By Douglas Okoro

The Nigerian Army are yet to confirm the alleged shooting by unknown gunmen of two soldiers at a military checkpoint located at popular Timber Shade junction in Amasiri, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi.

Meanwhile, a top security source, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday at Amasiri on condition of anonymity, said that the shooting occurred on Monday night around 9.pm.

The source stated that the gunmen made away with the riffles of the two dead soldiers.

Also, a source in the community, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and pleaded not to be mentioned said the gunmen arrived the checkpoint in a white bus and as the military men stopped them for a stop-and-search, they opened fire on them.

According to the source, the situation jolted the two busy towns of Amasiri and Afikpo into pandemonium, as residents, especially traders and shop owners hurriedly closed down shops and went home.

Its a very sad situation here. They said it was people suspected to be gunmen, who came to the checkpoint at Timber Shade (boundary Ehugbo and Amasiri) in white bus, the source said.

All efforts to speak with military officials at the Nkwegu military cantonment proved abortive.

An officer told NAN on condition of anonymity that the army Headquarters would release a statement at the appropriate time.

Also, an army assistant Public Relations Officer simply identified as Tayo when contacted on his mobile phone (08038432656) said that he would get back to NAN.

Also contacted, Mrs Loveth Odah, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) declined to speak on the incident saying that she was not spokesperson for the army.

I am not the military spokesperson, please contact the military public relations officer so that he can answer that, Odah said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Victims Support Fund (VSF), Emergency Support Programme Task Force on COVID-19, has donated 60, 000 rapid test kits to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Presenting the kits in Abuja, the Chairperson of the task force, Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, said it was part of the organisations contribution to the national response to the pandemic.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said the organisation was concerned about the safety of the corps members, hence the need for the support.

She noted that NYSC was one of the most crucial components in terms of high density population across the country.

According to her, the organisation has been supporting the Federal Governments efforts under the instructions of the Chairman of VSF, Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd.), through its intervention projects.

VSF has made a donation of 54 boreholes and 216 hand-washing stations to schools in 18 states across the six geopolitical zones, including FCT, estimated at N210 million, among other interventions.

We want to see how we can contribute to the containment of the virus through these interventions to reduce the community transmission of COVID-19 across the country.

The Task Force on COVID-19 is an emergency response team inaugurated by Chairman of the Fund, Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd.), she said.

Ogunsiji explained that the donation was to provide palliatives to displaced persons and the vulnerable including institutional support to agencies supporting the national efforts to fight COVID-19.

VSF will continue to provide succour to vulnerable Nigerians as well as institutional support to agencies involved in the fight against Covid 19, she added.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, commended VSF for the kind gesture, saying that the donation was highest so far. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has met separately behind closed doors with Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at his official residence, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidents Personal Assistant on Photography, Mr Sunday Aghaeze, confirmed the two meetings in pictorial reports on Tuesday.

NAN gathered Zulum used the opportunity of the meeting to update the president on security developments in Borno while Tinubu thanked the president for his support during the 12Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Kano on March.

Buhari, who participated virtually in the event to mark the 69th birthday of the former two-term Governor of Lagos State, commended the celebrant for always being an advocate of unity and cohesion in Nigeria.

NAN reports that no official statement on the outcome of the two meetings held on Monday night as at the time of filing this report. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nicholas Obisike

Potters Wheel Foundation in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry of Youths and Sports has announced availability of 54 vocational skills for youths.

The President of the Foundation, Mr GodOwn Onuzulike made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.

The skills we offer include how to produce household, office and industrial products and others.

We trained 150 persons at our corporate office before we approached government and our dialogue with the state government was fruitful.

Enugu State Government through its Ministry of Youths and Sports gave us the media centre at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium as a platform, Onuzulike said.

According to him, since the Foundation moved to the stadium, 400 persons participated in the first batch of training in Oct. 2020 and it comprised the youth and women.

After our training in the first batch, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State gave start up materials to 240 youths that were trained.

Our second batch came in Nov. 2020 with about 500 participants.

Currently we are going into batch D which will last for 7 weeks, our graduation is slated to for June 11, Onuzulike said.

He said that the programme was aimed at reducing unemployment, crime, poverty and insecurity in the state and the country at large.

We believe that this is one of the tools to attack the challenges that have bedevilled the society, Onuzulike said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed confidence that Nigeria will overcome her current security challenges.

