bitumen production, adding that all necessary incentives should be provided for this to happen.

We cannot have huge deposits of bitumen natural sands and yet continue to import bitumen from other countries.

This does not make sense and should not be allowed to continue, Onu said.

He noted that if people in bysiness, who currently import bitumen into the country would consider investing in local production, this would help to boost local bitumen demand in the country.

Earlier, Mr William Wadni, Chairman, Governing Board of NBRRI, in his welcome address, said that the Nigerian construction industry was one of the fastest growing in the world.

Wadni stressed that to maintain its impressive performance, it was imperative that the industry be repositioned to enable it compete with its contemporaries globally.

Dr Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Science and Technology, in his goodwill message, said it was impressive that the 2021 conference sought solution to eradication of waste in the building industry.

I hope this platform will sensitise professionals and experts in the industry on the opportunities offered by Presidential Executive Order 5 and support its full implementation, Abdullahi said.

Mr Edet Akpan, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, said the conference was apt and in line with global context.

When scientists and engineers are pulled together, the best will be achieved. A knowledge based economy is something all must be carried along, Akpan said.

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

Source: NAN News

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FBN Holdings Plc shareholders on Tuesday endorsed a total dividend of N16.15 billion declared for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2020

The shareholders approved the dividend at the companys ninth Annual General Meeting held by proxy and monitored live on YouTube by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that the dividend translated to 45k per share, compared to 38k per share paid in the corresponding period of 2019.

The dividend declared would be payable on April 28 to eligible shareholders.

Speaking at the meeting, Founder, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Sunny Nwosu, commended the company for the enhanced dividend declared for the 2020 financial year.

Nwosu applauded the directors, management and staff of the company for serving the shareholders diligently, in spite of the challenging operating environment and COVID-19 pandemic.

On unclaimed dividends and dormant accounts, he urged the Federal Government not to pursue policies that would discourage investors from investing in Nigeria.

Nwosu also enjoined registrars and company secretaries to map out strategies that would reduce the level of unclaimed dividends.

Also speaking, Mrs Bisi Bakare, National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, lauded the company for reducing Non Performing Loans (NPL) to 7.7 per cent from the 9.9 per cent posted in 2019.

Bakare said that the company had showed resilience in dividend payment and operational performance in spite of challenging times.

Mr Adebayo Adeleke, another shareholder, commended the board of directors and the management for the transformation recorded by the company.

Adeleke noted that the company had shown ability to contain cost and had been consistent in reducing the NPL.

Responding, Mr Urum Kalu Eke, the companys Group Managing Director, told shareholders that the company was well positioned to pay higher dividends in the years ahead.

We are well positioned to begin to pay higher dividends in the coming years.

We will not relent in our leadership position; it goes beyond creating structure, what we are doing now is to build synergy, platforms and collaborations.

We will continue to thrive to generate earnings and be in a position to pay dividend at a higher level.

We are committed to restore this group as the foremost, the biggest institution in Nigeria and Africa and it will happen, Eke said.

He said that the company was committed to progressive dividend every year, noting that it plugged back about N25 billion into the commercial bank subsidiary to boost its capacity.

He noted that the companys profit after tax of about N90 billion during the year under review was an indication that the turnaround embarked upon over three years ago had continued to transform the group.

For you to grow a loan book by 19.2 per cent in a challenged economy as we saw in 2020 is something that speaks to our faith and commitment to this economy.

For us to increase deposit by 22 per cent to N5 trillion says a lot about the trust and safety that we offer to the public, he stressed.

On NPL, Eke said that it would be reduced to a single digit within two to three years.

On unclaimed dividends and dormant accounts, he agreed that government must be careful in order not to discourage investments.

We need to build confidence into the system so that people that are bringing money will see confidence that their capital and funds are protected, Eke said.

He also assured the shareholders that the Finance Act stance on unclaimed dividends and dormant accounts had not commenced.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Group, Dr Adesola Adeduntan said that the bank had built the largest agency banking in Nigeria with more than 100,000 agents.

Adeduntan said that the bank went into agency banking to assist government in financial inclusion.

We have created employment for at least 300,000 people thereby assisting government to address unemployment, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

The French Government is to partner with the Benin monarchy for the repatriation of Benin artworks which were looted from the kingdom more than a century ago.

Mr Jerome Pasquier, France Ambassador to Nigeria, disclosed this when on Monday he led some officials of the French Embassy on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin.

Pasquier said that the French government was determined to eliminate all forms of discriminations and as well assist Africans in a dialogue to retrace their cultural heritage.

He also commended the Benin monarch for steps he had taken to curb the menace of human trafficking in the country and Edo in particular.

The French ambassador said that his country was committed to Omo NObas war against human trafficking.

We commend you for the effort you have put up to address the challenges of human trafficking and to assure you also that we are committed to the war against trafficking, he said.