Osinbajos spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the vice president made this known when he received a traditional ruler from Nasarawa State, Alhaji Ahmed Hassan, the Yankanje Uke.

Osinbajo assured that the present challenges would prepare Nigeria for a greater and prosperous future and urged the traditional institution to support the re-engineering process.

There is no question at all that we are facing security challenges, but we are able to overcome them; the role of the leadership is to sit down to think through the problems.

This is a big country; so policing is very difficult; there is a need for us to reorganize our security architecture, which is what is going on now.

I believe strongly that the reason why we are experiencing what we are going through today is because we are being prepared for the future.

A future where we will take into account all of the problems because if we havent gone through the problems we are going through now, it will be difficult for us to appreciate the importance of fairness and justice, the importance of giving people a voice and a representation.

I am very pleased to hear about what you are doing.

The vice president said that one of the reasons why there were divisions and conflicts in the parts of the country was because people did not feel included in the management of affairs in their localities.

He commended the traditional ruler for his leadership style.

I think you have created an opportunity where the options are available for bringing appeals to a center of fairness and justice for people from across the country, and it is one that is to be emulated.

And I think that this is the way Nigeria should be; we should be able to say that no matter where you are from, if you have the talent; if you work hard, you will succeed wherever you are. You will not be constrained by your political, ethnic or religious affiliations.

Every great society that has succeeded in the world is multi-ethnic and they succeeded because they brought in talents from all over the place.

Osinbajo urged traditional rulers to leverage the influence they had over communities to effect positive change for the good of the entire society.

On his part, the traditional ruler commended the vice president for his ability to bring people of different ethnic groups in the country together.

He said in his kingdom in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa, Osinbajo was being emulated in terms of bringing ethnic groups in Nigeria together as one.

Hassan appealed to the Federal Government to integrate the traditional institution in the implementation of some of its intervention schemes for small businesses and the less privileged.

Also present at the meeting were the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa and the heir apparent to the throne, Prince Nurudeen Abdullahi.

Members of the Yakanaje Emirate Council and Kingdom and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, among others were at the meeting.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Kano State Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Konexa, a foreign investor, for the generation, storage, and distribution of electricity.

The MoU will see Konexa investing 100 million dollars to, among other things, provide cutting-edge technology in deploying renewable energy.

Pradeep Pursnani, Chief Executive Officer of Konexa who said this at the British High Commission in Abuja where the MoU was signed, added that the agreement is backed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and would produce and distribute 10 megawatts of electricity to 30,000 consumers in Kano.

In this partnership, Konexa will bring investment, provide better service for the customers and help bring the discos to financial health.

This is important given the situation of the power sector in Nigeria where a lot of the discos are struggling financially even to pay for the power that is provided to them.

So Konexa we believe will significantly help in addressing the power sector in Nigeria, he said.

In improving generation capacity, he said that Konexa would deploy solar power, hydropower, and biopower technologies.

According to him, it is important to complete the project by 2022 and be successful in order to quickly replicate the same in other states of the federation.

I hope that after we deliver in these states we can look at other states across Nigeria.

Our business model is very replicable and scalable and provides a win-win for all.

In Kaduna, we will deliver before the end of the year, the investment is around 90 million dollars.

It is quite small but it is important to start small to prove things before we can scale up.

In Kano we are estimating the project cost to be well over 100 million dollars, he said.

He said that the company was partnering with Nigerian distribution companies to rehabilitate the distribution network in Nigeria, meter every consumer, and add more generation capacity in order to connect rural areas as well.

The UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge who was also at the ceremony commended the move, stressing that the time had come for Africa to deploy alternative but pollution-free sources of energy.

It is really good to see Africa coming up with innovative ways of producing, distributing, and storing energy for industrial, commercial, and residential use, using innovative financial structures, he said.

Giving insights into the funding and partnership, Aisha Abba-Kyari, Associate Vice President at the NSIA said the Kano project was at first a presidential initiative that coincided with the Konexa project.

She said the project was designed to benefit both communities and industrial clusters, adding that NSIA was acting as the funds and project manager.

We are actually funds and project managers for the 10 megawatts solar power plants in Kano State, it is a presidential initiative which coincided with KONEXA and KEDCOs franchise model that they are developing in the same area.

We are treating this as a pilot project and upon completion, the plan is to redeploy similar projects across the country, she said.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Managing Director of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company Dr Jamil Gwamna described the MoU signing as a great opportunity for KEDCO.

He said the MoU would contribute immensely in addressing one of the biggest challenges of distribution companies just as it would 0attract capital investment to improve the quality of electricity supply to customers.

What this partnership is bringing in the investment to increase the reliability and also the quality of supply to our customers.

We have both the on-grid and off-grid solutions.

The solar is an off-grid solution, and there are other solutions that Konexa is bringing, he said.

The signing of the MoU is coming barely three years after Konexa signed an MoU with the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) in 2018 for 10,000 energy connections worth 90 million dollars.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Konexa received a UKAid grant during its early stages and has also been supported by other partners including the U.S., Shell Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation.

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

A coalition of 14 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has expressed concern over delay in the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, urging the National Assembly to fast track its passage.

Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, Ms Cynthia Mbamalu, said on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference on Electoral Reform.

Mbamalu, also Programmes Director, Yiaga Africa, said that reforming the electoral legal framework for credible elections was a top priority, urging the National Assembly to ensure that the bill was passed in the shortest possible time.

She said that in December 2020, the National Assembly held a public hearing on the Bill which provided an opportunity for citizens and stakeholders to participate and make their inputes to the electoral reform process.

The urgent need for reforming the Electoral Legal Framework is founded on the broad-based consensus by Nigerian citizens and electoral stakeholders on the need for a more credible and improved electoral process.

A process that will encourage active citizens participation and guarantee their rights in electing leaders and representatives that will provide good governance by addressing gaps in the current electoral legal framework.

The Senate President at that time promised Nigerians a new Electoral Act by March 2021. That timeline has come and gone!!!

Election remain the fulcrum and constant cardinal feature in a democracy; It is important to protect all conditions and instruments required to conduct free, fair and credible election to ensure that the sovereign will of the people prevail always, Mbamalu said.

She said that the seeming lack of progress at the National Assembly on the Electoral Act Amendment bill was worrisome.

She said that Nigerians demanded that their elected representatives responded to the urgent need for an electoral legal framework that would genuinely strengthened the electoral processes and procedures, promoting inclusivity and addressing impunity.

She added that the continued delay in the process was reminiscent of the failed process in 2018 and attendant impact on the 2019 general election.

Chief Executive Officer ,The Albino Foundation, Jack Epelle said that in considering the Bill, the National Assembly should undertake an in-depth consideration of the citizens priority issues, to address identified gaps in the current electoral legal framework.

Epelle said that the priority issues included strengthening the financial and operational independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said that they also included publication of polling unit level results by INEC to promote transparency in the result collation and transmission process and protecting the voting rights of the blind and visually impaired voters.

He added that they included reducing the cost of nomination of candidates to promote a level playing field for all contestants and promoting the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disability in politics.

Epelle said that other priority issues included legitimising the use of technology in the electoral process with particular emphasis on the biometric voter register, biometric accreditation of voters; electronic voting, electronic collation and transmission of results.

He said that others included ending impunity for electoral offences by the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal.

He added that improving election security and promote professionalisation and non-partisanship in the conduct and behaviour of security personnel on election duty and introduction of early/special voting for Nigerians on essential election duty was part of it.

Epelle said that eliminating the impact of judicial actions on citizens will and choices in elections was the final priority issue.

Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu , Executive Director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA)said that the demands of the group were germane aspirations of Nigerians.

Together with Nigerians, we firmly believe that if the current electoral legal framework is not reviewed and reformed, it will have negative impact and consequences for democratic consolidation.

The NASS must recognise that passing the Electoral Bill in good time will engender expeditious action by the executive, he said.

Nwagwu said that the speedy passage of the Bill would give INEC the legal clarity to adequately plan and efficiently conduct future elections, particularly the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election.

Consequently, we join our voices with millions of Nigerians to call on the National Assembly to speed up the process for the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

In the same vein, we call on the President to speedily assent to the bill and deliver a brand-new Electoral Act 2021 to Nigerians ahead of the 2021 democracy day celebration on June 12, he said.

Nwagwu said that the group remained hopeful that its collective commitment and partnership would further translate to the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that would work for all Nigerians.

We remain resolute in our demand to the leadership of the 9th Assembly to ensure it writes its name in gold by delivering to Nigerians a new Electoral Act that prioritises citizens demands. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

![Nigeria to receive 29.8m doses of J

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Dr Mohammad Barkindo has urged member countries to monitor Market development to sustain positive trajectory in the global oil market.