On his part, the Benin monarch, Omo NOba Ewuare Ogidigan II, described the partnership as a panacea for eradicating vices in the society.

I also want to solicit the assistance of your government to revamp Nigerias dwindling economy through agro allied ventures, to engage the teeming youths from seeking greener pasture abroad, he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Oba told the ambassador to implement the outcome of the proposed dialogue on African Cultural Heritage to achieve the set goals. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Alex Enebeli

The Enugu State Government says it has set aside loans for youths who want to engage in creative work in the state.

Mr Arinze Chilo-Offiah, Special Adviser to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on SME Development and Investment, made the disclosure in Enugu on Monday at an event to mark the 2021 World Intellectual Property Day organized by the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC).

The theme for the year is Intellectual Property (IP)and SMEs :Taking Your Idea to Market.

Chiloh -Offiah said the loan was operated under its Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Programme for the youth.

He commended NCC for finding it worthy to visit his agency and pledged to partner with them to enhance creativity in the state.

In her remarks, the NCC Director in Enugu State, Mrs Ngozi Okeke, reiterated its determination to ensure that peoples intellectual property are secured and protected in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission visited Enugu State SMEs and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for partnership.

Okeke said the event was to celebrate creativity, innovation and their impacts on peoples lives as well as promote better understanding of the intellectual property.

According to her, the commission would continue to promote a culture of respect for copyright while pursuing zero- tolerance of all form of piracy in the state.

She noted that the importance of SMEs in the society could not be overemphasised.

They are the backbone of national economies, live wires and provides goods and services to make our lives better.

They generate employment of over 50 per cent of the workforce and generate over 40 per cent of the national income, Okeke said.

The director explained that every business started with an idea which emanated from someone.

The idea is transformed into tangible assets which people use to satisfy needs.

The commission within its mandate provides protection for creative works from creation to the market and is committed to assist SMEs within its legal framework, she said.

Responding also, the Zonal Coordinator, South East, Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Cordelia Nwachukwu regretted the activities of pirates in the state and urged the commission to intensify its effort to reduce it.

We have database for people that want trademarks and we search to see if work they bring is not anothers work.

In abroad, they respect other peoples efforts but here is a different thing; it is stealing and sin before God.

Nwachukwu thanked the commission for their visit, describing the theme for the year as apt.

She urged the commission to ensure that authors rights were adequately protected to encourage more book writers.

The coordinator however, said the ministry would partner with the commission.

NAN reports that World Intellectual Day is an annual event celebrated every April 26.

It was established by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in 2000 to raise awareness on how patents, copyright and trademarks impact on lives and to celebrate creativity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ekemini Ladejobi
Lilian Afegbai, a Nollywood actress and former Big Brother Naija housemate, says her relationship is off the social media to prevent unsolicited advice from strangers.

She explained that it was safer for her to keep her relationship private despite fans curiosity about what goes on in her life.

The screen diva said she wants a situation where her relationship drama can be settled privately without people interfering and making it hard to reconcile.

Lilian wrote on her instagram:

The beauty of keeping my relationship private is, when we fight na two of us know say we dey fight, when we settle na still two of us know. Its normal, but when too many people are involved, it makes it harder to even reconcile

Lilian who is also a movie producer, won the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards for Indigenous movie of the Year for her production debut Bound in 2018. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Lizzy Okoji
Ambassador Designate of Nigeria to Qatar, Yakubu Ahmed, has expressed commitment to promote mutually beneficial economic interest and bilateral relations between Nigeria and the State of Qatar.

Ahmed made the pledge on Monday while presenting his Letters of Credence to Qatars Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Soltan Bin Saad Al-Muralkhi, at his office in Doha.

The Nigerian embassy in Qatar disclosed this in a statement made available to the media on Monday in Abuja.

Ahmed said Nigeria and Qatar already had strategic relations which he would further build on as Nigerias envoy, to be mutually beneficial to both countries.

He thanked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the warm reception accorded him upon his arrival in Doha, Qatar on the 15th of April.

Ahmed further reaffirmed the cordial relations existing between both countries.

Ahmed also expressed commitment to promote mutually beneficial economic interest in the discharge of his responsibilities.

Speaking, Al-Muralkhi at the brief ceremony welcomed the Nigerian Principal envoy to Qatar and assured him of cooperation and support towards a successful tour of duty.

The minister further described Nigeria as a very important country in Africa and the world at large, paying tribute to Nigerian Nationals occupying strategic positions at different international organisations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmed, one of the newly appointed Ambassador-Designate is the immediate past Director of Protocols, State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ethiopia registered 841 new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 253,120 as of Monday evening, the countrys Ministry of Health said.

The ministry also reported 19 new deaths from the pandemic in a day, bringing the national death toll to 3,570.

A total of 750 patients have recovered from the disease, taking the national count of COVID-19 recoveries to 193,497.

Ethiopia, Africas second-most populous country has so far reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the East Africa region.