Barkindo disclosed this at the 51st Virtual Meeting of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC), on Monday.

Let us patiently continue our work of carefully monitoring the market, providing insightful analysis for the Ministers, and in this way, we can continue on the positive trajectory we have experienced so far, he said .

He said that the world could mitigate the worst impact of COVID-19 with the right policies in place to boost global economy.

The consensus view among most economists and forecasting agencies is that with the right policies in place, the world can mitigate the worst impacts of this dreadful virus.

The cheques for 1,400 dollars per individual under the US stimulus package are beginning to have an impact with retail sales up 10 per cent in the US in March.

US unemployment fell to six per cent, the lowest level since the pandemic struck.

The change in sentiment in the US banking sector is indicative of this reversal of fortunes for the US economy, he said.

According to him, a year ago, the major banks in America were anticipating economic catastrophe, setting aside billions to accommodate mammoth losses, as small businesses were pummelled and office space emptied.

He noted that on April 14, executives at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo delivered bullish forecasts, adding that the recoverys transition from Wall Street to Main Street would not be straightforward.

The OPEC scribe said that the pandemic had led to consumers stockpiling an extra 5.4 trillion dollars in savings and consumer confidence was beginning to rally.

For the first quarter of this year, the Conference Board global consumer confidence index hit the highest level since its records began sixteen years ago.

According to the credit rating agency, Moodys, if consumers were to spend just a third of these excess savings, global output could be boosted by 2 percentage points.

At 18.3 per cent, Chinas first quarter economic growth in 2021 has simply been staggering.

The contrast with the 6.8 per cent contraction in the first quarter of 2020 reflects a remarkable post-pandemic surge.

Big infrastructure projects are fueling this growth he added.

This, he further said, had generated positive momentum with regard to oil demand.

In our most recent MOMR, world oil demand growth, 2021 is expected to increase by about 6.0 mb/d y-o-y, representing an upward revision of about 0.1 mb/d from last months report.

We also received very good news regarding the inventory glut that amassed during the pandemic.

Commercial oil inventories in the OECD stood just 77 million barrels above their 2015-2019 average as of March, down from a peak of 249 million in July.

This is a remarkable turnaround from that fateful Monday last April, when the world was fretting about running out of storage.

The revival of fortunes for the health of the economy and our industry is due, in no small part, to the efforts of the Declaration of Cooperation partners.

What has been particularly apparent about this group over the last year is how responsive we have been to the fast-changing environment.

For all involved in this great enterprise, it has been extremely reassuring to know that the decision-making process has been informed by the quality analysis and data provided by this esteemed Committee, supported by the OPEC Secretariat, he said .

Barkindo noted that in spite the positive developments, the world was far from putting the pandemic behind.

He said that one of the saddest pieces of news over the last month was the fact that the world crossed another gut-wrenching milestone.

The global death count from COVID-19 exceeded three million people.
This is a heart breaking reminder, lest we needed it, that this pandemic is first and foremost a human tragedy of an unimaginable scale.

The pace it took to reach this number is extremely concerning. It took nine months for the world to see one million fatalities; another four months for a second million to succumb; and just three more months for the three million milestone to be reached.

New regions are emerging or re-emerging as hotspots,with eight consecutive weekly rises in the total number of new COVID-19 cases globally. The deteriorating situation is particularly grim in India.

In just three days, India recorded over a million new infections. For four successive days, the country saw record numbers of daily numbers of COVID-19 infections, exceeding 300,000 new cases per day.

The health system has been overwhelmed due to a Variant of Interest, a double mutation known as B.1.167. It seems a matter of time before this mutation is classified as a Variant of Concern, he said (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 said 1,173,869 or 58.3 persons have been vaccinated with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine in the current phase.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of the committee, disclosed this on Monday Abuja while speaking at the national briefing of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC).

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, said: The vaccination programme is still progressing but we still have reasons to intensify our campaign against hesitancy.

As at date, records show that we have vaccinated 1,173,869, representing 58.3 persons of the eligible persons targeted in the current phase who have received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. This is low in our estimation.

Speaking on the activities of the committee the chairman said the PSC held its first meeting today (Monday) during which it deliberated on the modalities for its operations.

During its deliberations, the PSC remained conscious of the need to focus seriously on the areas identified and underscored by the president; sustain the tempo of the national response especially in the multisectoral approach to issues;

Build the capacity of MDAs to manage their mandates; need to communicate; and consolidate the vaccine strategy for effectiveness.

Going forward, the PSC has agreed to meet twice a month to deal with cross-cutting policy, leadership and technical issues; plan to hold emergency meetings should the need arise; brief the president on the national situation regularly;

Escalate the management of the vaccine access and acquisition to the highest political level; brief the nation at least twice a month on the days of the PSC meetings; escalate Risk Communication and Community engagement;

And allow ministers to utilise various available platforms to communicate with Nigerians on areas concerning their mandates/portfolios.

The technical secretariat shall remain the core coordinating office on a day-to-day basis and it shall be its responsibility to escalate the issues to the PSC.

On the situation between Nigeria and the UAE over travel requirements, the SGF said we have reached a comfortable position acceptable to both parties.

On aviation, Mustapha said: You will recall that we also informed Nigerians that three international points of entry (Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu) would be reopened.

Kano has reopened while Port Harcourt and Enugu are almost ready. The key concern of the PSC is the availability of infrastructure for Port Health Services.

The significance of the preceding measures is underscored by the facts that several variants of concern are emerging from different jurisdictions and are capable of being imported into Nigeria.

We continue to deploy science and data to address these cases. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chinenye Offor

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria, banks and other financial institutions to collatarise Intellectual Property (IP) stuffs in the country.

The Director General of the commission, Mr John Asien, stated this on Monday in Abuja in commemoration of the world Intellectual Property day themed IP and SMEs: Taking your ideas to Market.

He said that collatarising IP works would help the creative industry and creative talent to have value for their talents.

Asien added that financial institutions embracement to the collatarisation of IP would support SMEs in the creative sector and also enhance their contribution to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

According to him, creating the right ambience will also help showcase the nations talents to the world in terms of music and movies, among others.

We need to grow SMEs, encourage their works, protect and make their works assets bankable.

Nigerian Copyright Commission owe the creative industry a duty to ensure and provide a safe corridor for the ideas to be good, nurtured and taken to the market.

And in providing those safe corridors, we must also encourage them to use the facilities under the copyright system and exploit the licencing regime.

We encourage them to get the value of licencing, use them and also the right owners to use the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems instead of going to court and get lockdown by the court system.

They can use the ADR better and these are ways of helping them take their ideas to the market safely.

The commission will also find a solution to any form of copyright to ensure that right owners are given the facilities needed to enable them create, grow ideas and exploit their ideas to compete favourably in the market place, Asien said.

The director general reiterated the commitment of the commission in ensuring that people were sensitised and well informed.

He, however, advocated for collatarisation of IP stuffs to help the SMEs showcase their talent, move their ideas to the market, adding that is the value of intellectual property.

Asien therefore called on all and sundry to help grow the IP system in Nigeria in order to maximise its potential

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission used the day to sensitise the public on copy right issues and how to shun pirated works. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

Cricket is the first discipline to announce qualifying teams for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as the sport makes a landmark re-entry to the prestigious multi-sport event.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) made the announcement on Monday in a statement on the CGF website.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that womens cricket is featuring in the Games scheduled for July 28 to Aug. 8 in 2022 for the first time in 22 editions.

Cricket is featuring for only the second time ever, the first occasion being a mens ODI competition in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, which was won by South Africa.

The six qualifiers who join home team England in the eight-team Twenty20 competition are Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and a country from the West Indies.

They have secured qualification as a result of their standings in the MRF Tyres ICC Womens T20I Team Rankings on 1 April 2021.

As per the qualification process, the winner of a designated qualifying event will determine which country from the Caribbean region gets to participate as athletes will be representing their individual countries and not the West Indies as they would at ICC events.

The last participating team will be decided through a qualifying tournament to be held by Jan. 31, 2022, details of which will be announced in due course, the statement read.

NAN reports that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will see 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories compete across 11 spectacular days of sports.

Birmingham 2022 will be the first major multi-sport event in history to award more medals to women than men.

The Commonwealth Games cricket tournament will take place at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium, with tickets set to go on sale later this year.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Awayi Kuje

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Nasarawa has commenced training of 100 unemployed youths in sustainable agricultural development for wealth creation and food sufficiency.

The acting Coordinator of NDE in the state, Mr Rotgak Goden-Goar, said this on Monday at an orientation exercise for participants of the 2021 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS), in Lafia.

He said that the programme was organised to sensitise the new trainees on what they were going in for.