The country is also the fourth most COVID-19 affected country in Africa in terms of positive cases.

According to the ministry, Ethiopia currently has 56,051 COVID-19 patients with 990 of them in severe condition.

Ethiopia is supplying COVID-19 vaccines to its population after the country received its first batch of vaccines from COVAX, a WHO-led initiative aimed at providing more equitable access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.

The East African country had also received a batch of Chinas Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines that was donated by the Chinese government. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Uchenna Ugwu

The Cedro Royal Multiventures, Abuja has trained 400 grassroots cassava farmers in the use of Akilimo advisory tool for fertiliser recommendation and weed management.

The Lead team of the venture, Mr Fakunle Aremu, said this on Monday in Abakaliki during a training workshop on the use of the tool.

Aremu said the innovation was meant to increase cassava production.

He said the firm, together with Eleanya Empowerment Foundation Africa in the state, wanted cassava farmers to see cultivation as a business and more profitable.

Aremu described Akilimo as a digital service that provided tailored fertiliser recommendations to farmers and service providers.

He called on trained farmers to pass the knowledge to other farmers for sustainability and food security.

We plan to train 8 000 farmers but will train only 400 today.

We train and build capacity of farmers on best practices in sustainable agriculture.

We also link farmers groups with innovations, financial institutions and markets, Aremu said.

The Akilimo Promoters with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Mr James Ekele and

Mrs Josephine Fasakin, said the objective of the recommendation was to show farmers that cassava farming is business and more profitable.

Ekele, who is also a facilitator, described the project name as Africa Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI).

We have developed tools that guide farmers on fertiliser recommendation, weed management and best planting practices.

The fertiliser tool recommends six uses, such as type, quality, how and when to apply fertiliser on cassava farming.

It also helps them for cost benefits if it is profitable to use fertiliser or not.

The weed management describes how best to prepare a farm and control weeds to achieve maximum yield, Ekele said

The Founder, Eleanya Foundation and Farmer, Mr Henry Agha, called on government at all levels to support farmers to achieve objectives of the innovation and ensure food security.

Mr Emma Oyim, farmer and Chairman, FADAMA in Afikpo-North Local Government Area, said he had been cultivating cassava out of ignorance.

I am privileged to acquire this new innovation to boost cassava production and hope the programme will be carried out to the grassroots for maximum yield, Oyim said.

The General Overseer, God Sent Salvation Strong Tower Mission, Mr John Echem, said that governments support on funding would increase productivity of cassava.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop featured lecture in fertiliser recommendation and weed management. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Solomon Oladipupo

The Nigerian Army has pledged to protect all orientation camps and corps lodges of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the South-East amidst current insecurity in the zone.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army in Enugu State, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, gave the assurance in Enugu on Monday when the Director of the South East Area Office of NYSC, Mrs Ngozi Nwatarali, visited him.

Lagbaja requested that NYSC State Coordinators in the South-East should update and compile addresses of all Corps lodges in the region and liaise with the various Brigade Commanders for effective security strategy.

The GOC observed that the security challenge in the South East was still at the lowest spectrum of insurgency.

He further noted that criminal elements were attacking national assets at the moment and that the condition might degenerate to kidnapping if not nipped in the bud.

However, the military commander assured the NYSC management that they were working assiduously to ensure the security of corps members at all times.

He equally promised to post more armed military personnel to protect the camps and to ensure synergy between NYSC and the Nigerian Army in the South-East.

On her part, Nwatarali called on the GOC to join hands with other security agencies to achieve the goal of effective security of corps members and NYSC orientation camps.

The regional director also prayed for an urgent and timely response by security personnel in case of any threat to lives of corps members. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Francisca Oluyole
Prof. Benjamin Adewuyi of the Federal University of Technology Akure has advised the Federal Government to resuscitate Ajaokuta steel company in order to serve as a catalyst for economic growth.

Adewuyi of the Department of Metallurgical Engineering of the institution, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, Ajaokuta steel is a national asset that should be given adequate attention to ensure it played it part in the Nations economy.

He said that no country would record economic growth without a viable metallurgical sector put in place, adding that Nigeria should revive its moribund metal sector.

The company is stagnant; we spoke with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, few weeks ago and he said that the Russia team that will take audit of the company will soon arrive in Nigeria, he said.

NAN recalls that the accord to revive Ajaokuta steel company was reached during a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Vladimir Putin in Russia in 2019.

The Russian government had nominated TYAZHPROMEXPORT (TPE), a Russian company, the original builder of Ajaokuta steel to conduct technical audit of the steel company to ascertain the level of work to be completed.

On Delta Steel in Aladja, he said that it would take political will to correct the mistake made on the company at its initial concession to an Indian company.

He said that nothing had changed about Delta steel since the administration of late Umar Yaadua retrieved Delta steel from the Indian company called Global Infrastructure (Nigeria) Ltd.(NAN)

Source: NAN News