The acting coordinator said that the orientation exercise was also an opportunity to inform the participants on the various programmes of NDE to enhance accessibility and self-reliance.

It is also to educate the participants on the code of conduct, the dos and donts while on the training as well as general counseling.

This scheme was carefully crafted to attract youths into agricultural production, using modern methods.

It will provide more profitable farm income, promote environmental stewardship and enhance quality of life for families.

The training is in line with Federal Governments policy on agriculture for empowerment, wealth creation and food sufficiency, he said.

Goden-Goar stated that a total of 100 participants were engaged for the training, with the first phase scheduled to take two weeks.

The second phase is practical, which involves establishment and maintenance of two model demonstration farms in livestock and crop production, he said.

Goden- Goar commended the acting Director-General of NDE, Mallam Nuhu Abubakar-Fikpo, for being up and doing in tackling youth restiveness in the country.

He also thanked the Provost, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, Dr Yahaya Maikeffi, for providing land for the schemes practical demonstration.

The acting coordinator expressed NDEs readiness to partner individuals, organisations and government to tackle youth restiveness and unemployment in the state.

Also speaking, Dr Yahaya Maikeffi, Chairman of the occasion and Provost, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, called on participants to take the training with all the seriousness it deserved.

Maikeffi, represented by Dr Peter Aboki, assured of the institutions commitment to boosting food sufficiency in the state.

A participant, Pius Utime, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked NDE for the gesture, promising that they would take the training with all seriousness to enhance food sufficiency in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ugonne Uzoma and Victor Nwachukwu

Measures initiated by security agencies to beef up surveillance in Owerri have resulted in traffic gridlocks in major roads in the state capital and its environs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the traffic situation in the city on Monday, reports that the roads leading to the state Government House, Custodial Centre and Police Headquarters were barricaded by security operatives.

The measures were taken in the wake of successive security breaches in the state, including the attacks on police formations, Gov. Hope Uzodinmas home in Omuma on Saturday and Sundays robbery attack on motorists in Orji Owerri.

The development left many commuters and motorists stranded in the different parts of the city.

Some motorists, who spoke on the situation, said the measures were necessary to enable the security agencies to contain the rising wave of insecurity in the state.

A teacher, Mr Charles Iwuchukwu, said the recent security challenges had led to fear and panic among residents of the state.
Iwuchukwu commended the intitiatives by security agencies to beef up security for lives and property of the people.

He appealed to the heads of security agencies in the state to embark on more actions to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book.

Also, a motorist, Mr Obinna Azubike, said the heavy traffic was expected because of the security situation in the state.

Azubike advised residents of Owerri to cooperate with the security agencies and avoid suspicious association.

A seamstress, Mrs Amarachi Akachukwu, also advised residents, especially the youths, to avoid large gatherings and mind the type of company they keep.

NAN recalls that the police command on Saturday urged residents not to panic but remain law- abiding, saying that the situation was under control. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Agro Ranger Special Unit, Kwara Command, has resolved a conflict between a farmer, Yusuf Igboona, and a herder, Tijani Dogo.

The commands Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Monday in Ilorin said the conflict occurred at its outpost station in Banni.

On April 24 around 1:20pm, a case of mischief was reported at our Divisional office by one Yusuf Igboona of Oke-Igbona against one Tijani Dogo of Banni.

According to the complainant, cows belonging to the suspect grazed and destroyed his yam farm on Banni road worth 40,000.

He was able to catch one of the cows and brought it to NSCDC DHQ Banni, Afolabi said.

He added that the suspect was invited and upon interrogation he confessed to have committed the offence.

The complainant demanded for 40,000, but the suspect pleaded to pay 25,000 which the complainant later agreed upon.

After our mediation between the two, the suspect paid the said 25,000 and the case was resolved amicably, Afolabi said.

He explained that the Agro Ranger Special Unit was created to protect farmlands and farmers against bandits.

Also, mediating in the recurring farmers/herders conflict in the country would be part of their duties, Afolabi said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chimezie Anaso

No fewer than nine people were killed on Monday when hoodlums invaded Ukpomachi Village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The state police command confirmed the deaths in a statement, saying that detail of the invasion was still sketchy.

The statement was signed by the commands Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga.

It said that some other people were injured during the attack and property and livestock destroyed.

The command said that identities of the deceased had yet to be known, adding that the incident was under investigation.

It said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Monday Kuryas, had ordered immediate deployment of an operational and intelligence team to identify and apprehend the killers.

It said that the killers were armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons.

A crack team of operatives of the command led by an assistant commissioner of police have visited the scene and conducted on-the-spot-assessment of the incidence.

Normalcy has been restored to the area and adequate security put in place to forestall a similar occurrence.

The assailants, said to be armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons, invaded the village in their numbers and attacked the residents, resulting in the death of nine persons whose identities are unknown, it said.

The police urged residents of Anambra, particularly those living in the community to be calm, assuring them of the commands resolve to get to the root of the incident.

It said that the residents should give to police, information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday in Abuja, said it would not allow some persons and interests to turn Imo to a killing field.

Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) said this in a statement while condemning the attacks on lives and property in Imo.

He said the APC had closely monitored developments in the state which culminated in Saturdays brazen and gruesome attack on the residence of Gov. Hope Uzodimma.

Akpanudoedehe said the attack on the country home of Uzodimma was an attack on democracy and constituted authority.

He added that the party had since learnt that there were fatalities with others injured and maimed during the attack.

He further added that while the APC was still in shock over the ugly turn of events in the state, it sympathised with Uzodimma and all those affected by the attack.

The party and indeed our security services will definitely not watch helplessly as some persons and interests attempt to turn Imo to a killing field.

The party equally condemns the wanton attacks on police personnel and formations in Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Rivers.

We stand with the Nigeria Police Force and families of the victims in this difficult time as we mourn the deaths of innocent and dedicated security personnel carrying out their duties of protecting lives and property.

In Imo, the attack on the governors residence is an attack on democracy and constituted authority, serving the interest of the good people of Imo, he said.

Akpanudoedehe, however, called on the good people of Imo to go about their legal activities without fear and to resist the enemies of the state.

He said security services must fish out the perpetrators of the attacks and their sponsors to face the full weight of the law.

This, he said, was critical to restoring dignity to the citizenry and confidence in the system, particularly democratic and security structures. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Rita Iliya

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has disclosed that Boko Haram members were responsible for the attacks on communities in the state.

The governor told newsmen that the Boko Haram elements had taken over Kaure axis in Shiroro Local Government Area in the state.

Bello spoke to newsmen when he visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at IBB Primary School in Minna on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 3,000 IDPs from Kuchi, Kabula, Kazai Guni, Gini, Fuka Dan Daudu and Chiri in Munya and Shiroro local governments areas are taking refuge in the camp.

Bello said Boko Haram elements had hoisted their flag over Kaure axis, forcing women from communities around the areas to be members of the terrorist group.

The implication of that is that the territory now belongs to them, he added.

The governor said action must be taken to dislodge the insurgents otherwise with the way things are going, not even Abuja is safe.

We have been saying this and no action has been taken, the boko haram element are trying to see this place as their home, just like they did in Sambisa.

Kauri is less than two hours drive to Abuja, nobody is safe not even Abuja, he said.

According to the governor, he had engaged the Federal Government several times, but no action was taken to address the insecurity challenges bedeviling the state.

He expressed optimism that the resurgence of banditry would lead to coordinated military action to confront the severe and very serious situation.

He directed the IDPs who abandoned their communities out of fear to return to their homes, while those who were attacked should remain in the camp.

One of the IDPs, Mr Bulus Yusuf, from Kuchi in Munya LGA, said communities around Kuchi have witnessed several attacks and abduction of their women, with the whereabouts of many still unknown.

These bandits attack us, take away all our belongings including our women. Some of our women were raped, and abducted and we had to pay ransoms amounting to millions for their release, he said.

He called on the Federal and state governments to deploy a strong military presence to the area to dislodge the insurgents, so that they could return home.

Another victim, Mary Dauda, also said the bandits had invaded their community on several occasions.

At first, when they came, we thought they will not come back, but the attacks became a daily affair which forced us to run for our lives, she told the governor. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Florence Onuegbu

Lagos State Government says it will collaborate with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on the fight against human trafficking.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State gave the assurance on Monday, when NAPTIPs Director-General, Hajia Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, led members of the management team on a courtesy visit to the State House, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu said that the unabated trafficking in persons presented a threat to the country, hence, the state would lend more support to NAPTIP to rehabilitate victims and prosecute traffickers.

He said the state would be reaching out to the agency for support in human capital requirements and operation space to boost the agencys response to the crime.

The governor said that the government had strengthened social awareness in communities to discourage trafficking and other forms of human rights abuses.

According to him, Lagos has raised its investment in attending to psychosocial needs of victims of abuses and granting them protection from their abusers.

Human trafficking indeed presents a deadly trend in our society and we need to protect our citizens, especially the vulnerable in our communities. For those who have fallen victims, we must stand up and protect them.

The support and collaboration which the NAPTIP has enjoyed from Lagos State government can be strengthened. through the Ministry of Woman Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

We have rendered support to NAPTIP in terms of human and material requirements for your zonal office, he said.

Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos was ready to boost its collaboration with the agency in other areas of support, adding that the state government would work closely with NAPTIP to rehabilitate victims and equip them with skills that would make them self reliant.

Earlier, Suleiman-Ibrahim said that Lagos state remained strategic to the fight against human traffickers, because of its proximity to international borders, which made the state prone to trafficking activities.

She said that Nigeria remained a fertile ground for recruitment of trafficked persons, adding that victims had been turned to commodities.

We cannot fight traffickers from skeletal locations; this is why we are deepening our engagement with states to stop trafficking and those behind the dehumanising trade, Suleiman-Ibrahim said.

The NAPTIP director-general said that in spite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 300 people were rescued from being trafficked, with about 50 cases still pending in court. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) has launched a new capacity building programme for correctional officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The programme targeted at rehabilitating and possibly reintegrating alleged Boko Haram insurgents who are being remanded in NCoS facilities is sponsored by the German government.

Speaking at the launch on Monday in Abuja, Dr Oliver Stolpe, UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria said that the move became even more necessary in view of the number of inmates held since 2016 for alleged links to the insurgents.

According to him, the newly launched programme which will be executed through the NCoS will focus on providing detainees with social reintegration support including education, vocational training and other constructive activities.

New Partnership forged with the Nigerian Correctional Service and the government of Germany in close coordination with other relevant stakeholders.

We are gathering to launch a new programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of the NCoS to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners held for alleged association with Boko Haram.

Based on our extensive experience in the field of prison reform, UNODC will seek to improve prison conditions while providing detainees with social reintegration support including education, vocational training and other constructive activities.

We will be doing so not directly but through the Nigerian Correctional Service.

This type of support will be embedded in capacity building aimed specifically at the correctional staff to further strengthen compliance with prison management in line with international standards, he said.

He pointed out that a visit by the UNODC to the Maiduguri Maximum Security Prison showed that there were over 1,200 people including 12 females, held for alleged involvement with Boko Haram.

He said that of the number, only a handful had been tried while a vast majority of them were just being held on remand.

Stolpe therefore stressed that the new programme will also strife to advance the de-radicalisation drive of the NCoS while ensuring that the prisoners were treated with human dignity.

Through the de-radicalisation programme of the NCoS, there has been measures introduced to facilitate the treatment of violent extremists in Nigeria.

While many of the detainees may be eventually discharged, the need for social integration and support is obvious in light of the extended time period of detention and their poor economic social background.

The stigma of having allegedly been associated with Boko Haram further aggravates the obstacles they will face in rebuilding their lives after their release.

It is exactly on this point that this new partnership is focused on, he said.

For the Acting Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, John Mrabure, he said that support from the UNODC backed by the German government was indeed commendable.

He said that coming at a time when the nation was grappling with diverse security challenges; the programme would indeed enhance the capacity of the correctional officers.

At this sad period in our history any assistance that comes with genuine intentions to ameliorate any form of insecurity is a step in the right direction and deserves commendation.

NCoS by virtue of its mandate and mode of operation is designated as the lead agency for the de-radicalisation of violent extremist offenders, a programme which has recorded success.

It is heart warming that this support is geared towards strengthening the capacity of the NCoS to rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders.

This intervention will go a long way in enhancing the technical depth of the de-radicalisation programme, he said.

Explaining the cause of delay in trying the alleged insurgents, Justice Ishaku Bello, Chairman, Presidential Committee on Correctional Reform Decongestion said that a lot of hitches were being experienced.

He said that to on the issues were that family members were unwilling to be associated with the detainees, therefore leaving the buck of legal representation with the Legal Aid Council.

He added that even witnesses refuse to come forward despite assurances of witness protection while judges are also overwhelmed.

As a solution, he called for the donation of judicial competence to other high courts to facilitate trial of the allrged insurgents.

He also called for the construction of more Juvenile facilities across the country for proper remand of juvenile offenders. (NAN)

Source: NAN News